Fixing the Invisible Text Cursor Bug in Chromium-Based Applications on Windows
Users of Chromium-based applications and web browsers on Windows 10 and 11 have reported a peculiar and frustrating issue: the text cursor can turn white or even become invisible when hovering over text input fields. This bug has been impacting users for nearly two years, with many first noticing it only recently. Fortunately, there is a straightforward solution involving a minor adjustment in the Windows Registry that can resolve this problem.
Background on the Issue
This cursor visibility issue coincided with graphical driver updates, particularly those from Nvidia. Since late 2021, Nvidia has recommended a particular Registry tweak to counterdisplay flickering associated with certain driver versions. Interestingly, numerous AMD users have also reported that employing this tweak alleviates similar cursor visibility problems on AMD-based systems.
Steps to Resolve the Invisible Text Cursor Issue
Here’s a detailed guide to correct the invisible cursor issue on your Windows system:
- Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, and type regedit to access the Registry Editor.
- In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm
- Select Edit > New > Value > DWORD (32-bit value).
- Rename the new value to OverlayTestMode and double-click on it.
- Set the value data from 0 to 5.
- Restart your computer to apply the changes.
Alternative Approach for Those Uncomfortable with Registry Edits
If editing the registry manually is not something you’re comfortable with, there’s an alternative method using a script:
- Open Notepad and copy the following text:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm]
“OverlayTestMode”=dword:00000005
- Select File > Save As.
- Choose All files from the “Save as type”dropdown menu and name your file with a. reg extension (e.g., fix.reg).
- Locate the saved file, double-click it, and confirm any prompts to integrate it into the registry.
- Finally, restart your computer.
Post-Fix Result
After completing either method, the invisible text cursor issue should be resolved, enhancing your experience with Chromium-based applications.
Additional Tip
As a bonus fix, you can navigate to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Mouse cursor and choose a non-default cursor for “Text select.”While this change may provide a temporary solution, the most effective resolution involves the Registry modification outlined above.
For further details, refer to the original guide here.
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