How do I select text without using a mouse in the Edge browser?
Selecting text on a web page is relatively easy when you have a mouse or touchpad, but what about when you're on a turbulent flight or a bumpy car ride? Microsoft Edge has a built-in Caret Browsing mode that lets you click anywhere on a web page and use your keyboard keys to move the cursor and select text. It's easy once you get the hang of it, so let's get started using Caret Browsing in Edge.
How to enable Caret Browsing in Edge
The first step is to toggle caret mode on in Edge. Once turned on, Caret Browsing will stay enabled even if you close and relaunch Edge.
- Launch Edge from your Start menu, taskbar or desktop.
Navigate to a web page where you'd like to select text.
![Launch Edge. Navigate to a web page.]()
- Hit the F7 button on your keyboard.
- Click the checkbox next to Don't ask me again… if you don't want to be prompted the next time you hit F7.
Click Turn on.
![Click the checkbox. Click Turn on.]()
Caret mode is now enabled and will stay enabled until you disable it by hitting F7 again on your keyboard. If you didn't check the box next to Don't ask me again… you will need to click Turn off.
How to select text when using Caret Browsing in Edge
- Launch Edge from your Start menu, taskbar or desktop.
Navigate to a web page where you'd like to select text.
![Launch Edge. Navigate to a web page.]()
- Click once within the text you want to select. You will see a cursor blinking where you clicked.
- Hold Shift on your keyboard.
- Use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
- The up and down arrows select entire lines of text above or below the blinking cursor.
- The right and left arrows select single characters to the left or right of the blinking cursor.
![Click once within the text. Hold Shift and use your arrow keys.]()
Do you use Caret Browsing in Edge? If so, have you found it to be particularly useful in any specific situations?