Why is there a box around everything I click?
Why is there a box around everything I click?
I’ve been experiencing a strange issue on my computer lately. Every time I click on an icon, a folder, or any element on my screen, a box appears around it. It’s a solid outline that seems to highlight whatever I click on, and it’s starting to get quite irritating. I am not sure why this is happening, but it feels like it could be some kind of accessibility feature that got turned on accidentally. I’m worried that this might be indicative of a larger problem with my computer’s settings or even a glitch that needs fixing. I’m looking for an explanation of why this box appears and if others have encountered the same problem.
7 Answers
When using a web browser, you might see boxes around clicked elements due to an extension aimed at enhancing accessibility or navigation. To resolve this:
- Open your browser’s extensions or add-ons settings.
- Disable extensions one at a time to pinpoint the one causing the highlight.
- Adjust its settings or uninstall it if it’s unnecessary.
This process ensures that accessibility features added by browser extensions are managed effectively.
For those using macOS, seeing a box around items when clicking might be related to the VoiceOver feature. This built-in screen reader highlights on-screen elements to aid navigation. To switch it off:
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click on Accessibility.
- Select VoiceOver from the side panel.
- Uncheck ‘Enable VoiceOver’.
Disabling VoiceOver will remove the box highlighting every click.
Occasionally, custom themes or graphical modifications you’ve added might introduce these highlighting boxes as part of improved usability. If you suspect this, revert to your default theme:
- Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize.
- Go to Themes.
- Choose the default theme provided by your OS.
Returning to the default theme can help eliminate unwanted visual cues.
Experiencing boxes around clicked items could stem from activated keyboard navigation features. These features allow users to navigate the UI using keyboard shortcuts, and they visually represent the focused item. To turn it off:
- Open Control Panel.
- Access Ease of Access Center.
- Click on Make the keyboard easier to use.
- Uncheck options related to focus highlighting.
This will remove the visual boxes around selected elements.
If you’ve noticed this issue after installing new software, it could be that a third-party application is causing it. Programs like screen recorders, accessibility tools, and remote desktop software may introduce their own focus indicators. Check your active programs and their settings, or close each one individually until the issue is resolved to identify the cause.
The box you see around every clicked item is often a feature designed to aid users with visual impairments by highlighting the focused element. On Windows systems, this falls under the Narrator or Ease of Access settings. To check and potentially disable this:
- Open the Settings menu.
- Navigate to Ease of Access.
- Look for Narrator or Cursor & Pointer options.
- Turn off any features related to focus or cursor highlighting.
Doing this should stop the box from appearing if it was turned on by mistake.
I had a similar problem and found that it was due to the Magnifier tool being active. This accessibility feature often includes a focus rectangle to track selected items. Here’s how you can disable it on Windows:
- Hit the Windows key + + to open the Magnifier settings.
- Check the options related to focus tracking or highlighting.
- Disable those options and close Magnifier.
This quick fix worked perfectly for me.