diff --git a/arcade/gui/widgets/__init__.py b/arcade/gui/widgets/__init__.py
index dbb289eeb2..d5c46be442 100644
--- a/arcade/gui/widgets/__init__.py
+++ b/arcade/gui/widgets/__init__.py
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from abc import ABC
-from typing import NamedTuple, Iterable, Optional, Union, TYPE_CHECKING, TypeVar, Tuple, List, Dict
+from typing import (
+    NamedTuple,
+    Iterable,
+    Optional,
+    Union,
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
+    TypeVar,
+    Tuple,
+    List,
+    Dict,
+)
 
 from pyglet.event import EventDispatcher, EVENT_HANDLED, EVENT_UNHANDLED
 from pyglet.math import Vec2
@@ -17,6 +27,7 @@
     UIMouseReleaseEvent,
     UIOnClickEvent,
     UIOnUpdateEvent,
+    UIMouseEvent,
 )
 from arcade.gui.nine_patch import NinePatchTexture
 from arcade.gui.property import Property, bind, ListProperty
@@ -167,6 +178,20 @@ def on_update(self, dt):
         """Custom logic which will be triggered."""
         pass
 
+    def _event_pos_relative_to_self(self, mouse_event: UIMouseEvent) -> Vec2 | None:
+        """Gets coords relative to bottom left if inside the widget.
+
+        Args:
+            mouse_event: Any :py:class:`UIMouseEvent`.
+        Returns:
+            ``None`` if outside the widget or coords relative to
+             the widget's bottom left.
+        """
+        pos = mouse_event.pos
+        if not self.rect.point_in_rect(pos):
+            return None
+        return Vec2(pos[0] - self.left, pos[1] - self.bottom)
+
     def on_event(self, event: UIEvent) -> Optional[bool]:
         """Passes :class:`UIEvent` s through the widget tree."""
         # UpdateEvents are past to the first invisible widget
diff --git a/arcade/gui/widgets/text.py b/arcade/gui/widgets/text.py
index 50401f1bd7..dbcf7139ad 100644
--- a/arcade/gui/widgets/text.py
+++ b/arcade/gui/widgets/text.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Final, Optional
 
 import pyglet
 from pyglet.event import EVENT_HANDLED, EVENT_UNHANDLED
+from pyglet.math import Vec2
 from pyglet.text.caret import Caret
 from pyglet.text.document import AbstractDocument
 from typing_extensions import override
@@ -396,6 +397,7 @@ class UIInputText(UIWidget):
     # Move layout one pixel into the scissor box so the caret is also shown at
     # position 0.
     LAYOUT_OFFSET = 1
+    LAYOUT_OFFSET_VEC2: Final[Vec2] = Vec2(0.0, LAYOUT_OFFSET)
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -467,30 +469,47 @@ def on_update(self, dt):
             self._blink_state = current_state
             self.trigger_full_render()
 
+    @override
+    def _event_pos_relative_to_self(self, mouse_event: UIMouseEvent) -> Vec2 | None:
+        if result := super()._event_pos_relative_to_self(mouse_event):
+            return result - self.LAYOUT_OFFSET_VEC2
+        return result
+
     @override
     def on_event(self, event: UIEvent) -> Optional[bool]:
         """Handle events for the text input field.
 
-        Text input is only active when the user clicks on the input field."""
-        # If not active, check to activate, return
-        if not self._active and isinstance(event, UIMousePressEvent):
-            if self.rect.point_in_rect(event.pos):
+        Text input and other editing events only work after a user clicks
+        inside the field (:py:class:`~arcade.gui.events.UIMousePress`).
+        Dragging to select works as expected because it is handled by a separate
+        event class (:py:class:`~arcade.gui.events.UIMouseEventDrag`).
+
+        Args:
+            event: The UI event to be handled here or in a superclass.
+        Returns:
+            ``True`` if the event was handled.
+        """
+
+        # Handle mouse presses to activate or deactivate the caret. All other mouse
+        # events, including dragging and scrolling, are handled in the next if block.
+        if isinstance(event, UIMousePressEvent):
+            inside_xy = self._event_pos_relative_to_self(event)
+            if self._active:
+                if inside_xy:
+                    x, y = map(int, inside_xy)
+                    self.caret.on_mouse_press(x, y, event.button, event.modifiers)
+                else:
+                    self.deactivate()
+                    # return unhandled to allow other widgets to activate
+                    return EVENT_UNHANDLED
+
+            elif not self._active and inside_xy:
                 self.activate()
                 # return unhandled to allow other widgets to deactivate
                 return EVENT_UNHANDLED
 
-        # If active check to deactivate
-        if self._active and isinstance(event, UIMousePressEvent):
-            if self.rect.point_in_rect(event.pos):
-                x = int(event.x - self.left - self.LAYOUT_OFFSET)
-                y = int(event.y - self.bottom)
-                self.caret.on_mouse_press(x, y, event.button, event.modifiers)
-            else:
-                self.deactivate()
-                # return unhandled to allow other widgets to activate
-                return EVENT_UNHANDLED
-
-        # If active pass all non press events to caret
+        # When active, handle any supported non-press events by passing them
+        # to the caret object.
         if self._active:
             # Act on events if active
             if isinstance(event, UITextInputEvent):
@@ -503,9 +522,10 @@ def on_event(self, event: UIEvent) -> Optional[bool]:
                 self.caret.on_text_motion_select(event.selection)
                 self.trigger_full_render()
 
-            if isinstance(event, UIMouseEvent) and self.rect.point_in_rect(event.pos):
-                x = int(event.x - self.left - self.LAYOUT_OFFSET)
-                y = int(event.y - self.bottom)
+            if isinstance(event, UIMouseEvent) and (
+                inside_xy := self._event_pos_relative_to_self(event)
+            ):
+                x, y = map(int, inside_xy)
                 if isinstance(event, UIMouseDragEvent):
                     self.caret.on_mouse_drag(
                         x, y, event.dx, event.dy, event.buttons, event.modifiers