Word: Disable the Insert Key to Permanently Turn Off Overtype Mode
Contributed by MickeyMouse 
Tagged: Microsoft Word Arg, I hate the insert key. Here is how to kill it in Word so you’ll never accidently go into overtype mode.
Overtype mode sucks. Sucks!
Since the days of the old word processors, typing at the cursor should insert text–not type over it!
I hate to rattle off a sentence of two… only realize that I accidently had hit the insert key and turned on overtype. Now, half my paragraph is typed over!
Typically one turns on and turns off overtype mode by pressing the insert key.
Kill the Insert Key:
- 1. Start Word
2. Click on the Tools menu
3. Click Customize
4. Click the Options tab
5. Click Keyboard
6. Under the Catgories dropdown box, select All Commands
7. Under the Commands dropdown box, select Overtype
8. Under the Current keys downdown box, select Insert
9. Click Remove
10. Click Close until the dialog windows close.
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voxie said on October 3, 2008
You are not alone! I also hate the overtype mode! What makes it even more frustrating is that if you go to Options (in Word) to turn it off, somehow later, it magically turns itself back on. Grr.
I am about to follow your steps to disable the bugger. Thanks :)
EMAD said on October 13, 2008
GREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
OVERTYPE MODE SUCKS! I DONNO WHY THEY CREATED IT
Andrea said on November 10, 2008
OMG, you are my hero!!!! I hate that dumb key!
Angela said on February 6, 2009
I concur.
Thank you. My laptop keyboard doesn’t have an insert key so I don’t even know how it turned it on and sure as h*ll couldn’t figure out how to turn it off.
Michael said on February 17, 2009
OMG! no insert!!!
OMG OMG OMG!!! you saved my life!!!
TY so much!!!!
LDIEGO said on February 28, 2009
VERY HELPFULLLL GUYYY
Vaclav said on March 4, 2009
This is great, THANKS!
I wish I could completely remove the key from my laptop keyboard, without leaving a gaping hole…
Jeanmarie said on April 2, 2009
This didn’t work and when I tried to repeat the steps, the word insert no longer appeared under the current keys section, so there was nothing to select. Now I’m permanently stuck in the insert mode with my wireless keyboard.
meri said on April 26, 2009
HELP!
my laptop kyboaard is acting wierd.(i am tediously having to use an onscreen keyboard). it is typing numbers for certain keys eg.u=4 etc.
i have never seen this b4. The insert key light is on and when i press it wont turn off.
i think the engineer pressed a commbination of keys while he was testing it.
???????/
Anasemona said on May 2, 2009
turn off please
Yaara said on June 22, 2009
TERRIFIC!!!!! THANKS!!!!!!!
You must know I am from the older generation….. and since that OVR/Insert key kept driving me crazy on my new keyboard, I thought something was technically wrong with it and that I would have to buy a new one…… :( :)
John Simply said on June 24, 2009
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
nick h said on October 14, 2009
I have the new Word with the big yellow button and the headers that turn into horizontal toolbars instead of vertical drop bars, so your instructions won’t work with the current Word model but i DESPERATELY WANT TO TURN OFF OVERTYPE so please help!!!
Anonymous said on October 30, 2009
one step solution. rip the insert key off your keyboard. problem solved. the void left is a badge of honor.
Anonymous said on November 28, 2009
I have an old HP laptop (2002)
A few years ago the internal keyboard started ‘machine gunning’ the Insert key.
I tried many things including prying it off, and chucking it out.
It did not fix the problem.
about a year or two ago, I came up with a generic solution (for the whole windows session, not just Word).
If anyone is interested, I will post the solution.
Over the next few days, I will be working with that computer, as I am going to set it up for a neighbor, so that he can access the internet.
Whilst I am doing that, I can remind myself, how I solved the Insert problem.
.
Anonymous said on January 18, 2010
I did this and I still can’t stop the OVERTYPE. Any other suggestions. It is
happening in all my programs.
BB said on January 19, 2010
Thank you for this but I just tried and it didn’t work. Any other ideas?
Anonymous said on January 19, 2010
still looking for more help to STOP OVERTYPE
http://tinyurl.com/635d2x — DID NOT HELP AT ALL
37201xoIM said on February 8, 2010
Superb – thank you so much for this exceptional useful little tip!!!
Mark said on June 18, 2010
Thank you, thank you, thank you — if this works, it’ll reduce major stress and add years to my life. Why wouldn’t I be grateful!
Regards
Mark
Anonymous said on June 18, 2010
That’s why we are here!
Francine said on July 8, 2010
Can anyone help me…
I have followed the instructions above about how to turn off my overwrite or insert key. But when I get to the point where I have selected overtype.. there is noting in the dropdown box to remove….!
I have no idea how I have even pressed it but now I cant get it off and it’s driving me up the wall…
Please help if you can.
Almcompan said on September 16, 2010
Thank you. The insert Key is reaaly annoying.
But I have some comments:
1) The insert key is the key to change status between overwrite and insert mode, so BEFORE deleting the insert key from the list of Word commands, be sure that you are in the insert mode!
1a) If you get stucked in the overwrite mode, go back (to the same place you went to remove) and add a key (I would use the insert key again) to change the status between insert and overwrite. Close the window. Change the status to the one you want to keep (the insert mode). Go back again and remove the insert key again.
Leonard Martinez said on October 18, 2010
Thanks, Mickey. I’ve always been a fan. Users should make sure they get out of overtype mode before they jump through the hoops of disabling the insert key. Otherwise, they’ll have to reinstate it to get out of overtype, and then go through the process again.
Janet said on December 13, 2010
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! However, I agree with Leonard Martinez … before you do this, make sure you are out of overtype mode!
Leahescoto said on December 29, 2010
You have to re-click the insert key first to undo the overtype….then disable it.
Jeffdc47 said on February 20, 2011
Thank you very, very, very much.
Lilla83 said on July 13, 2011
Thank you! A million! It never even occured to me I could turn off a key, although I always turn off like a zillion of Word commands and stuff each time I use a new comp. And I pack my old Normal.dot (and NEVER upgrade the W – it is getting systematically worse and worse…). Why use it? ‘Cause everyone asks for a “w.doc format”. A curse. Thanks again!
Rusty48 said on August 27, 2011
Thanks, So far this really seems to be working and I have Open Office!
ro said on October 5, 2011
THANK YOU!!! DO not attempt changing the registry. This is safe!