Word 2003 - Disable the Insert key

If you still use Word 2003 or earlier you're at risk of Word suddenly taking off and gobbling up text as you type. The problem is that the Insert key toggles insert/overtype mode and if you press it by accident you can end up in overtype mode so everything you type just replaces something else! Yikes it can be frustrating.

Now, Microsoft solved the problem in Word 2007 by disabling the Insert key so it no longer switches into overtype mode any more. That annoys some folks so I wrote a post here about fixing it so it goes back to its old behaviour. But this post is for hapless Word 2003 users and I'll show you how to disable the Insert key so it won't switch into overtype mode. The solution only affects Word so your other programs work as expected.

To disable your Insert key, choose Tools > Customize and click the Keyboard button. Scroll to find the All Commands category and scroll the Commands list to locate the Cancel option. In the Press new shortcut key box click once and then press the Insert key. Click Assign and then Close. This assigns the Insert key to the Cancel command so that it no longer operates OverType mode.

If you ever need to use OverType mode, double click the OVR indicator in the status bar to enable or disable it.

Word 2007 - where'd typeover go?

Typeover mode got axed in Word 2007 - thousands upon thousands of users are celebrating the event - no more gobbled up words when you hit the Insert key by mistake. Some users, however, are crying into their morning coffee - if you used it and understood it, typeover mode was great - the keyword being "was".

So, if you're bemoaning the loss of Typeover, be glad you stopped by to sample today's tip. Here's the way to put typeover back where you wanted it to be. Click the Office button and choose Word Options. Click the Advanced group and scroll down to find the Use Insert the key to control overtype mode option and check it. To always start in Overtype mode check the Use overtype mode checkbox too. Click Ok and you're done.

Now the Insert key performs like you expect it to, but don't come complaining to me if Word eats your words, remember - you asked for it.