Sometimes displayed as Ins, the Insert key is a key on most computer keyboards near or next to the backspace key. The Insert key toggles how text is inserted by inserting text in front of other text or overwriting text after the cursor as you type.
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Where is the Insert key on the keyboard?
Below is an overview of a computer QWERTY keyboard with the insert keys highlighted in blue on the main keyboard and numeric keypad. For the Insert key to work on the number pad, the Num Lock key must be turned off.
Aug 20, 2019 You can see where characters are located on keyboards for various languages, including what characters are produced when using the shift and option keys by following the instructions in About Keyboard Viewer. Apple notebook built-in keyboards do not include a numeric keypad, and may have slight variations. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) and later and MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) and later have the Touch Bar in place of physical function keys.
NoteThe $ symbol denotes more than money. It's also used in a variety of programming languages to represent string, end of line, special characters, etc. On a standard keyboard, the $ symbol is accessed by typing Shift+4. On a standard English keyboard, the dollar sign is Shift+4. May 02, 2020 Apple made a neat design decision to integrate a USB-C port into the side of the Magic Keyboard. This lets you power your connected iPad Pro via pass-through charging, leaving your tablet's. Wi-Fi iPad has a Wi-Fi internet connection.The more bars, the stronger the connection. See Connect iPad to a Wi-Fi network. Cell signal iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) is in range of the cellular network. Believe it or not, Apple's default settings aren't always the best to help you get the most out of your iPhone. We'll take you through a few steps that will make your new iPhone 12 even better.
If your keyboard layout is different than the above example, see the following sections for help with finding the Insert key on other types of keyboards.
Where is the Insert key on Apple keyboards?
If you have an Apple computer, Apple laptop (MacBook), or Apple keyboard, the Insert key is replaced by the Fn key. To simulate an Insert key on an Apple Mac keyboard, press the keyboard shortcut Fn+Enter.
Where is the Insert key on a PC laptop keyboard?
The Insert key on a laptop is often part of another key around the Backspace as shown in the picture. If a laptop uses two keys as one key, you must press the Fn with the second key you want to use. In our example picture, the Scr Lk, Pause, and Break are all blue and a different color than the other keys.
To use these keys, press the Fn and the key with the blue text you want to use. With our example picture, if you needed Insert functionality, you'd press the Insert by itself. To use the Pause functionality, press and hold the Fn, then press the Pause.
NoteWith PC laptops, there's no standard placement for the insert key. Your laptop may not have the same configuration as shown in the picture. However, all PCs follow the same steps mentioned above.
Where is the Insert key on a Google Chromebook?
On Google Chromebooks, you can simulate an Insert key or enter overwrite mode by pressing the Search and the . (period key) at the same time.
Where is the inset key on smaller keyboards?
With smaller keyboards, the Insert key may be part of a function key or another key. To use these keys, press the Fn and the corresponding key with Insert. For example, with some smaller Logitech keyboards (e.g., Logitech K480) 'ns' is on the F12 key, pressing Fn+12 is the same as pressing the insert key.
Example of using the Insert key
For example, in a word processor, if the I-cursor is placed in front of any text, nothing is overwritten as you type. However, if the Insert key is pressed and the I-cursor changes to a block cursor or enters overtype mode, as you type, the text is overwritten.
In the example animated picture, you can see each mode in action. In the Overtype mode, when 'test' is being typed, it overwrites (replaces) 'Computer' to become 'test tee' with the text being overwritten.
NoteNot all programs allow you to change the insert method with the Insert key. If the cursor does not change when you press the Insert key, text input mode toggling it is not supported.
Insert mode and insert cursor
In the example image, you can see the different cursors (I-beam cursor on the top and block cursor on the bottom). In the top portion, if we were to type 'test ' in front of 'Computer Hope example,' it would become 'test Computer Hope example.' However, if we pressed the Insert key to change the insert method, the result would be different. Typing 'test' in this instance (bottom portion of the image) would make the text 'test ter Hope example' because the first part of the text would be overwritten. In other words, as you type the new text is written over the existing text.
What is the point of the Insert key?
Today, the Insert key's function is most often used as a shortcut key. For example, pressing the Shift+Insert on the keyboard it is another way to paste text on a computer. The Insert key is also another way to make corrections to existing text. Instead of moving the cursor to an error, pressing Backspace, then typing the correction, you could move the cursor in front of an error, press Insert, then overwrite the error.
TipBecause many programs do not use the Insert key, you can also use the key for any custom keyboard shortcuts. For example, we use PureText and the shortcut key Windows key+Insert to paste unformatted text in any program.
What keyboard shortcuts use the Ins key?
Below are links to keyboard shortcut keys that use the Ins key.
Related Insert key pages
Control keys, Insert, Insert mode, Keyboard terms, Overtype mode
Mac equivalents of Windows keys
Many of the keys that you'd see on a PC have equivalent keys on an Apple keyboard.
Windows logo: Press Command (⌘).
Backspace or Delete: Press Delete.
Enter or ⏎: Press Return.
Alt (left): Press Option (⌥).
Alt GR (right): Press Option + Control.
Apple Keyboard Uk
Applications: This key isn't available on Apple keyboards.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard for other functions
If your Apple keyboard doesn't include the following keys, you can recreate them in Windows using the On-Screen Keyboard. Software to open pdf files in windows 10.
Use the Snipping Tool to print screen
Apple Keyboard Explanation Of Keys
To recreate the Print Screen and Print Active Window function in Windows, use the Snipping Tool.
Explanation Of Apple Keyboard
If your keyboard isn't working as expected in Windows
If your Apple keyboard works as expected in macOS but not in Windows, try these solutions:
- Install the latest Apple software updates for Windows.
- Install the latest Windows support software.
- If you're using Microsoft Windows 10 N, install the latest Media Feature Pack.
Learn more
Apple Keyboard Issue
- Microsoft provides a keyboard mapping article that describes using a Windows keyboard with macOS.
- Use Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to find key combinations for the unique characters used by the language and region your Apple keyboard is designed to support:
- Download, install, and open the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.
- Choose File > Load Existing Keyboard.
- Select the keyboard you want to see.
- Find the country or region name in the keyboard list that's followed by '(Apple)'.
- Follow the instructions provided with the app. You can print images of the keyboard, including what keys look like when holding modifiers like Shift, Option, or Fn.
