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Equivalent of 'Use the insert key to control overtype mode' in Word 365 for Mac

Anonymous
2021-08-17T13:45:33+00:00

I want to use the Insert key on my keyboard to toggle between Overtype/Insert text modes. This is a standard feature in windows:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/type-over-text-in-word-for-windows-62c15c48-0936-4902-affe-4cadd71b7038

but the best I've managed to approximate in Mac is to bind Ctrl + Backspace to toggle overtype mode.

Am I missing something, or is this feature in fact missing from Office 365 for Mac?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. DaveM121 888K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-08-17T14:57:16+00:00

    Hi Adam

    Please check if you have this option

    At the top of Word, click Word - Preferences.

    Under Authoring and Proofing Tools, click Edit,

    Turn on Replace existing text as you type (Overtype mode)

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  2. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.9K Reputation points
    2021-08-17T15:27:02+00:00

    On a Mac the primary operation of that key is to access Help. The Insert [Ins] operation is secondary. The macOS will not permit remapping the Help key even if including a modifier key.

    As you've found, a different combination can be assigned to toggle Overtype Mode. Another option is to add Overtype to the Status Bar for a clickable method.

    Although Apple's Keyboard Viewer suggests that DaveM121's solution will work in reality it doesn't seem to have any effect here. On my Apple Wireless kybd fn+return/fn+enter doesn't alter the behavior, it just enters a standard hard return. Neither is it documented in Apple's listing of Mac keyboard Shortcuts... there is nothing listed for fn+return.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-08-17T15:55:24+00:00

    Then I reckon it's a missing feature. Do you have any power to get this added? Seems like it would be simple - although maybe not with respect to what was said by Bob.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-08-17T14:52:24+00:00

    Hi Dave,

    Thanks for jumping in.

    I can confirm that my keyboard does indeed feature an Insert combination, and this insert combination registers just fine when bound in other software - e.g. Visual Code. I can also use keyloggers, which return 'Insert' when the button is pressed. I'm very happy that the Insert key is getting through to the OS.

    However, Word doesn't seem to respond to these presses. In the Windows version, it appears that a manual toggle is needed. Any idea where the corresponding Mac toggle is?

    Thanks!

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  5. DaveM121 888K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-08-17T14:23:44+00:00

    Hi Adam

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    The Insert key is a function of the Operating System rather than the Office Applications

    Is there and Fn key on your keyboard?

    If there is, then press Fn + Enter to toggle on/off the Insert function

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