Windows 10: Insert key not working in specific situations

For the first time, I have needed to use the Insert key on my laptop, but I have discovered that it doesn't work when I need it to work.

To be more specific, it doesn't work when I try to use it in Freeplane or Freemind (in both of which it causes a new child node to be placed on a mind map), or in MS Word (with writeover toggling enabled), but only when I am logged in to my laptop as me. When I am logged in as a different user and use the Insert key in Freeplane, it does work.

I have also checked the key using Keyboard Checker | The best online keyboard tester and that site tells me that the Insert key has been pressed. In other words the Insert key seems to work in a browser, but not in the other apps I have mentioned.

I have also been able to verify that Shift-Insert works in Freeplane (where it causes a parent node to be inserted). So something is happening with just plain Insert that doesn't happen with Shift-Insert.

I have tried logging out and logging in again.

I have also tried shutting down or disabling everything in the system tray that might possibly have hot keys assigned to it (such as WinCompose and Clipboard History), but that hasn't worked either.

I am using Windows 10 version 2004.

Can anyone help me to get my insert key working again?

:)

 

How to get Insert Key to work

Welcome to TenForums @uwphotonut

In what situation? Which app are you using it in?

I've had a look in 1903. The Ins key toggles between insert and overwrite in Wordpad, but has no effect in Notepad. It toggles insert mode in a Command Prompt, but does nothing in Powershell.

Where do you want to use it?

 

Insert Key Default

Hi,

Additional information will help us to better understand your concern. Please answer the questions below:

• On what application are you trying to use the Insert Key?
• Are you referring to Overtype mode in Word?
• Where are you trying to enable/disable the Insert Key?

 

Cat Disabled Insert Key

The cat stepped on some combination of keys that effected the insert command.

Now if I try to insert text, it just overwrites whatever is already written.

There's no "insert" key on my keyboard, only a "delete" key located pretty much

in her favorite path across the keyboard (but only when I'm working--of course!)