How to Enable or Disable Overtype Mode in Microsoft Word?

Suppose you have typed a sentence in Microsoft Word and later realize that something is missing on that, and you want to add or edit the sentence. If you’re going to add something in the middle of the sentence, just place your cursor there and start typing. The words will be added continuously, which is the default setting of the MS Word application.

However, if you need to add new words and remove all the existing ones as you type, you need to enable overtype mode in such conditions. Overtype mode allows you to replace or remove the following words automatically as you start typing in the middle of the sentence.

By default, this feature is not enabled on Word as it may create unnecessary confusion. However, if you need, you can enable the overtype mode in Word. Apart from enabling this feature permanently, you can use the Insert key to toggle this function in Word.

In this gearupwindows article, we will guide you on turning On and Off the Overtype Mode in Microsoft Word.

How to Turn On or Off Overtype Mode in Microsoft Word?

To enable or disable Overtype Mode in Microsoft Word, use these steps:-

Step 1. Open the Microsoft Word document.

Step 2. Click on the File menu.

Step 3. Select Options in the left sidebar.

Step 4. In the Word Options panel, switch to the Advanced tab.

Step 5. Here, under the “Editing options” section, you will find two related settings:-

  • Use the Insert key to control overtype mode.
  • Use overtype mode.

If you want to have the option to toggle this setting, you can utilize the Insert key. For that, check the checkbox “Use the Insert key to control overtype mode.” However, to enable the overtype mode permanently, check the checkbox Use overtype mode.

Step 6. Finally, click the OK button to save the changes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the overtype mode feature in Microsoft Word can be useful in specific scenarios where you want to replace or remove words as you type in the middle of a sentence. This feature is not enabled by default, but you can turn it on permanently or use the Insert key to toggle it. By following the simple steps outlined in this gearupwindows article, you can easily turn on or off the overtype mode feature in Microsoft Word.

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