How can I press "Insert" on a keyboard without that key?

I have this Dell Dual USB/PS2 Keyboard with built-in Touchpad Mouse P/N 0TH827, but it doesn't have an Insert key.

Keyboard

Is there another way to press the Insert key?


The 0 key at the bottom of the numpad on the upper-right of your keyboard will function as an Insert key when Num Lock is turned off. That is why it is labeled with both 0 and Ins on the key itself.

Note that the Shift key acts as a temporary toggle on the Num Lock state when you press one of the keypad keys (just like Shift acts as a toggle on Caps Lock for letters). Therefore, when Num Lock is on, pressing Shift+Numpad-0 will act as Insert.

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You can use the On-Screen Keyboard program built into Windows to toggle the Insert key.

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  • In Windows 10: Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, then turn on On-Screen Keyboard.
  • In Windows 8.1: Hit the lower right corner, click Search, type On-Screen Keyboard, then click On-Screen Keyboard.
  • In Windows 7: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > On-Screen Keyboard

Install AutoHotkey and, apart from all the other amazing uses for it, you can remap the insert key to any key or key-combination you like!

For example this:

^i::insert

... would remap it to Control + I.

Whenever remapping keys, be sure to consider what other programs might be affected by the remapping, and try to keep any custom remapping clear of them. For example, Control + Z would be a very bad idea :)