The Insert key is found on full-size keyboards with number pads. If you are using a version of Windows 10 before the October 2018 Update (shame on you), all text copied to the clipboard will be overwritten the next time you use the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut, just like Cut.Īlternatively, you can use the Ctrl + Ins shortcut. However, unlike Cut, the source text you copied isn’t deleted from the parent document. This keyboard shortcut for copying text is similar to Cut in that text is sent to the clipboard in the system memory. Yes, Shift + Delete was once a thing, but that combo is now used for other commands. Overall, this is a great way to rearrange text in a report or take a piece of information from one area and populate multiple forms with that same data. However, you’ll need to manually enable it the first time you type the Windows Key + V combination. Just select one of the recorded entries, and it will paste to your target document. A pop-up window appears listing a backlog of text you previously cut along with text you copied using a different keyboard shortcut (see the next section). To access this history, you can type the Windows Key + V combination. That changed with the October 2018 Update, which introduced an extended clipboard with history. Originally, Windows didn’t automatically keep a history of items on your clipboard, meaning text was rewritten in memory each time you typed the keyboard shortcut. Ctrl + X lets you remove text in one area and paste that same text multiple times in other areas.

When cutting text using the shortcut, you remove it from the target location while sending it to your clipboard in the system memory. Read on to learn simple commands that combine Control (Ctrl) and other keys to cut, copy, paste, and even undo actions across Windows apps. If you’re not utilizing shortcut commands, you’re missing out on an easy way to save time and effort.

Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here. Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Therefore, when Num Lock is on, pressing Shift + Numpad-0 will function as an Insert Key. Note that the Shift Key can act as a temporary toggle for Num Lock when you press one of the keypad keys (just like the Shift Key acts as a toggle for capital letters). That is why it is labeled with both 0 and Ins on the key itself. The 0 Key at the bottom of the number pad on the upper-right corner of your keyboard will function as an Insert Key when Num Lock is turned off. SuperUser contributor Run5k has the answer for us: How do you press “Insert” on a keyboard without an Insert Key? The Answer Is there another way to press “Insert” on my keyboard?

I have a Dell Dual USB/PS2 Keyboard with a built-in Touchpad Mouse P/N 0TH827 ( see image below), but it does not have an Insert Key. SuperUser reader Daniel Gjika wants to know how to press “Insert” on a keyboard without an Insert Key:

Keyboard shortcut to insert text