How Do You Press “Insert” on a Keyboard Without an Insert Key?

Finding a keyboard that has all the features you want can be a bit of a task at times, but what do you do when your chosen keyboard does not have a particular, yet useful key built in? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the solution to a reader’s keyboard dilemma.

Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.

The Question

SuperUser reader Daniel Gjika wants to know how to press “Insert” on a keyboard without an Insert Key:

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. Is there another way to press “Insert” on my keyboard?

How do you press “Insert” on a keyboard without an Insert Key?

The Answer

SuperUser contributor Run5k has the answer for us:

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. That is why it is labeled with both 0 and Ins on the key itself.

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). Therefore, when Num Lock is on, pressing Shift + Numpad-0 will function as an Insert Key.

---

Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.

Image Credit: Lelong