How to turn off or disable the Overtype mode in Excel 2003, in Outlook 2003, and in Word (909133)

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To turn off or disable the Overtype mode, use one of the following methods that is appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Use the INSERT key to temporarily turn off the Overtype mode

• In Microsoft Word, press the INSERT key to temporarily turn off the Overtype mode. When the Overtype mode is turned on in Word, OVR appears on the status bar. When you press the INSERT key to temporarily turn off the Overtype mode, OVR is unavailable on the status bar.
• In Microsoft Office Excel 2003, press F2 or double-click a cell to temporarily turn off the Overtype mode. When the Overtype mode is turned on in Excel 2003, there is no visual indication that the Overtype mode is turned on.
  
  Additionally, the Edit directly in cell option must be turned on for the Overtype mode to function in Microsoft Excel. To find the Edit directly in cell option, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Edit tab.
• In Microsoft Office Outlook 2003, press the INSERT key to temporarily turn off the Overtype mode. When the Overtype mode is turned on in Outlook 2003, there is no visual indication that Overtype mode is turned on.

Method 2: Turn off the Overtype mode option

• In Word, follow these steps:
  1. Start Word, and then open a document.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. On the Edit tab, click to clear the Overtype mode check box.
  4. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
• In Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:
  1. Start Excel, and open a workbook.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. On the Edit tab, click to clear the Edit directly in cell check box.
  4. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.

Method 3: Permanently remove the INSERT key assignment in Word

1. Start Word, and open a document.
2. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
3. On the Options tab, click Keyboard.
4. Click OK to close the Options dialog box.
5. Under Categories, click All Commands.
6. Under Commands, click Overtype.
7. By default, the Overtype command is assigned to the INSERT key. In the Current keys box, click Insert, and then click Remove.
8. Click Close to close the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
9. Click Close to close the Options dialog box.

Note By default, the changes to the keyboard assignments in Word are saved in the global template (Normal.dot). If your global template is removed or is replaced, you may have to repeat these steps.