Disabling the Insert Key

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 22, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Dave admits he is an inaccurate typist, and he often hits the Insert key when he doesn't mean to. He wonders if there is a way to disable the Insert key in Excel, short of using a screwdriver to pry it off.

There are a number of things you could try. If you don't need to use the Insert key in any program (not just Excel), you can disable the Insert key in Windows by editing the Registry. This page indicates how you can accomplish the task:

http://www.wikihow.com/Disable-the-Insert-Key-in-Windows

Another option, without the necessity of modifying the Registry, is to use a third-party program to change how each key on your system behaves. Here is a candidate you can check out:

http://www.hotkeycontrol.com/

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (5599) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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