You’re composing an email in Gmail, and you suddenly realize that the new text you’re typing is replacing the existing text instead of inserting itself. It can be extremely frustrating when this happens, but you're not alone.
This is known as overtype mode, a common source of annoyance for many Gmail users. Fortunately, some straightforward solutions exist to turn off overtype mode and regain control over your typing.
Today, we'll guide you through how to turn off overtype mode in Gmail. Let’s begin!
What is overtype in Gmail?
Overtype is a mode in Gmail that allows you to replace existing text as you type rather than insert the new text in its place.
When typing without overtype, the new characters you type are inserted within the already typed text by shifting the remaining content to make room for the new text. But when the overtype mode is enabled, every character you type will overwrite the text that comes after it.
Overtype mode in Gmail is indicated by a cursor that looks like a solid rectangle. When the mode is disabled, the cursor appears as a blinking vertical line.
This feature can be helpful in certain situations. For example, it can be helpful when you want to edit quickly, as it eliminates the need to delete text by simply overwriting.
It can also be frustrating if you're unaware that it's turned on or if you accidentally turn it on while typing. You may accidentally erase or modify the existing text instead of adding to it.
How to turn off overwrite in Gmail
Step 1: Exit your email draft
Simply exit your email draft. Don’t worry about losing what you’ve already typed. Notice that the exit button says “Save & close.” This means that what you’ve typed will be available in your drafts.
Step 2: Click the “Insert” key
The overtype feature is turned on/off with the “Insert” key on your keyboard.
Find and click the Insert key. On most standard desktop keyboards, the Insert key is usually located in the top-right corner, above the arrow keys. It's often labeled as "Ins" or "Insert." Laptop keyboards often have a compact layout, and you may find that the "Insert" key is located in a different position compared to desktop keyboards.
When you press the "Insert" key, it toggles the overtype mode on and off.
Step 3: Return to the email to see if it worked
Return to your Gmail. Click on the “Draft” button in Gmail.
Find and click to open the draft you were working on to see if the overtype has been turned off. You can compose a new email to test this out as well.
Didn’t work? Try these other tips
Highlight text when you turn overtype mode off
Select the text and then turn off the overtype feature with the Insert key. Some browsers may not register changes unless the text you're modifying is selected.
So, select the draft text in your email and press the Insert key. Selecting the text before pressing the Insert key ensures that any changes you make will be applied correctly in Gmail.
Use an incognito window instead
If the above solution doesn’t work, it’s time to determine whether the problem is related to software or hardware. Open an incognito window. An incognito (or private) browsing window provides an isolated environment separate from your regular browser tabs.
If the problem doesn't persist in the incognito window, the issue might be related to your browser extensions, cache, or other settings. In that case, disabling browser extensions or clearing your browser cache may resolve the issue.
Restart your browser
If you’ve isolated the problem to your browser and not your keyboard, simply try restarting your browser. Restarting the browser clears temporary data, such as cached files, cookies, and stored session information.
These temporary files can occasionally cause conflicts or glitches that affect the functioning of certain features, including the overtype feature. This can help restore the browser to its default state, potentially turning off the overtype feature or resolving related issues.
Learn other Gmail tips and tricks on the YAMM blog
There you have it! All the ways in which you can turn off the overtype feature in Gmail. Gmail is a pretty intuitive platform and is designed to be user-friendly. However, sometimes, tiny issues can cause unnecessary trouble.However, where there’s a problem, there’s a fix. And that’s what the YAMM blog is all about. YAMM blog is dedicated to Gmail tricks, tips, hacks, and solutions that make your life easy. Does this sound like something you need? Check out the YAMM blog!