Simulate INSERT key in Mac OS X

Question

Long story short, I am using Citrix to remote into my PC at work, and several applications require the use of the INSERT key, which, as everyone knows, Apple chose to eliminate from their keyboards. I've tried everything I can think of, and never been able to find an easy way to send this keycode via Citrix. I'm sure there are other uses for this, and I've read quite a few people's questions on the subject, but no one seems to have offered a viable solution.

I have the Apple USB keyboard (full-size, with numeric keypad), and in the position where the INSERT key would normally exist, Apple placed the "fn" key. Now, I still need this key from time to time, but what I'd love to see is perhaps Control-fn or similar to send the keycode for INSERT. If anyone knows how to achieve this, preferably without installing 3rd-party software (adware?), I'm all ears.

There's a great thread at http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/84389/how-do-i-simulate-the-insert-key-in-windows-on-a-macbook-pro/ — geoO, May 08 '15 at 15:33

score 39 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:45

39

For Midnight commander it seem to be ^/Ctrl+T=Insert. As suggested by jherran.

The more generic Insert function is supposed to be Fn+Return/Enter=Insert, see this other question for more discussion and details.

I have however had little success with Fn+Return working reliably in many applications.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:45

Community

1

answered Jan 27 '15 at 05:36

Eric Ripa

511

1

Thanks, but no, that doesn't seem to work for me, either. As I mentioned above, I'm actually using Citrix, but it should be a fairly generic key-mapping. If one doesn't exist, I'd appreciate knowing how to create a custom key binding. – Dave Jan 28 '15 at 20:31
It does not work in LibreOffice for Mac – DanielBlazquez Jan 06 '19 at 22:20
Ctrl+T works for me – ivan.ukr Nov 27 '22 at 22:45

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 12 '23 at 12:36

You can follow this post which suggesting to use Karabiner app to simulate Insert key with the following configuration of private.xml file (edit in Misc tab):

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
  <item>
    <name>Fn + Ctrl-Left to Insert</name>
    <identifier>private.fn_ctrl_to_insert</identifier>
    <autogen>
      __KeyToKey__KeyCode::CONTROL_L, ModifierFlag::FN,
      KeyCode::PC_INSERT
    </autogen>
  </item>
</root>

and then enable newly created item after reloading the file in Change Key tab.

To find out the right key code, use EventViewer in Misc tab.

For Karabiner Element 11.1+, they've changed the config file to karabiner.json, so the modifications would become:

{
    "profiles": [
        {
            "complex_modifications": {
                "rules": [
                    {
                        "description": "Fn + Ctrl-Left to Insert",
                        "manipulators": [
                            {
                                "from": {
                                    "key_code": "left_control",
                                    "modifiers": {
                                        "mandatory": [
                                            "fn"
                                        ]
                                    }
                                },
                                "to": [
                                    {
                                        "key_code": "insert"
                                    }
                                ],
                                "type": "basic"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ]
}

See also the doc for the available keys and the semantic for the modifiers.

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 23 '17 at 22:43

6

fn + i worked for me and it enabled insert on my latest mac book pro terminal.

answered Sep 23 '17 at 22:43

Mahesh Chavda

161

This was the solution for me on MACOSX High Sierra – Jul 02 '18 at 17:23

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 10 '20 at 18:25

In iTerm2, you can remap any key under Preferences... -> Profiles -> Keys -> +. For the insert key, select as Action "Send Escape Sequence" and as value ESC + [2~.

On my keyboard, pressing the Insert key appears to trigger the "Help" action, so this is what I remap. This works for instance for Midnight Commander.

Alternatively, you can try to edit ~/Library/KeyBindings/DefaultKeyBinding.dict and insert a line like

"\UF727" = insertText:;

(See NSEvent.h for the left-hand side and this for the right-hand side of this setting.)

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 12 '17 at 18:16

4

I use Citrix and I have the same issue, can't figure it out. only thing I found is if you have the external keypad, press clear to turn numlock off, then press 0 and it works as insert

answered Sep 12 '17 at 18:16

L Scha

61

Mathias Rodriguez · Answer 6 · 2017-03-15T19:55:25.557

3

The only combination I have found is Ctrl + A.

Edit: macOS Sierra

edited Mar 15 '17 at 19:55

answered Mar 14 '17 at 03:57

Mathias Rodriguez

131

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 11 '15 at 06:54

2

Get non-apple external keyboad.

answered Jun 11 '15 at 06:54

chris

49

4

Downvoted into oblivion, but yes, this is probably the most generic - if not all to obvious - solution to this problem. In case all else fails, get another keyboard. – Maarten Bodewes Jul 17 '17 at 11:15
1

This is great advice, but in 2020 doesn't work. I have a bog-standard USB PC keyboard into a macbook via a dock and the insert key does nothing, not the dedicated one nor the one on the 0 key of the num keypad. I tested with xev which shows no activity at all when pressing Insert. – Criggie Mar 08 '21 at 03:52
It's not a keyboard issue, it's about the system. The Insert key simply does nothing, even if it's present on a keyboard. – David Ferenczy Rogožan Dec 22 '23 at 08:11

score 1 · Answer 8 · answered Jan 22 '17 at 17:59

1

I've been succesful with fn + tab key in some apps.

Give it a try and good luck!

answered Jan 22 '17 at 17:59

Yair Segura Albarracin

21

score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Oct 07 '17 at 19:38

0

Just in case somebody is looking for the answer for MacOS Sierra (with 2017 Macbook Pro), please try: Fn+Ctrl+Enter

answered Oct 07 '17 at 19:38

AnttiM

1

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered May 30 '23 at 00:37

0

For sublime text, you can use optioncmdo (oh, not zero).

answered May 30 '23 at 00:37

Ciprian Tomoiagă

161

score -1 · Answer 11 · answered Jun 27 '17 at 14:14

-1

fn + tab works as the insert key in the Freeplane mind map software

answered Jun 27 '17 at 14:14

scbickle

1

score -1 · Answer 12 · edited Aug 23 '18 at 01:05

-1

You can do this by using the following keyboard shortcut:

fncontroloption→

edited Aug 23 '18 at 01:05

user3439894

58,676

answered Aug 23 '18 at 00:14

Tony

7
1

score -2 · Answer 13 · answered Jan 22 '19 at 22:06

-2

try "fn+command+v", and let me know too :)

answered Jan 22 '19 at 22:06

norrinrad

1

What do you expect Fn-Cmd-V to do? – nohillside Jan 23 '19 at 06:50

score -3 · Answer 14 · answered Oct 18 '17 at 19:36

-3

From an iMac running OS 10.8.5 with an extended usb keyboard using Microsoft Remote Desktop to control my PC (Win 7), I can use shift-control+0 (keypad) to send the enter key.

answered Oct 18 '17 at 19:36

ralphcr

1

‘to send the enter key’? OP is looking to simulate Insert, not Enter – grg Oct 18 '17 at 20:50

Simulate INSERT key in Mac OS X

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