How to Prevent Word from Deleting Selected Text as you Type?

If you select text and start typing, Microsoft Word replaces the selected text. Though, it is possible to stop Word from deleting the selected text when you type. You can enable or disable this setting by Word Options, Local Group Policy Editor, or Registry Editor.

If you build Microsoft Word setting to stop removing selected text as you type, you need to hit the Backspace or Delete button after selecting the text to delete it.

In this risewindows article, we will guide you on enabling and disabling Word from deleting selected text as you type.

Step 3. Adopt Options in the left sidebar.

Step 4. Switch to the Advanced tab in the Word Options panel.

Step 5. Uncheck the option Typing replaces selected text under the “Editing options” section to block replacing selected text while typing.

Quick Note: Check the option Typing replaces selected text under the “Editing options” section if you like to replace selected text while typing.

Step 6. Hit OK button.

How to Prevent Microsoft Word from Removing Selected Text as you Type using Group Policy Editor?

Do the following, If you want to block Microsoft Word from deleting selected text as you type by Windows 11/10 Local Group Policy Editor:-

Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 2. Browse to the following path in the left sidebar:-

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Word 2016 > Word Options > Advanced

Step 3. Double-click on the policy name Typing replaces selected text on the right sidebar of the “Advanced” folder.

Step 4. Pick Disabled to block removing the selected text while typing on Word.

Quick Note: Pick the Enabled option if you want to deleting the selected text while typing in Word.

Step 5. Hit Apply.

Step 6. Hit OK.

How to Enable or Disable Removing Selected Text when Typing in Word using Registry Editor?

Do these steps to turn on or off to delete selected text while typing in Word using Windows 11/10 Registry Editor:-

Step 1. Open Registry Editor.

Step 2. Navigate to the following key in the left sidebar of Registry Editor:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0

Step 3. Right-click on the 16.0 folder and pick New > Key.

Step 4. Name this new key as the word.

Step 5. Right-click on the word folder and pick New > Key.

Step 6. Name the newly created key as options.

Step 7. Right-click on the options folder and pick New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 8. Name the newly created REG_DWORD as autotextdelete.

Step 9. Double-click on the autotextdelete REG_DWORD and set its “Value data” to the following:-

• 0: Block removing the selected text while typing.
• 1: Allow deleting the selected text while typing.

Step 10. Hit OK.

Step 11. Finally, reboot your PC to apply the changes.

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