Type text where paste doesn't work

Some places don't accept paste: a sign-in screen, a BIOS or boot menu, a virtual machine console, or a device that mangles pasted text. Type text presses the keys for you instead, one character at a time.

Where to find it

• In a live session: Type text in the toolbar, or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V.
• On the Connections page: Type text… in an SSH terminal, serial console or web panel tab, or Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V.

It isn't available for Remote Desktop, VNC or file tabs.

How to use it

1. Paste or type your text in Text to type. You'll see how many characters there are and roughly how long it takes.
2. Pick a speed: Fast, Normal or Careful. Use Careful for slow devices that drop keys, for example some devices on a serial (COM port) connection.
3. Click Start typing. You can pause or cancel while it runs.

Long texts (over 500 characters) and texts with characters that can't be typed ask you to confirm first. When input mirroring is on, it asks too, because the text goes to every mirrored PC (see control several PCs at once).

Undo

Undo typed text presses Backspace once for each character the last run typed. It can't take back lines that were already sent with Enter.

Good to know

• Text is typed as if on a US keyboard layout. Characters that can't be typed that way are listed before you start.
• Keys such as Ctrl+Alt+Del or the Windows key aren't text. Keyboard shortcuts in a remote session explains how to send them.
• Nothing is typed on your own PC, and the text isn't saved or logged. Session notes only record that text was typed and how many characters.
• On a view-only PC nothing can be typed. See the Allow prompt and view only.