---
title: Typing into agents
description: INSERT mode: typing into an agent's terminal, and getting the keyboard back.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/sessions/typing-into-agents
---

# Typing into agents
In NORMAL your keys drive Heed and never reach a terminal. To type into one, enter INSERT.

| Key  |                                                  |
|------|--------------------------------------------------|
| `i`  | INSERT on the focused pane                       |
| `F`  | Jump to a pane by label and enter INSERT on it   |
| `⇧⎋` | Back to NORMAL                                   |
| `⌃\` | Back to NORMAL (configurable as `insert_escape`) |

A plain `⎋` always goes to the terminal, so agents still get their Escape.
The pane taking your keys has a white border. In NORMAL no pane takes input, and the focused one is barely marked: if
you see no white border, your keys are Heed's.
![NORMAL: the focused pane barely marked](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/images/shots/sessions/insert-before.png)
![INSERT: the pane taking keys outlined white](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/images/shots/sessions/insert-after.png)

## With the mouse

Clicking a pane focuses it and enters INSERT; clicking anywhere else (the sidebar, a list, the title bar) goes back to
NORMAL. A double click selects a word in the terminal, as it does in any terminal.

## Starting in INSERT

A new session starts with its agent pane focused and in INSERT, so you can type to the agent straight away.