How do I paste a register literally in insert mode without triggering auto-indent or special key handling?

Explanation

When you press <C-r>x in insert mode to paste a register, Vim inserts the text "as if you typed it" — meaning autoindent, textwidth, and other insert behaviors can alter the pasted content across newlines. Using <C-r><C-r>x (double Ctrl-R) bypasses this by inserting the register's contents literally, exactly as stored.

How it works

• <C-r> in insert mode prompts for a register name (you see " on the command line)
• A second <C-r> switches to literal mode before you type the register name
• x is any valid register: a–z, 0–9, ", +, *, /, etc.

The standard <C-r>x processes text through Vim's insertion machinery: autoindent adds indentation after newlines, textwidth may wrap long content. With <C-r><C-r>x, the register is inserted byte-for-byte — equivalent to p in Normal mode but without leaving insert mode.

Example

If register a contains a multi-line block yanked from a deeply indented scope:

    return {
        "key": "value"
    }

With autoindent on and cursor at column 0, <C-r>a may add extra indentation to lines 2 and 3. Using <C-r><C-r>a preserves the original whitespace exactly.

Tips

• <C-r><C-o>x is a related variant: inserts as if from p in Normal mode, adjusting indentation like ]p
• Works with special registers: <C-r><C-r>/ pastes the last search pattern literally
• This matters most for multi-line content in files with autoindent, smartindent, or indentexpr active
• See :help i_CTRL-R_CTRL-R for full documentation