TL;DR
To remove formatting in OneNote, select the text and press Ctrl + Spacebar. This resets fonts, colors, and styles back to plain text.
Formatting can enhance your notes visually, but sometimes it’s necessary to revert text back to a clean, uniform state. Whether you’ve pasted content from a website or applied too many font styles while brainstorming, the OneNote remove formatting feature helps bring everything back to a clean slate.
In this post, you’ll learn how to remove formatting in OneNote with shortcuts, toolbar options, and tips for handling copied text. This method works across both OneNote for Windows and OneNote for the web.
Why Remove Formatting in OneNote?
There are several reasons you might want to strip away formatting:
- Copied content from external sources often carries unwanted fonts and colors.
- Inconsistent styles make notes harder to read.
- Preparation for sharing or exporting requires a clean and uniform appearance.
- Personal preference for minimal, plain-text layouts.
Removing formatting helps standardize your notes and improve focus and readability.
Keyboard Shortcut to Remove Formatting in OneNote
The fastest way to remove formatting in OneNote is by using a simple keyboard shortcut:
- Windows:
Ctrl + Spacebar - Mac: Not available natively. Use manual method via the toolbar.
This shortcut removes:
- Font styles and sizes
- Bold, italic, underline
- Text colors and highlighting
- Indents and spacing (partially)
It does not remove bullet points or numbered lists.
Remove Formatting via Toolbar
If you prefer the toolbar over keyboard shortcuts:
- Select the text you want to clean.
- Go to the Home tab.
- Click on Clear Formatting (icon with an eraser on a letter ‘A’).
If you’re using OneNote for Windows 10 or OneNote Online, this option may be found in the right-click context menu instead.
Paste Without Formatting in OneNote
To avoid bringing in unwanted styles in the first place, paste content as plain text:
- Keyboard Shortcut:
Ctrl + Shift + V - Alternative: Right-click > Paste Text Only
This ensures that copied text matches your current note style.
What Formatting Gets Removed?
Here’s a breakdown of what’s reset when using the remove formatting option:
| Element | Removed? |
|---|---|
| Font size & style | ✅ Yes |
| Bold, italic, underline | ✅ Yes |
| Font color & highlight | ✅ Yes |
| Bullet/numbered lists | ❌ No |
| Paragraph alignment | ✅ Yes |
| Tables | ❌ No |
Note: Lists and tables are structural, so they remain intact.
When to Use Remove Formatting in OneNote
Some common use cases:
- Cleaning pasted text from websites or PDFs
- Reformatting shared notes received from others
- Simplifying outlines before printing or exporting
- Creating templates that use consistent font styles
Best Practices for Formatting Cleanup
- Always select the entire paragraph or section to ensure all formatting is reset.
- Use Ctrl + A to select all text on a page before clearing formats.
- Combine with Paste as Text for efficient cleanup of web content.
OneNote Formatting Alternatives
After removing formatting, you can reapply consistent styles using:
- Heading styles (Home tab)
- Default fonts in OneNote settings
- Custom templates or style guides for your team
This creates structure without messy formatting.
FAQ
What is the shortcut to remove formatting in OneNote?
Press Ctrl + Spacebar to remove font formatting in OneNote on Windows.
Can I remove formatting in OneNote for Mac?
There is no direct shortcut, but you can use the formatting toolbar or paste without formatting using Cmd + Shift + V.
Does remove formatting delete bullet points?
No. It only affects font styles and colors. Lists remain in place.
Can I clear formatting from multiple pages at once?
No, OneNote only allows formatting changes on the current page or selected section.
How do I paste text without formatting into OneNote?
Use Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) to paste as plain text.
Why doesn’t the remove formatting shortcut work sometimes?
Ensure you’ve selected actual formatted text and that you’re not in a table or drawing canvas.
Conclusion: Clean Notes with OneNote Remove Formatting
Using the OneNote remove formatting shortcut is a simple yet powerful way to clean up your notes, especially when dealing with copied content or visual clutter. Whether you’re a student organizing lecture notes or a professional preparing reports, a clean text format enhances focus and presentation. Master the shortcut, use plain-text pasting, and your notes will look professional every time.
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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