Why Use the Paste Without Formatting Shortcut?
Copying and pasting text is something we do every day, but sometimes the copied text brings along unwanted fonts, colors, and styles. Using the paste without formatting shortcut ensures that you insert plain text without disrupting the formatting of your document.
In this guide, you’ll learn the best shortcuts for pasting text without formatting across Windows, macOS, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word.
Paste Without Formatting Shortcuts for Windows, Mac, and Google Docs
Platform / Application | Shortcut |
---|---|
Windows (General) | Ctrl + Shift + V |
Mac (General) | Cmd + Shift + V |
Google Docs Paste Without Formatting | Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) |
Microsoft Word | Ctrl + Alt + V , then select Unformatted Text (Windows) / Cmd + Option + Shift + V (Mac) |
📌 Tip: Not all applications support Ctrl + Shift + V
. If it doesn’t work, try pasting into Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac in Plain Text Mode) first, then copy again.
How to Copy and Paste Without Formatting in Different Programs
1. Windows Paste Without Formatting
- Use
Ctrl + Shift + V
to paste plain text in most applications. - In Microsoft Word, press
Ctrl + Alt + V
, then select Unformatted Text to remove styling.
2. Mac Paste Without Formatting
- The Mac paste without formatting shortcut is
Cmd + Shift + V
. - In Microsoft Word, use
Cmd + Option + Shift + V
for unformatted text.
📌 Tip: If the shortcut doesn’t work in some apps, try Cmd + Shift + Option + V
as an alternative.
3. Google Docs Paste Without Formatting
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + V
(Windows) orCmd + Shift + V
(Mac) to paste as plain text. - If the shortcut doesn’t work, right-click and select Paste Without Formatting.
4. How to Copy and Paste Without Changing Format in Word
- Use
Ctrl + Alt + V
(Windows) orCmd + Option + Shift + V
(Mac). - Alternatively, after pasting, click the Paste Options button and select Keep Text Only.
📌 Tip: Set Keep Text Only as the default paste option in Word under File → Options → Advanced → Cut, Copy, and Paste.
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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