Format Painter Keyboard Shortcut
Copy formatting with Ctrl+Shift+C and apply it with Ctrl+Shift+V — ⌘⇧C / ⌘⇧V on the Mac.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy formatting | ⌘⇧C | Ctrl+Shift+C | |
| Paste formatting | ⌘⇧V | Ctrl+Shift+V | |
| Clear formatting | ⌘\ | Ctrl+Space / Ctrl+Shift+N |
Copy a style, not the text
Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or ⌘⇧C (Mac) copies only the formatting — font, size, color, bold — from wherever your cursor sits. Then select other text and press Ctrl+Shift+V / ⌘⇧V to paint that same style onto it. This works in Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
No mouse round-trips
Unlike the Format Painter brush button, the keyboard version lets you copy a style once and paste it onto several selections in a row without re-clicking the brush.
To make long cell text visible on multiple lines, use the Wrap Text shortcut.
Shrinking text instead of copying its look? See the decrease font size shortcut.
Format Painter in PowerPoint and Google Slides
In PowerPoint the same keys work on shapes and text: Ctrl+Shift+C / ⌘⇧C copies an object's formatting and Ctrl+Shift+V / ⌘⇧V paints it onto the next selected shape. Google Slides uses a different pair: Ctrl+Alt+C (⌘⌥C on Mac) to copy formatting and Ctrl+Alt+V (⌘⌥V) to paste it — handy for matching one styled text box or shape to many.
FAQ
What is the Format Painter shortcut?
In Word and Google Docs, Ctrl+Shift+C (⌘⇧C on Mac) copies formatting and Ctrl+Shift+V (⌘⇧V) pastes it onto selected text.
Does Format Painter work in Excel?
Excel has no Ctrl+Shift+C shortcut for formatting; use the Format Painter brush on the Home tab, or copy a cell and use Paste Special > Formats.
How do I paint the same format onto several spots?
Copy the format once with Ctrl+Shift+C, then select and press Ctrl+Shift+V on each target — the copied style stays on the clipboard.
What is the Format Painter shortcut in PowerPoint?
PowerPoint uses Ctrl+Shift+C to copy an object or text formatting and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste it (Cmd+Shift+C / Cmd+Shift+V on Mac) — the same keys as Word.
How do I copy formatting in Google Slides with the keyboard?
Google Slides uses Ctrl+Alt+C to copy formatting and Ctrl+Alt+V to paste it (Cmd+Option+C / Cmd+Option+V on Mac), not the Ctrl+Shift+C pair used in Word and PowerPoint.