Paste as Plain Text Shortcut (Mac & Windows)
To paste text without its formatting, press ⌘⇧V on a Mac or Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows. In Microsoft Office use Ctrl+Alt+V (Paste Special).
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste without formatting | ⌘⇧V | Ctrl+Shift+V | |
| Paste Special (Office) | ⌘⌃V | Ctrl+Alt+V | |
| Normal paste (with formatting) | ⌘V | Ctrl+V |
Paste without formatting
Press ⌘⇧V (Command-Shift-V) on a Mac or Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows to paste clipboard text as plain text, stripping fonts, colours and links. This works in Chrome, Gmail, Google Docs, Slack and most modern editors.
Microsoft Office: Paste Special
Word, Excel and Outlook use Ctrl+Alt+V (Windows) or ⌘⌃V (Mac) to open Paste Special, where you choose "Unformatted Text". A plain ⌘V / Ctrl+V keeps the original formatting. If Ctrl+Shift+V still pastes formatting in one app, that app has remapped it — use its Edit menu to confirm the label.
FAQ
What is the paste without formatting shortcut on Mac?
Press ⌘⇧V (Command-Shift-V) to paste text as plain text in most Mac apps and browsers.
How do I paste as plain text on Windows?
Press Ctrl+Shift+V. In Microsoft Office, use Ctrl+Alt+V and choose Unformatted Text.
Why does Ctrl+Shift+V still keep formatting sometimes?
A few apps (notably Microsoft Office) remap it; there you use Paste Special — Ctrl+Alt+V on Windows or ⌘⌃V on Mac.