Paste Values Only Shortcut (Paste Special → Values)
To paste only the resulting values — no formulas, no formatting — the quickest route depends on the app. In Google Sheets press Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+V (Mac) for Paste values only. In Excel press Ctrl+Alt+V to open Paste Special, then V, then Enter (Mac: Ctrl+⌘+V, then choose Values).
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paste values only (Google Sheets) | ⌘ + Shift + V | Ctrl + Shift + V | |
| Open Paste Special (Excel) | Ctrl + ⌘ + V | Ctrl + Alt + V | |
| Paste values after Paste Special (Excel Win) | Ctrl + ⌘ + V, then select Values | Ctrl + Alt + V, then V, then Enter | |
| Paste without formatting (Word / Docs) | ⌘ + Shift + V | Ctrl + Shift + V |
Excel: paste values only
Copy the cells with Ctrl+C, then press Ctrl+Alt+V to open the Paste Special dialog. Press V to select Values, then Enter. This drops every formula and keeps the plain result. The legacy sequence Alt, E, S, V, Enter still works too.
Google Sheets: one-key paste values
Sheets is faster — after copying, press Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows/Chromebook) or ⌘+Shift+V (Mac) to paste values only directly, no dialog.
Windows vs Mac in Excel
Mac Excel uses Ctrl+⌘+V to open Paste Special, then you tick Values in the dialog. There is no single-key Mac equivalent of the Windows V accelerator, so you click or arrow to the Values option.
FAQ
What is the shortcut to paste values only?
In Google Sheets press Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+V (Mac). In Excel press Ctrl+Alt+V to open Paste Special, then V, then Enter.
How do I paste values only in Excel on Mac?
Copy, then press Ctrl+⌘+V to open Paste Special and choose Values. Mac Excel has no single-key accelerator like the Windows V shortcut.
Does Ctrl+Shift+V paste values in Excel?
Not in desktop Excel — there Ctrl+Shift+V does nothing by default; use Ctrl+Alt+V. Ctrl+Shift+V pastes values only in Google Sheets and pastes unformatted text in Word.