How to paste without formatting in Word
When you paste content into Microsoft Word, its original font, size, and colors may come along with it. To paste plain text instead, use Word’s Keep Text Only paste option. The available keyboard shortcuts vary by Word version and platform, so this guide covers Windows, Mac, and alternative methods.
Shortcut to Paste Text Only in Microsoft Word
For Windows Users:
To paste text only in Word without retaining the source formatting:
- Keyboard Shortcut:
Try Ctrl + Shift + V in supported recent Word versions. If it is unavailable, choose Home > Paste > Keep Text Only; older desktop Word versions may use different assignments. Do not assume this shortcut works in every installation. - Using the Ribbon:
Go to Home Tab and Click the drop-down arrow under Paste > Keep Text Only.
For Mac Users:
To paste plain text in Ms Word:
- Keyboard Shortcut:
Use Home > Paste > Keep Text Only for a dependable menu route. Depending on your Word and macOS version, Option + Shift + Command + V may paste and match destination formatting, which is not necessarily identical to plain-text paste. Check the Edit menu for the shortcut shown in your installation. - Using the Ribbon:
Go to Home and Click the drop-down arrow under Paste > Keep Text Only.
When plain-text paste is useful
Pasting without formatting eliminates unnecessary styling mismatches. Whether you’re copying from a website, email, or another document, this ensures consistency, saving you time and reducing errors.
FAQs and Troubleshooting
Q1: Why doesn’t Ctrl + Shift + V work on Windows?
Keyboard mappings differ across Word versions and may be overridden by add-ins or custom assignments. In this case:
- Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts: Customize…
- In Customize keyboard window, select Categories as “All Commands” and Commands as “PasteTextOnly”.
- Click in text box under Press new shortcut key and press “
Ctrl + Shift + V“ and click Assign and close the window.
Q2: Does pasting text only remove hyperlinks?
Usually the clickable hyperlink is removed, but its visible text is retained. If the displayed text is a URL, Word may automatically recognize it as a new link depending on AutoCorrect settings. Verify links after pasting.
Q3: Can I make “Keep Text Only” the default paste option?
Yes! To make it default:
- Windows: Go to File > Options > Advanced > Cut, Copy, and Paste.
- Mac: Available paste preferences vary by release. If your version does not offer an equivalent default setting, use the ribbon’s Keep Text Only command for each paste.
- On Windows, set the applicable paste defaults (within the same document, between documents, and from other programs) individually where those controls are offered. Test with a sample containing bold text and a link.
Keep Text Only versus Match Destination Formatting
Keep Text Only removes most source formatting and pastes text using the destination paragraph’s formatting. Merge Formatting can retain emphasis such as bold or italic while adapting the destination style. For tables, lists, hyperlinks and equations, paste-as-text may discard structural information; inspect the result and use Undo if necessary.
Quick troubleshooting checklist
If the shortcut opens another feature, inspect Word’s current keyboard assignments before changing them; assigning a new shortcut can replace an existing command. If you paste into a table, equation, or numbered list, check that the result still has the intended structure. Undo immediately if plain-text paste removes information you need. For more context, see the guide to pasting without formatting in Word.
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