When you copy text from a website, a PDF, an email, or another document and paste it elsewhere, it typically arrives with all its original formatting intact — the font, size, color, bold, italic, links, and spacing all transfer along with the words. Paste as plain text strips all of that formatting and delivers only the raw characters, matching whatever style is already in your destination. This guide covers every method for pasting as plain text across every major platform, app, and operating system — with the exact shortcut keys for each.
What Is Paste as Plain Text?
When you copy text, your clipboard stores two versions simultaneously: the formatted version (with all the original styling — fonts, sizes, colors, bold, hyperlinks, table structure) and the plain text version (only the characters, no formatting). A standard Ctrl+V / Cmd+V paste uses the formatted version. Paste as plain text explicitly uses only the plain text version, discarding all formatting.
The result is text that adopts whatever formatting is already in your destination document — your cursor position’s font, size, and style — rather than importing the source document’s formatting on top of it. This is the behavior most people actually want when copying from the web into a Word document, email, or CMS editor.
Quick Reference: Paste as Plain Text Shortcuts
| Platform / App | Paste as Plain Text Shortcut | Notes |
| Windows (system-wide) | Windows Key + V (clipboard history) → paste plain | Or use PowerToys shortcut |
| Windows PowerToys | Ctrl + Win + Alt + V (default) | Configurable in PowerToys settings |
| Mac (system-wide) | Cmd + Option + Shift + V | Works in most native Mac apps |
| Mac (alternative) | Cmd + Shift + V | Works in some apps — check your app |
| Microsoft Word (Windows) | Ctrl + Shift + V | Or: Home > Paste > Keep Text Only |
| Microsoft Word (Mac) | Cmd + Shift + V | Or: Edit > Paste Special > Unformatted Text |
| Excel (Windows) | Ctrl + Shift + V or Paste Special | Alt + H + V + T |
| Google Docs | Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) | Works natively |
| Gmail (Windows) | Ctrl + Shift + V | Strips formatting in compose window |
| Gmail (Mac) | Cmd + Shift + V | Strips formatting in compose window |
| Outlook (Windows) | Ctrl + Shift + V, then select Unformatted Text | Or use Paste Options after pasting |
| Microsoft Teams | Right-click > Paste as Plain Text | No default keyboard shortcut |
| Notion | Ctrl + Shift + V / Cmd + Shift + V | Works in text blocks |
| VS Code | Ctrl + Shift + V / Cmd + Shift + V | Pastes as plain text in terminal |
| iPhone / iPad | Long-press > Paste and Match Style | iOS 16+ option |
| Android | Long-press > Paste as Plain Text | Varies by app and Android version |
How to Paste as Plain Text on Windows
Method 1: Microsoft PowerToys — Best System-Wide Shortcut
Microsoft PowerToys is a free official Microsoft utility that adds a system-wide paste-as-plain-text keyboard shortcut — the cleanest solution for Windows users who paste plain text frequently across any application.
- Download and install Microsoft PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or from the official GitHub releases page (search ‘PowerToys Microsoft’).
- Open PowerToys and navigate to the Paste as Plain Text module in the left sidebar.
- Enable the module and note the default shortcut: Ctrl + Win + Alt + V.
- Optionally, change the shortcut to something simpler — many users reassign it to Ctrl + Shift + V or a custom combination.
- From now on, pressing the shortcut in any Windows application pastes the clipboard content as plain text, stripping all formatting.
PowerToys’ Paste as Plain Text works in every Windows application — Word, Excel, Outlook, browsers, code editors, Slack, Teams, Discord, and any other app. It is the most universal solution for Windows.
Method 2: Ctrl + Shift + V (Many Windows Apps)
Many Windows applications natively support Ctrl + Shift + V as a paste-without-formatting shortcut, including Google Chrome, Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, VS Code, and Slack. Try Ctrl + Shift + V in your specific app first before installing PowerToys — it may already work.
Method 3: Paste then Strip Formatting
In apps without a built-in shortcut, paste normally with Ctrl + V and then immediately press Ctrl + Space or use the formatting options to clear formatting. This is less efficient but requires no additional software.
Method 4: Paste Through Notepad
The classic Windows workaround: paste your copied text into Notepad (Win + R, type notepad, press Enter) first, then copy it again from Notepad and paste it into your destination. Notepad stores and outputs only plain text, so this strips all formatting. This works universally on any Windows version with no software installation, but it requires two extra steps each time.
How to Paste as Plain Text on Mac
Method 1: Cmd + Option + Shift + V (Universal Mac Shortcut)
On macOS, the system-wide keyboard shortcut for paste and match style (which is equivalent to paste as plain text) is Cmd + Option + Shift + V. This shortcut is built into macOS and works in most native Mac applications — TextEdit, Mail, Pages, Notes, Safari, and many others.
‘Paste and Match Style’ on Mac is Apple’s terminology for what Windows calls ‘Paste as Plain Text’ — it pastes the clipboard content but matches the formatting of the destination document rather than the source. The result is identical: no imported formatting.
Method 2: Cmd + Shift + V (In Specific Apps)
Many third-party apps on Mac use Cmd + Shift + V for paste without formatting: Google Chrome, Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, VS Code, and Slack. In apps where Cmd + Option + Shift + V does not work, try Cmd + Shift + V.
Method 3: Edit Menu > Paste and Match Style
In any Mac application, the Edit menu typically includes ‘Paste and Match Style’ as an option alongside the standard Paste. Click Edit in the menu bar after copying text and select Paste and Match Style to paste without formatting. This is the most reliable method when keyboard shortcuts are inconsistent between apps.
Method 4: Raycast — Custom Plain Text Paste Shortcut
Raycast is a free Mac productivity launcher that includes a ‘Paste as Plain Text’ clipboard action. After installing Raycast, you can assign a custom shortcut specifically to plain text paste that overrides the system default and works across all applications consistently. Power users who want a single configurable shortcut for every app find Raycast’s approach more reliable than relying on app-specific behavior.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Microsoft Word
Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut
In Word on Windows, Ctrl + Shift + V opens the Paste Special dialog where you can select Unformatted Text. Alternatively, the shortcut sequence Alt + H + V + T pastes as plain text directly without opening a dialog: Alt opens the ribbon, H selects the Home tab, V opens the Paste dropdown, and T selects Keep Text Only.
On Mac, Cmd + Shift + V or Cmd + Option + Shift + V both work for paste without formatting in Word for Mac.
Method 2: Paste Options Button
After pasting with Ctrl + V, a small Paste Options button (a clipboard icon) appears near the pasted text. Click it and select Keep Text Only (the A icon) to retroactively strip the formatting from what you just pasted. The keyboard shortcut for this after pasting is to press Ctrl and then T while the Paste Options button is visible.
Method 3: Home Ribbon > Paste Dropdown
Click the dropdown arrow below the Paste button on the Home tab of the Word ribbon. Select Keep Text Only (the icon showing just the letter A) to paste the clipboard content without any formatting.
Method 4: Set Word to Always Paste as Plain Text
To make Word always paste as plain text by default: go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the Cut, Copy, and Paste section, change the dropdown for ‘Pasting from other programs’ to Keep Text Only. This makes every standard Ctrl + V paste strip formatting when pasting content copied from outside Word. For pasting between Word documents, change ‘Pasting between documents’ to Keep Text Only as well.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Excel
Excel handles paste differently because its clipboard contains cell data, formulas, and formatting as distinct components. ‘Plain text’ in Excel means pasting only the cell values without formulas, without source cell formatting, and without table structure.
Method 1: Paste Special Values Only (Ctrl + Alt + V)
After copying, press Ctrl + Alt + V to open the Paste Special dialog. Select Values and click OK. This pastes only the calculated values from the source cells, discarding formulas, formatting, and table structure.
Method 2: Keyboard Shortcut — Alt + H + V + V
The fastest keyboard-only method for pasting values (plain data) in Excel: paste normally first with Ctrl + V, then immediately press Ctrl and the letter V together — or use the sequence Alt + H (Home tab) + V (Paste) + V (Values) to paste as values directly in one action.
Method 3: Right-Click > Paste Special > Values
Right-click the destination cell and hover over Paste Special. In the submenu, click the Values icon (showing 123) to paste only the cell values without any source formatting.
Method 4: Set Excel to Always Paste as Plain Text/Values
Excel does not have a single setting to always paste as plain text, but you can create a macro that pastes values only and assign it a keyboard shortcut. In the VBA editor (Alt + F11), insert a module and add: Sub PasteValues() ActiveSheet.PasteSpecial Format:=”Text” End Sub — then assign this macro to a keyboard shortcut via Tools > Macro > Options.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Google Docs and Gmail
Google Docs
Google Docs has native support for paste without formatting: Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows/Chromebook and Cmd + Shift + V on Mac. This is one of the apps where the shortcut works most reliably. Alternatively, go to Edit > Paste without Formatting in the menu bar.
Gmail
In Gmail’s compose window, Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) pastes text without the formatting from the source. This is particularly useful when copying from a formatted email thread or a web page and pasting into a new email — the pasted text will match Gmail’s default compose formatting rather than importing the source font and color.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Outlook
Outlook on Windows
In Outlook, paste with Ctrl + V and then click the Paste Options button that appears, selecting Keep Text Only. Alternatively, use Ctrl + Shift + V to open Paste Special and select Unformatted Text.
To set Outlook to always paste as plain text: go to File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > Advanced. Under Cut, Copy, and Paste, change ‘Pasting from other programs’ to Keep Text Only.
Outlook on Mac
In Outlook for Mac, use Edit > Paste and Match Style from the menu bar, or Cmd + Option + Shift + V. This pastes the text without the source formatting, adopting Outlook’s current email compose formatting instead.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams does not have a default keyboard shortcut for paste as plain text. The available methods are:
- Right-click in the Teams message box after copying and select Paste as Plain Text from the context menu — this option appears in the Teams desktop app.
- Use PowerToys (Windows) with its Paste as Plain Text shortcut before pasting into Teams — this overrides the clipboard at the system level so Teams receives only plain text.
- Paste into Notepad first, copy again from Notepad, then paste into Teams — the Notepad intermediate step strips all formatting at the clipboard level.
How to Paste as Plain Text on iPhone and iPad
iOS 16 and Later: Paste and Match Style
On iPhone and iPad running iOS 16 or later, Apple added a ‘Paste and Match Style’ option to the standard long-press paste menu. After copying formatted text, long-press in the destination text field and look for Paste and Match Style alongside the standard Paste option. This option strips the source formatting and matches the destination’s existing style.
Note: ‘Paste and Match Style’ only appears in apps that support rich text editing (Notes, Mail, Pages, etc.). In plain text fields — URL bars, search boxes, SMS — all text is plain by default regardless of which paste option you use.
iOS Before iOS 16
On older iOS versions, there is no system-level paste as plain text option. Workarounds include pasting into the Notes app first (which has minimal formatting) then copying and re-pasting, or using apps like Toolbox for Word or third-party clipboard managers that offer plain text paste options.
How to Paste as Plain Text on Android
Android does not have a consistent system-wide paste as plain text option — the availability depends on the Android version, the device manufacturer’s UI layer, and the specific app receiving the paste.
- Google Docs on Android: Long-press in the document and select Paste without Formatting from the popup menu.
- Gmail on Android: The compose window typically strips most formatting on paste automatically, but the result depends on the source. Long-press and select Paste if a separate option is not shown.
- General workaround: Use Gboard (Google’s keyboard) — it includes a clipboard manager with a plain text option in some configurations. Or paste into a plain text note app (Google Keep, simple notepad apps) first and re-copy.
- Samsung devices: Samsung’s clipboard (accessible through the keyboard) in recent One UI versions shows Paste as Plain Text as a toggle in certain apps.
How to Paste as Plain Text in Specific Browsers
Google Chrome
In Chrome’s URL bar and search fields, all text is plain by default. In the browser itself (when editing text in web forms or web apps), Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) pastes without formatting in most web apps that support it. For a universal Chrome solution, PowerToys on Windows provides a shortcut that works in Chrome’s web app windows.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox does not have a native paste-as-plain-text shortcut built into the browser itself. For web app editors within Firefox tabs (like Gmail, Google Docs, Notion), the Ctrl + Shift + V shortcut works if the web app supports it. For a system-level solution on Windows, PowerToys works in Firefox windows. On Mac, Cmd + Option + Shift + V works in Firefox’s own text fields.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge supports Ctrl + Shift + V in web apps within Edge. Edge also has an integrated clipboard history (Windows Key + V) that allows pasting as plain text from the clipboard history panel.
Paste vs Paste as Plain Text: What Is the Difference?
| Standard Paste (Ctrl+V) | Paste as Plain Text (Ctrl+Shift+V) | |
| Font and size | Copies source font and size | Adopts destination font and size |
| Bold, italic, underline | Preserved from source | All removed |
| Color | Text and highlight colors preserved | All colors removed |
| Hyperlinks | Links preserved and active | Link text retained, URL removed |
| Tables and lists | Table structure often preserved | Plain characters only, no structure |
| Images | Inline images may transfer | Images stripped |
| Character encoding | Source encoding used | Clean plain Unicode text |
How to Always Paste as Plain Text by Default
Windows — Always Paste as Plain Text System-Wide
PowerToys’ Paste as Plain Text module is the most practical solution for Windows users who want to make plain text paste their default action. Assign it to Ctrl + Shift + V (replacing the standard Windows shortcut in most apps) and use standard Ctrl + V only when you actually want to preserve formatting.
There is no Windows registry or Group Policy setting that globally forces all Ctrl + V presses to paste as plain text — this must be handled at the application level or through PowerToys.
Mac — Always Paste as Plain Text System-Wide
On Mac, you can reassign the system-wide shortcut so that Cmd + V itself pastes as plain text, replacing the standard paste behavior. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts. Click the + button, set Application to All Applications, set Menu Title to exactly ‘Paste and Match Style’, and assign the shortcut Cmd + V. This replaces standard paste with paste-and-match-style system-wide.
Alternatively, use Raycast’s plain text paste action as a replacement for Cmd + V for a more controlled approach that does not override the system shortcut globally.
Word — Set Default Paste to Keep Text Only
In Word: File > Options > Advanced > Cut, Copy, and Paste. Change ‘Pasting from other programs’ to Keep Text Only. This makes every Ctrl + V in Word paste without formatting when content comes from outside Word. You can still access formatted paste through the right-click menu or the Paste Options button when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to paste as plain text?
It depends on the operating system and app. On Mac, the system-wide shortcut is Cmd + Option + Shift + V (Paste and Match Style). In most modern apps on both Windows and Mac (Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, Slack, VS Code), Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) pastes without formatting. On Windows, install Microsoft PowerToys and use its configurable shortcut (default: Ctrl + Win + Alt + V) for a universal paste-as-plain-text shortcut that works in every application.
How do I paste as plain text in Word?
In Word on Windows: use Ctrl + Shift + V to open Paste Special and select Unformatted Text, or use the keyboard sequence Alt + H + V + T to paste as plain text directly. On Mac: use Cmd + Shift + V or Cmd + Option + Shift + V. To make plain text the default in Word, go to File > Options > Advanced and set ‘Pasting from other programs’ to Keep Text Only.
How do I paste as plain text on Mac?
The system-wide Mac shortcut is Cmd + Option + Shift + V. This works in most native Mac apps. In third-party apps like Google Docs, Gmail, and Notion, use Cmd + Shift + V. You can also go to Edit > Paste and Match Style in any Mac application’s menu bar. To make plain text paste the default for all applications, remap the shortcut in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts.
Why does Ctrl+Shift+V not work in my app?
Not every application supports Ctrl + Shift + V natively. Applications that do: Google Chrome, Google Docs, Gmail, Notion, VS Code, Slack, Firefox (in web app editors). Applications that do not have a built-in shortcut: Microsoft Word (uses Ctrl + Shift + V for Paste Special, which is different), Outlook, Teams, and most Windows desktop apps. For apps without native support, use Microsoft PowerToys on Windows or the Edit menu Paste and Match Style option on Mac.
How do I paste as plain text on iPhone?
On iPhone with iOS 16 or later, long-press in a rich text field and look for ‘Paste and Match Style’ in the popup menu alongside the standard Paste option. On older iOS versions, paste into Notes first and then copy and paste again — Notes strips most formatting on the re-copy.
Final Thoughts
Paste as plain text is one of the most useful productivity habits you can build into your daily workflow. The two-second friction of importing unwanted fonts, colors, and link styling into documents adds up significantly across a workday. The solutions range from instant (Ctrl + Shift + V in apps that support it natively) to a one-time setup (PowerToys on Windows, keyboard shortcut remapping on Mac, or changing Word’s default paste behavior) that makes every subsequent paste cleaner.
For Windows users who work across many applications, Microsoft PowerToys is the single best investment of five minutes — install it, assign a shortcut, and paste as plain text works everywhere from that point on.
