macOS Quick Tip: Copy and Paste Text Without Formatting

[MacRumors]

If you're a Mac user with a Windows PC background, you'll probably know how to use the typical copy and paste commands in macOS. But there's a handy clipboard trick that's worth keeping in mind.

In Windows, the Copy and Paste key combinations are Control-C and Control-V, respectively. On the Mac, it's very similar – all you do is use the Command (⌘) key instead of Control.

But did you know that you can also paste text without its original formatting? Not knowing that this is possible on a Mac, many users paste text into a plain-format text editor to strip it of any styling before copying and pasting it again to its intended destination. But you don't have to do that.

If you'd rather directly paste the copied text elsewhere as purely plain text, use the key combination Command-Option-Shift-V and it will be automatically stripped of any formatting.

This is a system-wide shortcut, so you can use it almost anywhere in macOS that accepts text input.

Article Link: macOS Quick Tip: Copy and Paste Text Without Formatting

 

[Plutonius]

Nice tip. I usually end up pasting it into my document and then formatting the pasted text.

 

[MikeAllaway]

If using MS Office apps like Word and Outlook on a Mac you can just use Cmd + Shift + V (no need for the option key)

Much easier than hitting 4 keys at once with one hand ... a rare example of MS being more user friendly than Apple!

 

[Poot Windbreaker]

Yikes…I guess I’ll stick to pasting into a text editor (unless the destination program has an Edit -> Paste as Unformatted Text option). Very hard to do one handed, at least for me.

 

[orbital~debris]

So many Windows users do things the hard way and paste into an intermediary first, such as 'Notepad'.

Love the thoughtfulness of approach favoured by macOS.

 

[sonic84]

ironically, this is not respected in some apps like Outlook. Still need to paste the text into a plain text editor to fully purge the styles/hyperlinks, etc...

Of course Outlook would have a different key combo... Thank you @MikeAllaway! I didn't know that one!

 

[xxFoxtail]

This also works on iPad and iPhone too.

 

[masterleep]

I don't think there's ever been a time that pasting with formatting has either worked or been what I wanted to do.

 

[Hajj.david]

I don't think there's ever been a time that pasting with formatting has either worked or been what I wanted to do.

Yea seriously who asked for this. "Hmm yes let me import wildly different formatting in my mono formatted document"

 

[It’s always something]

This also works on iPad and iPhone too.

I’d like to see a way to do it without a physical keyboard too, though.

 

[Tres]

I don’t understand why pasting with formatting even exists. 99% of the time it just creates a mess.

It feels like an impressive-seeming feature from the 90s that has stuck around despite being useless.

 

[theDanielJLewis]

Cmd-Shift-V works, too. But not in Apple apps where you must include the Option key in the combo. 😠

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I do a lot of formatted document composition primarily in Notes, Pages and Numbers.
That shortcut had saved me time otherwise spent at reformatting the pasted content.
I see many users here didn't know about it; It took me a few years to learn about it after getting my first Mac.
We may not have juicy rumors today, but at least we got a new tip on how to use our Macs.

By the way, this shortcut should work on the iPad using an Magic Keyboard case or an external keyboard.

 

[It’s always something]

I don't think there's ever been a time that pasting with formatting has either worked or been what I wanted to do.

I can see the value of retaining the copied text’s boldface & italics (and maybe even links) but not ever the font under any circumstances.

Edit to add: the Notes app on iPadOS (and presumably iOS) does this, so it’s obviously technically feasible.

 

[con2apple]

For anyone who don't want to break his fingers but still want the Windows feel of a single key:

Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts > App shortcuts > All Applications
New entry with "Paste and Match Style" (without "") and the Combo CMD+X

Works almost everywhere, except in MS Office products. But there you have the very convenient right-click menu anyway.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

I don’t understand why pasting with formatting even exists. 99% of the time it just creates a mess.

It feels like an impressive-seeming feature from the 90s that has stuck around despite being useless.

It's not useless at all, you just need to learn how to use it.
And there's a chance you may not need it if you don't work on formatted text documents.

Using a hammer incorrectly could cause a mess, but people shouldn't call a hammer useless just because they don't know how to use it.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I’d like to see a way to do it without a physical keyboard too, though.

If you copy text from the share sheet, I believe that'll work without a physical keyboard.

 

[star-affinity]

So many Windows users do things the hard way and paste into an intermediary first, such as 'Notepad'.

Love the thoughtfulness of approach favoured by macOS.

There's a command for it on Windows too that I've seen work in some apps at least. Ctrl + Shift + V I think.

By the way, on MacOS it's called ”Paste and Match Style”, so it's not that the text is pasted without formatting, rather that it adheres to the formatting set at the place where the text is pasted.

Or am I missing something here?

 

[It’s always something]

If you copy text from the share sheet, I believe that'll work without a physical keyboard.

I’ll have to try this. The share sheet recognizes selected text? I did not know this.

 

[TechnoTiger3000]

I really needed this! Is there any way to swap the commands? Option + Command + Shift + V is such a pain. I'd love to make Command + V the one that pastes without formatting.

 

[Lounge Deluxe]

I've been using Pure Paste for this, a free small utility that deals in a flexible way with copying / pasting with or without formatting.

 

[HowEver]

Not a rumour, but still useful, thanks.

 

[dsf-oc]

I’ll have to try this. The share sheet recognizes selected text? I did not know this.

Yes, “share” the selected text and then COPY. When you paste it will be “paste and match style”.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I like this evergreen content - keep it coming!

 

[hondo77]

Yikes…I guess I’ll stick to pasting into a text editor (unless the destination program has an Edit -> Paste as Unformatted Text option). Very hard to do one handed, at least for me.

It's easier to do it from the Edit menu (Paste and Match Style) because I can never remember the combination and, yeah, it's too cumbersome anyway.