Copy from the web, paste into your document, and suddenly your page is wearing a random font, neon colors, and invisible tables. If you work on a Mac, you’ve lived this. Pasting as plain text fixes that in one move—no fonts, no colors, no links, no hidden HTML—just clean words that adopt the style of the place you’re pasting.
This guide shows every reliable way to paste without formatting on macOS (Sonoma and newer), explains why different apps behave differently, walks you through permanent automations so the behavior sticks, and finishes with troubleshooting that actually solves the weird edge cases. Whether you write in Notes, draft marketing emails, edit code, or format academic papers, you’ll leave with a fast, repeatable workflow that keeps your documents clean.
Plain Text vs “Paste and Match Style” vs “Paste Without Formatting”
Before the key combos, it helps to understand what you’re asking the system to do. On a Mac, there are two closely related ideas:
- Paste as plain text: strips all fonts, colors, sizes, links, and layout. You get raw characters only.
- Paste and match style: pastes your text and makes it look like the destination around your cursor. In many apps this also strips formatting fully, but in some editors it can retain certain semantic bits (like a live URL) while matching the surrounding look.
Different apps use different labels for the same intention. What matters is the result: your destination controls the appearance, not the source.
The Fastest Universal Methods (That Work in Most Mac Apps)
Keyboard shortcut: Option–Shift–Command–V
This is the native macOS command called “Paste and Match Style.” Press Option–Shift–Command–V instead of Command–V. In most Apple apps and many third-party editors, your text will drop in clean and adopt the current style.
Where it typically works: Notes, Mail, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, TextEdit, Safari text fields, Messages, Calendar notes, Reminders, and lots of third-party editors that respect Apple’s standard menu commands.
Menu bar: Edit → Paste and Match Style
If the shortcut slips your mind, open the Edit menu and choose “Paste and Match Style.” Same action, no remembering chord gymnastics.
In Chrome/Brave/Edge web apps: Command–Shift–V
Browser-based editors (Google Docs, Notion, many CMS fields) often honor Command–Shift–V as “Paste without formatting.” This is implemented by the web app and may behave slightly differently from the macOS command. If Command–Shift–V doesn’t work in a particular site, try Option–Shift–Command–V or the Edit menu’s “Paste and Match Style.”
Tip for browser users: If you move between native apps and web apps all day, learn both Option–Shift–Command–V and Command–Shift–V. You’ll succeed almost everywhere.
App-by-App: Exact Steps for Popular Mac Tools
Apple Notes
- Shortcut: Option–Shift–Command–V.
- Menu: Edit → Paste and Match Style.
- Behavior: Strips formatting completely and matches your current note’s font and size. Ideal for research dumps and quotes from the web.
Apple Mail
- For individual pastes: Option–Shift–Command–V or Edit → Paste and Match Style.
- To convert an entire message: Format → Make Plain Text. This flips the whole compose window to plain text mode.
- Behavior: Using Paste and Match Style keeps the message in rich-text mode but cleans the pasted snippet; “Make Plain Text” converts the whole draft to text-only.
Pages / Keynote / Numbers
- Shortcut: Option–Shift–Command–V.
- Menu: Edit → Paste and Match Style.
- Behavior: Matches the current paragraph’s style, which is perfect if you’ve set up a template. If a pasted fragment still looks off, select it and reapply the paragraph style in the Format sidebar.
TextEdit
- Rich-text documents: Option–Shift–Command–V or Edit → Paste and Match Style.
- Plain-text documents: TextEdit strips formatting automatically, because the document itself is plain text (Format → Make Plain Text). With plain-text mode, even Command–V ends up plain.
Microsoft Word (Mac)
- One-off paste: Edit → Paste Special → Unformatted Text.
- Quick ribbon option: In newer Word builds, you can set default paste behavior in Word → Settings → Edit → Cut, copy, and paste; choose “Keep Text Only” for “Pasting from other programs.”
- Custom shortcut: macOS lets you bind Command–Shift–V to “Paste and Match Style,” but Word uses its own command names. If the native shortcut doesn’t work, bind an App Shortcut to the exact menu title “Paste and Match Formatting” or use “Paste Special…” with a macro/Keyboard Maestro workaround.
- Behavior: Word’s “Keep Text Only” is the most aggressive at stripping styling. If you use Word daily, set it once and forget it.
Google Docs (in Safari, Chrome, or Edge)
- Shortcut: Command–Shift–V.
- Menu: Edit → Paste without formatting.
- Behavior: Strips styles and matches the Docs style so headings and body remain consistent. Some hyperlinks may convert to raw URLs; others may remain clickable but unstyled.
Gmail Compose (browser)
- Shortcut: Command–Shift–V in most browsers, or Option–Shift–Command–V to invoke macOS’s paste-and-match.
- Behavior: Usually removes source fonts, colors, sizes; may preserve links as clickable. If you need full text-only, use “More formatting options” and clear formatting after the paste.
Slack, Teams, Discord
- Slack: Command–Shift–V opens a code-block paste dialog; to paste plain text in the message field, use Edit → Paste and Match Style or Option–Shift–Command–V. You can also paste, then click “Clear formatting.”
- Teams: Command–Shift–V often works inside the message box; otherwise, paste and click the eraser “Clear formatting.”
- Discord: Most pastes are plain text by default unless you copy rich text from a web app. Paste, then use the “Clear Formatting” command if available.
Notion, Confluence, CMS editors
- Notion: Command–Shift–V pastes plain in most contexts. If blocks pick up unwanted styles, paste into a plain paragraph first, then move it where you need.
- Confluence and many CMSes: Command–Shift–V is the usual plain-paste shortcut inside the editor.
Code Editors (VS Code, Sublime, JetBrains IDEs)
- Most code editors treat everything as plain text unless you paste rich content into markdown or WYSIWYG panes. If you ever see odd styling, use Edit → Paste and Match Style or the editor’s “Paste as Plain Text” command.
Make Plain Pasting the Default Everywhere (No Extra App Required)
If you want a single keystroke to paste clean text in any app, macOS can help.
System Settings: Create a universal app shortcut
- Open System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts.
- Click the plus button.
- Application: All Applications.
- Menu Title: Paste and Match Style (type it exactly as it appears in Apple menus).
- Keyboard Shortcut: Command–V (or Command–Shift–V, if you prefer to keep Command–V normal).
- Save.
Now, in apps that have a “Paste and Match Style” command, your chosen shortcut will trigger it. In apps that don’t, your shortcut falls back to standard paste. Caution: remapping Command–V system-wide can feel jarring if you frequently need to paste rich content. Many people map Command–Shift–V to “Paste and Match Style,” leaving Command–V alone.
Shortcuts app: A one-click “Convert clipboard to plain text”
- Open Shortcuts and create a new shortcut called Paste Plain.
- Add actions: Get Clipboard → Make Rich Text from [Get Clipboard] → Make Plain Text from [Rich Text] → Copy to Clipboard → Paste (or “Insert Text” via system paste).
- Enable “Use as Quick Action” and assign a keyboard shortcut (for example, Control–Option–V).
- Optionally, show in Services so it appears in the right-click menu.
This forces the clipboard to plain text right before pasting—handy when you’re bouncing between finicky apps.
Automator legacy service (for older macOS)
If you’re on an older system where Shortcuts is limited, use Automator to build a Quick Action that takes “no input,” runs a short AppleScript to coerce the clipboard to text, and then pastes. It’s old-school but still works.
Power-User Automations (BetterTouchTool, Alfred, Keyboard Maestro)
- BetterTouchTool: Bind Command–V to a sequence: “Transform Clipboard to Plain Text” → “Paste.” Add per-app exceptions if needed (design tools, spreadsheets).
- Alfred: Create a workflow that runs a script (pbpaste -Prefer txt | pbcopy) and then types Command–V. Assign a hotkey like Command–Shift–V.
- Keyboard Maestro: Make a macro: Filter Clipboard with “Remove Styles” → Paste. Add conditions so it triggers only in specific apps.
Why these help: you can keep normal paste in apps that benefit from rich content (e.g., Pages) while forcing plain text in editors where styling is harmful (e.g., code).
Terminal and Scripting: Make the Clipboard Plain on Demand
The Mac clipboard can hold multiple flavors at once: RTF, HTML, plain text, images. You can force it to plain with one command:
- Force to plain text:
pbpaste -Prefer txt | pbcopy - Inspect what the pasteboard has:
pbpaste -help shows available options.
You can also use osascript -e ‘the clipboard as text’ and pipe it back into the clipboard.
Add aliases to your shell profile:
alias clipclean=”pbpaste -Prefer txt | pbcopy”
Now type clipclean in Terminal, then paste anywhere; it will be text-only.
Why Pasting Still Looks “Weird” Sometimes (And How to Fix It)
Even when you plain-paste, text can look off. Here’s why:
- Hidden lists and tables: The source may contain semantic HTML structures. A web app might convert those into list characters or alignments on paste. Fix by pasting into a truly plain editor (TextEdit in plain-text mode) first, copying again, then pasting into your destination.
- Smart quotes and non-breaking spaces: Plain text can still carry typographic characters that behave oddly in code or CSV. Convert curly quotes to straight quotes and non-breaking spaces to regular spaces with your editor’s “Transformations” or by running a clipboard filter.
- Hyperlinks that survive: Some “match style” implementations keep the link while removing its color/underline. If you need dead-plain text, clear formatting after the paste or run a clipboard clean via Shortcuts before pasting.
- Missing line breaks: Web copy often uses <br> tags that turn into hard line breaks at odd places. Paste into a note, reflow into paragraphs, then move it to your document.
- Spreadsheets and tables: You can’t paste a formatted table as plain text and expect cells to align visually. Paste into a spreadsheet, or if you must keep plain text, export to CSV and place it in a monospace block.
Make It Muscle Memory: Real-World Workflows You Can Copy
Research dump into Notes
Keep Option–Shift–Command–V under your fingers. While skimming online sources, paste snippets into Notes with that chord only. Everything lands clean. Later, style in bulk.
Email replies in Mail
When quoting customers or pulling material from product pages, paste with Option–Shift–Command–V so your signature and paragraph spacing remain consistent. If a message is a mess already, use Format → Make Plain Text to nuke all styling for the whole draft.
Google Docs editing
Use Command–Shift–V for pasted sources. If collaborators drop styled messes in, select the problem block and choose Format → Clear formatting, then reapply the Doc’s paragraph styles.
Word manuscript
Set Word to “Keep Text Only” for “Pasting from other programs.” Now Command–V is safe, and you never think about it again. For exceptions (tables or formatted quotes), use Paste Special.
Coding and config files
Never paste styled content into code. If you copy from the web, filter the clipboard to plain first with a Shortcut or Alfred macro, then paste into your editor. This avoids smart quotes breaking your code.
Privacy and Security When Using Clipboard Managers
Clipboard history apps are productivity superpowers, but they can store passwords, API keys, and private messages if you’re not careful.
- Exclude sensitive apps: Many managers let you blacklist certain apps (password managers, banking apps) so their copies never enter history.
- Clear history frequently or set short retention.
- Use on-device encryption or, at minimum, no cloud sync for history.
- Be mindful of screenshots—some managers store image clips too.
If you’re in a regulated environment, consider system-level methods (Shortcuts, Automator, macOS App Shortcuts) rather than third-party clipboard tools.
Plain Pasting in Non-Obvious Places
- Spotlight/Launcher notes: When you paste into small fields, formatting can blow out layout. Use plain paste to keep entries tidy.
- Calendar notes and reminders: Paste clean to avoid weird fonts in event descriptions you’ll share with teams.
- Presentation speaker notes: Paste text-only so your slides don’t inherit the web’s font zoo.
- Chat tools: If you’re sharing commands or logs, paste plain to preserve readability.
Troubleshooting Quick Answers
- The shortcut does nothing: Some apps override it. Use the menu command, or set a custom App Shortcut with the exact menu title the app uses.
- A web app pastes rich text anyway: Try the browser’s Command–Shift–V version. If still sticky, paste into a plain editor first, then copy again.
- Line spacing exploded after pasting: Select the block and apply the destination’s paragraph style. In Docs, use “Clear formatting.” In Mail/Pages, set spacing explicitly.
- Tables broke: Paste into a spreadsheet or export as CSV. Plain text can’t keep grid layout.
- Links won’t go away: Paste through a clipboard cleaner (Shortcuts/Alfred command) to strip link attributes before dropping into your document.
Mastering Styles So You Paste Less and Format Faster
The less you rely on ad-hoc formatting, the cleaner your documents stay:
- In Pages/Word/Docs, define paragraph styles (Body, Heading 1, Quote). After any paste, one click restores consistency.
- Keep a “scratchpad” note that’s always plain text. Paste there first when you’re unsure what you copied, then move it to the final document.
- For structured data, prefer CSV/TSV over rich tables. These paste clean, can be versioned, and convert back into tables reliably.
A Quick Note on Clarity and Readability
Clean pasting is about respecting your reader’s time. Strip noise, then style with intention. When you’re writing educational content or summaries of complex topics, you’ll reach more people if your formatting helps scanning: short paragraphs, consistent headings, and sparing emphasis. It’s the same editorial logic behind how a well-framed article about leadership can hold attention across audiences; for instance, writers often balance human stories with clear structure when profiling achievements such as those highlighted in Female World Leaders, using organization to keep the focus on insight rather than decoration. Your documents deserve that same treatment.
Putting It All Together: A 3-Step Habit That Works Everywhere
- Try the built-in shortcuts first. Option–Shift–Command–V for Mac apps; Command–Shift–V for web apps.
- When that fails, use the menu command or a Quick Action/Shortcut that forces the clipboard to plain.
- Keep a scratchpad note set to plain text. Paste there first if you’re unsure what you copied, then move the cleaned text into your destination.
Build those habits, and you’ll never waste time fixing random fonts, colors, and link styles again. Clean paste keeps you focused on ideas, not formatting—and that’s the whole point of productive writing on a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mac shortcut for paste as plain text?
Option–Shift–Command–V triggers “Paste and Match Style” in most Mac apps. In browser-based editors like Google Docs, Command–Shift–V is common.
Why doesn’t Command–Shift–Option–V work in some apps?
Apps can override or rename the command. Use the Edit menu and look for “Paste and Match Style,” “Paste without formatting,” or “Paste and Match Formatting.” If it exists, you can bind a custom Mac keyboard shortcut to that exact menu title.
How do I make plain paste my default?
Create a system-wide App Shortcut binding Command–Shift–V to “Paste and Match Style,” or use a tool like BetterTouchTool/Keyboard Maestro to filter your clipboard to plain text before pasting. In Microsoft Word, set “Keep Text Only” for pastes from other programs.
Will plain paste remove hyperlinks?
Often, yes. Some editors keep the link target while removing styles. If you need dead-plain text every time, run your clipboard through a “make plain” Shortcut before pasting.
Can I do this from the Terminal?
Yes. Run pbpaste -Prefer txt | pbcopy to force the clipboard to plain text, then paste as usual.
Is there any downside to always pasting plain?
You lose intentional formatting you might want to keep, like bolded headings or preserved code blocks with rich syntax coloring. Many people use plain paste by default, then apply destination styles intentionally.
Does pasting plain text affect performance?
No. If anything, it reduces document bloat, since you’re not dragging in complex HTML or styles.