Formatting Issues

How to Paste Plain Text in Excel Without Formatting

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to paste copied text into an Excel spreadsheet without keeping the original styles, colors, or fonts from the source material.

How to Paste Plain Text in Excel Without Formatting

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Copying text from websites, Word documents, or other external sources and pasting it into an Excel worksheet.
Observed behavior: Excel automatically retains the source formatting by default and lacks the default plain-text paste configuration found in Microsoft Word.

Before you start

Ensure you have completely copied the source text to your clipboard. Select the exact top-left destination cell in your spreadsheet before initiating the paste command to avoid overwriting existing data.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Paste Plain Text Keyboard Shortcut

The most efficient way to paste text without its original formatting is by using a direct keyboard shortcut.

In many modern spreadsheet environments, utilizing a modified paste shortcut bypasses the default formatting behaviors, forcing the application to insert only the raw text.

Select the destination cell

Click once on the specific cell in your Excel workbook where you want the plain text to appear.

Execute the keyboard shortcut

Press Ctrl+Shift+V on your keyboard. This will either instantly paste the text without formatting or open a quick paste options menu where you can select the plain text format.

Use the Paste Plain Text Keyboard Shortcut

Shortcut Compatibility: If Ctrl+Shift+V does not work in your specific version of Excel, try pressing Ctrl+Alt+V to open the Paste Special dialog instead.

Solution 2

Use the Paste Special Menu

If you prefer using your mouse, Excel's Paste Special menu allows you to manually strip unwanted formatting before the text drops into the cell.

Efficient Spreadsheet Editing

Paste Plain Text Seamlessly with WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office provides an intuitive, lightweight spreadsheet tool that allows you to easily paste unformatted text and values, keeping your worksheets clean and professional without complex workarounds.

1. Download and install WPS Office: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and open the WPS Spreadsheet application.
2. Copy your source text: Highlight and copy the desired text from your webpage or document to your clipboard.
3. Access Paste Special: Right-click the target cell in your WPS Spreadsheet and select 'Paste Special' from the menu.
4. Select Unformatted Text: Choose 'Unformatted text' or 'Values' to insert your data cleanly without carrying over original styles.

Completely free and lightweight office suiteFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .xls) formatsBuilt-in, easy-to-access Paste Special features for formatting controlFamiliar tabbed user interface for quick and seamless migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set Excel to always paste as plain text by default?

Unlike Microsoft Word, Excel does not have a built-in toggle to permanently change the default paste behavior to plain text. You must use shortcuts like Ctrl+Shift+V or the Paste Special menu each time you paste.

Why does my pasted text go into a single cell instead of multiple columns?

This usually happens when the source text lacks standard tabular formatting, such as tabs or comma separations. After pasting, you can use the 'Text to Columns' feature located under the Data tab to split your plain text into separate columns.

How do I remove formatting from text that has already been pasted into Excel?

If you have already pasted text and it retained unwanted formatting, simply highlight the affected cells, navigate to the Home tab, click the 'Clear' button (often an eraser icon), and select 'Clear Formats'. This will remove colors, borders, and fonts while keeping your plain text intact.

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