Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V Not Working in Word 2021

John Wilson Sep 27, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user needs to restore the functionality of the copy and paste formatting keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V) in Microsoft Word 2021.

How to Fix Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V Shortcuts in Word 2021

Product: Microsoft Word 2021
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to copy and paste text formatting quickly using the standard keyboard shortcuts.
Observed behavior: The Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V shortcuts fail to copy and paste text formatting as expected.

Before you start

Ensure that your keyboard is functioning correctly and that no third-party background applications (such as screen recorders or graphics software) are globally overriding these specific shortcut combinations.

Solution 1Recommended

Reassign Shortcuts via Customize Keyboard Settings

Manually reassign the traditional keyboard shortcuts in Word's options menu to restore their original formatting functionality.

In some updates of Microsoft Word 2021, default keyboard shortcuts may have been altered. You can easily fix this by manually assigning the CopyFormat and PasteFormat commands back to their traditional keys.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word 2021. Click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the very bottom of the menu.

Access Keyboard Customization

In the Word Options window, select 'Customize Ribbon' from the left-hand pane. Next to 'Keyboard shortcuts' at the bottom of the window, click the 'Customize...' button.

Assign CopyFormat Shortcut

In the 'Categories' list, scroll down and select 'All Commands'. In the 'Commands' list on the right, locate and select 'CopyFormat'. Click inside the 'Press new shortcut key' box, press 'Ctrl+Shift+C' on your keyboard, and click the 'Assign' button.

Assign PasteFormat Shortcut

Stay in the same 'Commands' list and locate 'PasteFormat'. Click inside the 'Press new shortcut key' box, press 'Ctrl+Shift+V', click 'Assign', and then click 'Close' to save your changes.

Reassign Shortcuts via Customize Keyboard Settings

Shortcuts Restored: Your formatting shortcuts will now work perfectly across all your Word 2021 documents.

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Experience Hassle-Free Formatting with WPS Office

If you are tired of troubleshooting changed settings and broken shortcuts in Microsoft Word 2021, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible word processor where traditional shortcuts work flawlessly right out of the box.

1. Download and Install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open Your Document: Open your existing .docx files directly in WPS Writer without losing any original formatting.
3. Use Shortcuts Immediately: Select text and use Ctrl+Shift+C and Ctrl+Shift+V instantly without needing manual configuration.

Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft OfficeFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsFamiliar user interface requires no learning curveNative, out-of-the-box support for standard formatting shortcuts like Ctrl+Shift+C

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Ctrl+Shift+C stop working in Word 2021?

Microsoft occasionally updates default keyboard shortcuts in newer Office versions. Alternatively, a newly installed add-in or third-party software may have reassigned the shortcut for its own use.

Can I reset all my Word keyboard shortcuts to default?

Yes. Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize Keyboard. At the bottom of the dialog box, click the 'Reset All...' button to restore the original factory shortcut settings.

What is the alternative to using these formatting shortcuts?

You can use the Format Painter tool located on the Home tab. Click it once to copy formatting to a single selection, or double-click it to apply the copied formatting to multiple different selections.

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