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How to Change OneNote Default Paste Back to Keep Source Formatting
Question details
The user wants to change the default Ctrl+V paste behavior in OneNote back to Keep Source Formatting instead of Keep Text Only.
- Product
- Microsoft OneNote
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Pasting copied content into a OneNote notebook using the Ctrl+V shortcut.
- Observed behavior
- The default paste action unexpectedly changes to Keep Text Only on a specific computer, stripping out original formatting, while other Office applications continue to work normally.
Copy a piece of text that contains rich formatting (such as bold text, colors, or links) to your clipboard so you can immediately test the paste options in OneNote.
Use the Right-Click Paste Options Menu
Use the built-in context menu in OneNote to manually select your preferred paste format and set it as the new default behavior.
OneNote allows you to configure paste behaviors directly from the canvas. By interacting with the paste options that appear after pasting, you can instruct OneNote to remember your preference for future Ctrl+V actions.
Right-click on an empty space on your OneNote page.
Under the 'Paste Options' section in the right-click menu, click the icon for 'Keep Source Formatting' (usually the first icon with a paintbrush).
After pasting, click the small paste options dropdown menu that appears next to the pasted text, and select 'Set as Default Paste'.
Repair Microsoft Office Installation
If OneNote does not remember your default paste setting, repairing the Office application can resolve underlying configuration glitches.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneNote randomly change my default paste settings?
This can happen due to automatic Microsoft 365 background updates, conflicting third-party add-ins, or temporary registry glitches on a specific computer. Setting the default manually or running an Office repair usually resolves it.
Can I paste text without formatting using a keyboard shortcut?
Yes. In most modern Office applications, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + V to paste clipboard content as plain text, completely ignoring the source formatting.
How do I check my OneNote version?
Open OneNote, click on 'File' in the top ribbon, and select 'Account' from the left sidebar. Your specific build and version number will be displayed under the 'About OneNote' section.
Does this paste fix apply to Word and Excel?
While the right-click method is similar, Word and Excel have a dedicated settings menu for this. You can navigate to File > Options > Advanced, and scroll down to the 'Cut, copy, and paste' section to configure precise default paste behaviors.
