macOS Quick Tip: How to Paste Text Without Formatting
Ever copied text from a website only to have it bring along unwanted fonts, colors, and styles when you paste it elsewhere? You’re not alone. Fortunately, macOS offers a simple solution to paste text without any formatting.
The Shortcut You Need
To paste plain text without any formatting, use the following keyboard shortcut:
Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + Shift (⇧) + V
This command strips away all original formatting, allowing the text to adopt the style of the destination document. It’s a system-wide shortcut, so it works in most macOS applications that accept text input .
Customize Your Shortcut (Optional)
If this key combination feels cumbersome, you can customize it:
Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.
Select App Shortcuts and click the + button.
Choose All Applications.
Enter the exact menu command name, such as “Paste and Match Style”.
Assign a new, more convenient key combination.
This customization allows you to set a shortcut that better fits your workflow .
Alternative Methods
If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, consider these alternatives:
Use Plain Text Editors: Pasting text into apps like TextEdit (in plain text mode) or BBEdit automatically removes formatting.
Third-Party Tools: Applications like PureText or Paste Plain Text can help manage clipboard content and strip formatting.
By incorporating these tips, you can ensure that pasted text matches your desired formatting, keeping your documents clean and consistent.