Setting Default Paste to Plain Text in Excel

Question

Is there a way to configure Excel to automatically paste copied content as plain text, so that it matches the current font size and type in the spreadsheet?

Answer 1

Dear Mary Brennan

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Forum and thank you for reaching out and sharing your issue.

Based on the details you provided, I understand that you're looking for a way to configure Excel to automatically paste copied content as plain text, so that it matches the font size and type of the destination cells.

After conducting research and testing within my own test environment, here are a few troubleshooting methods you can try:

• Add “Paste as Values” to the Quick Access Toolbar 
  Go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar. 
  Under All Commands, look for the option named “Match Destination Formatting”. Click Add >> to include it in your toolbar for quick access.

• Use the Paste Special shortcut: Press Ctrl + Alt + V to open the Paste Special dialog. 
  Choose Values or Unicode Text to paste without any formatting. Though manual, this method is effective if you'd prefer not to use macros.

• Try Ctrl + Shift + V: This shortcut pastes content with its original formatting, which may help depending on your context.
• Use the Advanced tab in Excel Options 
  Go to File > Options > Advanced.   
  Under the Cut, Copy, and Paste section, make sure the relevant options are checked to enhance paste behavior.

I hope this information is helpful! Please note that these are temporary workarounds, as the ability to default paste as plain text is currently a limitation by design in Microsoft 365.

Accessibility and usability remain top priorities. I strongly encourage you to share your feedback via Help > Feedback in the Excel app or directly through the Microsoft Feedback Portal.

Your experience is valuable and contributes to future product improvements.   
Thanks again for your patience and continued support.

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