With the keyboard shortcut
In current versions of Word for Windows included with Microsoft 365, Ctrl+Shift+V pastes text only, without fonts, colors or links.
In older versions of Word the same shortcut does something else (it pastes the formatting copied with the Format Painter), so if you don't get the expected result, use any of the methods below.
With Paste Options
- Paste as usual with Ctrl+V.
- Press Ctrl (just that key) to open the Paste Options menu.
- Press T or choose the Keep Text Only icon.
You'll also find it on the Home tab: click the arrow under Paste and choose Keep Text Only.
Make Word always paste without formatting
- Go to File › Options › Advanced.
- In the Cut, copy, and paste section, find Pasting from other programs.
- Choose Keep Text Only and click OK.
From then on, everything you paste from your browser, email or other programs will arrive as plain text.
In Word for Mac
Use Edit › Paste Special… and choose Unformatted Text. If you'd rather have the text take on the style of your document, use Edit › Paste and Match Formatting.
If you already pasted formatted text
Select the text and click the Clear All Formatting button (the “A” with an eraser) on the Home tab. The text will go back to the document's normal style.
If the shortcut doesn't work in your app, paste the text in the box above, click Copy plain text and paste it wherever you want: it will arrive without any formatting.