What is the keyboard shortcut for Keep Text Only in Outlook?

Question

When I paste text into an email in Outlook, the following prompt hovers near the text:

enter image description here

Based on the hint, instead of clicking on the button with the mouse, it looks like I should be able to press Ctrl+T. But if I do that, it indents the paragraph.

So what key combination will keep the text only?

score 77 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 13 '14 at 04:07

77

I figured it out. It isn't Ctrl+T, it is Ctrl, T (as in press and release Ctrl, then press T).

So, the pattern to paste as text only is: Ctrl+V, Ctrl, T.

edited Aug 13 '14 at 04:07

Linger

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answered Oct 05 '11 at 18:36

Rich Bennema

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Even if it works, it is odd that you first paste with format, and then "retreat" the format. It is not: 1) the way usually "paste-as-text" works, 2) a desirable way (something may happen in between, and you are left with a formatted paste). I wonder if there is another option. – sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio Jan 09 '15 at 09:42
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... there is another option, see [this answer](http://superuser.com/a/862574/245595). – sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio Jan 09 '15 at 09:50
Alternatives for pasting unformatted text are appreciated, but you might be missing the point of the question. Unless it's [disabled](http://superuser.com/a/343279/52477), Outlook pops up Paste Options, even using [your alternative](http://superuser.com/a/862574/52477). What I wanted to know was how to use the keyboard shortcuts for those Paste Options. The keys are displayed visually, but, to me, the combination is not obvious. – Rich Bennema Jan 09 '15 at 13:57
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Thank you.. this is not just for Outlook, but all office programs where they have a paste option works. Once you are used to pressing `Ctrl` soon after pasting (i.e. `Ctrl`+`V` depress and press `Ctrl` again) you will get used to it. The popup we get also gives option to paste as images, merge formatting etc. If your day job demands doing the same paste operation (e.g. pasting 30 slides into a word document as images) this sequence provides nice option. – Adarsha Jul 11 '19 at 02:55
@sancho.sReinstateMonica This is Microsoft's way of thinking. :) – toddwz Nov 20 '19 at 15:59
does not work in outlook 2021. ctrl + t generates a long space. – JRichardsz May 17 '21 at 14:25

score 15 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:30

15

Another option is Alt+H+V+T (i.e., keeping Alt pressed until after you press T).

edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:30

Giacomo1968

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answered Jun 01 '14 at 08:59

martinpolley

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You only need to keep Alt depressed while pressing H. Then you can release Alt and press V-T. This is typical for Office and many other Windows programs. – sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio Jan 09 '15 at 14:42
Works like a charm thanks! (in Outlook 2019 there is no need to keep holdint Alt! Just pressing Alt, H, V, T in that order works for me too) +1 thanks! – Sam Oct 14 '19 at 06:56

score 7 · Answer 3 · edited May 25 '16 at 02:24

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In Outlook 2016, when you paste, press Ctrl and then click on "Set default paste...":

When pressing Ctrl

When pressing <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>

Then just select options, that are appropriate for you.

edited May 25 '16 at 02:24

fixer1234

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answered May 24 '16 at 22:29

Peter Morávek

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This is the best answer in my opinion. Using "Merge Formatting" works well. When I use the most upvoted answer, if the text I'm pasting contains line breaks, and I'm pasting it into a numbered list; this would put it as several list items. Using this instead makes it go into 1 list item. Thanks! – Danny Beckett Oct 16 '16 at 06:16
Outlook ignores these settings when copying *anything* from VSCode and pasting it into a list in Outlook. To fix it, you also need to modify the "smart cut and paste" settings (accessed with the `Settings...` button in the screenshot above) and deselect "Merge pasted lists with surrounding lists". I do not know if this makes it harder to paste lists though because I only just figured this out. – GreenRaccoon23 Jul 07 '23 at 17:19

score 7 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:29

7

There is an option with a small number of keystrokes, which does not involve an intermediate paste-with-format:

Ctrl+Alt+V, Unformatted text

Taken from an excellent summary of shortcuts.

edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:29

Giacomo1968

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answered Jan 09 '15 at 09:49

sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio

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For me, this brings up the Paste Special dialog, which either means more keystrokes or using the mouse. In terms of pasting unformatted text directly, I prefer [martinpolley's answer](http://superuser.com/a/762243/52477). It's one more keystroke, but there is no dialog. – Rich Bennema Jan 09 '15 at 13:49
@RichBennema - The downside (for me) about that sequence, as with many others related to accessing the ribbon, is that it has changed from the "standard" shortcuts. For me it is almost set in stone that V is for pasting, and with that one you have go first with H. It's a matter of taste. – sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio Jan 09 '15 at 14:46

score 5 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '19 at 17:35

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CTRL+V+SPACE worked for me.

But I found a definitive solution on another web site, just by changing my default paste settings. Here are the instructions.

I hope that it works for you.

edited May 23 '19 at 17:35

zx485

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answered May 23 '19 at 16:25

Luis Arellano

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In Outlook 2013 I have set every default paste setting to "Keep Text Only" and it [does not honor the settings](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_365hp-word/setting-default-to-paste-in-plain-text-not-working/77d89630-48b4-41df-ac38-6dfc649f32fe) unless you also keep the option enabled to "Show Paste Options button when content is pasted." – Elaskanator Jul 18 '19 at 14:04

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 13 '16 at 13:15

I think I've found a great solution which makes it as good as the one I had in Word 2003 etc. Back then you had to create a macro. I called it 'pasteunformatted' and assign a shortcut key (I used Ctrl+T).

If you go Customize ribbon > Check 'developer' box to open up that tab, OK. Then select it.

Grab your some text to be copy/pasted from anywhere. This is just to set up the macro.

Click 'Record Macro'. Choose a name. Assign your shortcut key.

Now go Ctrl+V to paste. Then press Ctrl (release) then 't' as described by some users above. Now stop record. You now have a macro that will paste unformatted text as you may have had previously, with the shortcut key you assigned to it.

Hope that helps.

This question is about Outlook, not Word. Outlook does not have a Macro Recorder, although some Word macros may be usable in Outlook if you add a reference to the Word object model. — Amit Naidu, Feb 29 '16 at 16:11

score 1 · Answer 7 · edited May 03 '16 at 08:51

1

As mentioned in the list of the keyboard shortcuts in the Outlook Help page:

Ctrl+v then Ctrl+SPACE seems a reasonable solution that gives a way to apply the current format of the mail you're writing to the text you paste. An alternative is Ctrl+v then Ctrl+Shift+z which removes any format.

edited May 03 '16 at 08:51

NetworkKingPin

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answered Apr 29 '16 at 14:46

Ben

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These shortcuts don't do anything special. They just insert the formatted text. – Jack Miller Aug 08 '17 at 07:44

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Apr 27 '18 at 18:36

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I've also found that you can simply right-click and press 'T'.

answered Apr 27 '18 at 18:36

twerth5000

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score 0 · Answer 9 · answered Aug 20 '21 at 10:50

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You can do this in just two single key presses, no need to paste first:

Context menu key, then t.

answered Aug 20 '21 at 10:50

kh42874

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score 0 · Answer 10 · edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:31

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I am not sure whether this is the answer you are looking for. I have disabled the show paste options ( options --> Mail --> uncheck show paste options when content is pasted into a message) Just using Ctrl+V to paste

edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:31

Giacomo1968

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answered Oct 05 '11 at 15:55

Hira

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Warning: If you disable that setting, then your [default paste options are ignored](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_365hp-word/setting-default-to-paste-in-plain-text-not-working/77d89630-48b4-41df-ac38-6dfc649f32fe). – Elaskanator Jul 18 '19 at 14:09

score 0 · Answer 11 · edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:31

0

With show paste options disabled you can press Menu, Ctrl, T, Enter.

The "Menu" key gives the right-click menu. It’s between Alt and Ctrl, to the right of space on my keyboard.

edited Sep 21 '15 at 05:31

Giacomo1968

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answered May 02 '14 at 06:04

JonDoig

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score -1 · Answer 12 · answered Nov 03 '17 at 08:15

I was looking for an answer that works in Microsoft Word for Mac. I tried all the answers and none of them worked. Here is the procedure that worked for me:

1- Copy a sample piece of text to the clipboard.

2- View > Macros > Choose Record Macro...

It will open a new window.

3- Click the "Keyboard" button in the new window.

4- Press Ctrl + h (or whatever combination of buttons that you prefer.)

5- Click the "OK" button.

6- Use Ctrl + v to paste the copied text to somewhere in your document.

7- Using your mouse, choose paste options, and click on "Keep Text Only".

8- View > Macros > Stop Recording

From now on, whenever you want to paste anything with the "Keep Text Only," instead of Ctrl + v, you can just press Ctrl + h (or whatever combination of buttons that you prefer.)

Mac OS normally uses Shift+Option+Command+V to paste and match style (the destination's style), which is essentially paste unformatted. (BTW, Shift+Option is basically Alt, so the keys are actually Alt+Command+V.) The key sequence works for Office (I have 2011) too. — PReinie, Jan 25 '21 at 17:37

What is the keyboard shortcut for Keep Text Only in Outlook?

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