Clean Up Your Notes: OneNote’s Long-Overdue Plain-Text Paste Shortcut

Clean Up Your Notes: OneNote’s Long-Overdue Plain-Text Paste Shortcut

Tired of mismatched fonts and colors when pasting into OneNote? Discover how a new shortcut and a smoother experience finally makes note-taking neater and faster.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor, 

September 8, 2025

Have you ever pasted something into OneNote and winced at mismatched fonts or unexpected background colors? 

That tiny formatting glitch isn’t just distracting, it slows you down. 

Now imagine a quick fix: one keystroke that drops in your text clean and uniform. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New OneNote Keyboard Shortcut.

What the Feature Is and Why It Matters

OneNote now finally respects your formatting preferences: you paste text and it conforms to the page, not the original styling. That means no rogue fonts, clashing colors, or wayward sizes disrupting your visual flow. It’s essentially a tidy-desk approach, but for your digital workspace.

What You'll Gain

• Consistent, clean formatting across pasted content.

• A faster workflow with fewer manual cleanup steps.

• A more professional look, whether you’re in meetings or classroom brainstorming.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here's how to do it.

For Windows (Desktop)

1. Open your notebook in OneNote (version 2508, Build 19101.10000 or later).
2. Copy text as usual (Ctrl+C).
3. Use Ctrl + Shift + V to paste stylized to your note’s format.
4. Or right-click → Paste Options → Keep Text Only.

fig. 1 - Paste Clean Text in Microsoft OneNote

For Mac

1. Use OneNote Mac (Build 16.100 or later).
2. Copy text (Cmd+C).
3. Press Command + Shift + V to paste clean.
4. Or right-click and choose Keep Text Only from your context menu.

For OneNote for Web

1. The shortcut also works in the web version (rolling out via Microsoft 365 Insider Program).
2. Use the same key combos: Ctrl + Shift + V (Win) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac).

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Uses a familiar shortcut (Ctrl + Shift + V / Cmd + Shift + V), so there’s no learning curve.
• Saves time by eliminating the need to manually reformat pasted text.
• Keeps notes visually consistent, especially when copying from emails, PDFs, or web pages.
• Available across Windows, Mac, and the web version for a uniform experience.

Cons

• If you need to preserve original formatting (like styled code blocks or citations), you’ll need to remember to use the standard paste.
• The rollout is gradual—some users may not have access yet.
• Users working with rich text (designers, coders) may find plain-text paste less useful in certain workflows.

Configuration Guide

No setup required.  

Ensure your OneNote is updated to the specified builds: 

• Windows Desktop: version 2508 (Build 19101.10000) or later, 
• Mac: Build 16.100 (25080335) or later
• Web: available to Microsoft 365 Insider tenants now; general users will get it soon. 

If it’s not working, your version might still be rolling out. Check “Help > About OneNote” or install the latest push.

Feature Access

Available to: Microsoft 365 users (Insiders first, then broader release)

Platforms: Windows, Mac, OneNote for Web

Subscription required?: OneNote is part of Microsoft 365 subscriptions; this feature is included in the standard app at no extra cost.

Score

Criterion | Score | Justification

Value 9

Solves a daily pain point—cleans formatting fast.

Usability 10

Uses familiar keystroke, no learning curve.

Wow Factor 6

Long-awaited, yes—but expected in modern apps.

Total: 25/30 → 🌟 Excellent. Highly recommended for immediate use.

Key Takeaways

OneNote finally gets one of its most requested features: clean-text pasting with Ctrl + Shift + V (or Cmd + Shift + V). 

It streamlines note-taking, keeps your pages tidy, and matches how most of us already work in Word, browsers, or email clients.

Try It Yourself

Try it now.  

Paste some content from Outlook or a web page using the shortcut. 

Rate the difference. 

Then share: comment below, subscribe to One Cool Tip, or forward this to your team, especially anyone still wrestling with formatting glitches.

READ MORE

• Unlock the Full Potential of OneNote with Copilot
  
• How to Use the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft 365 to Create Inclusive Content
  
• Math: OneNote’s Hidden Superpower
  

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Rodger Mansfield, a seasoned tech expert, is the mastermind behind www.OneCoolTip.com where he serves as both writer and editor. With a keen eye for simplifying complex tech, Rodger delivers practical advice that empowers readers to navigate the digital world with confidence. Dive into www.OneCoolTip.com for a treasure trove of savvy tips and tricks that keep you one step ahead in tech.

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