Using PowerToys to Paste Without Formatting in Windows
Here’s where I ran into trouble — copying stuff from Chrome or Word and then pasting into another app, only to get a mishmash of fonts, sizes, colours, and all that clutter. Frustrating, isn’t it? Luckily, I discovered a much smoother way by using Microsoft’s PowerToys. It took a bit of trial and error to get everything set up just right, so don’t worry if it seems a bit confusing at first.
Installing PowerToys
The first step is to install PowerToys. You can get it through the Microsoft Store or directly from GitHub (https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases) if you want the latest version or prefer not to use the Store. It’s pretty straightforward — download the installer, run it, and it’ll place a small icon in your system tray. Once installed, open the app from the Start menu or system tray. That’s where it gets a bit tricky because there are lots of options — some I didn’t even realise I needed at first!
Finding the Right Features
Inside the PowerToys app, you’ll see tabs like General, FancyZones, Keyboard Manager, and others. For simply copying plain text, the main feature to look for is Clipboard Manager. But first, ensure Windows’ own clipboard features are turned on. Go to Settings > Privacy > Clipboard, then toggle on Clipboard history. If you like, you can also switch on Sync across devices, though it’s not necessary just to paste plain text. This allows you to press Windows + V later to view your clipboard history — super handy if you copy multiple things often.
Back in PowerToys, activate Clipboard Manager. This stores a history of what you’ve copied, so you can choose exactly what to paste. When both Windows clipboard history and PowerToys’ clipboard features are enabled, you can paste plain text by selecting the right item or using a shortcut.
Hotkeys and How to Paste Plain Text
This is where it gets interesting — PowerToys has preset hotkeys. The most useful one is Windows + Control + V. Once set up, this shortcut will paste your clipboard content as plain text, ignoring styles and formatting. It might not work immediately out of the box, so you might need to assign this shortcut manually in Keyboard Manager within PowerToys.
Alternatively, pressing Windows + Shift + V opens your clipboard history, allowing you to pick a previous copy. From there, you can select the plain text version if you’ve copied multiple formats. Sometimes, I’ve found that Win + Ctrl + V doesn’t do anything unless I set it up — so double-check your shortcut assignments in Keyboard Manager.
How It Looks in Action
If you copy styled text — say, from a webpage or Word document — and then hit your hotkey, it will past as plain text with no fonts or styles. It’s a real time-saver when you want everything stripped back to simple text. Once everything’s set up, it works surprisingly well. Just remember, if your hotkeys aren’t doing the job, verify that PowerToys is running, shortcuts are assigned, and Windows’ clipboard features are active.
Important Tips & Troubleshooting
Be aware that enabling clipboard history and PowerToys’ clipboard features might raise some security considerations. For example, if you have sensitive info in your clipboard or share your device, keep in mind that this data is stored temporarily. Also, clearing your clipboard or PowerToys’ clipboard history will remove saved items — do this if you want to wipe any traces.
If you’re using a manufacturer’s device (like Lenovo, Dell, etc.), some BIOS options may be greyed out or labelled differently — especially settings related to Secure Boot or virtualisation features that may affect tools like PowerToys. For example, certain TPM or security features such as Intel PTT or AMD fTPM can interfere with BitLocker or clipboard security. If options are missing or disabled, look for BIOS updates or consult your device’s documentation. Sometimes, resetting BIOS to default or updating it helps resolve these issues.
A quick note: older versions of PowerToys may not have this feature polished, or the “Paste as Plain Text” hotkey might not be available. In those cases, you might need third-party tools or scripts. But overall, recent versions handle this pretty smoothly.
Wrapping Up
While it takes a bit of effort to set up PowerToys for pasting without formatting, it’s definitely worth it. Enable Windows clipboard history, make sure PowerToys is running, and set or check your hotkeys — especially Win + Ctrl + V. After that, pasting plain text becomes a quick shortcut rather than a messy chore.
I hope this helps someone else who’s tearing their hair out over formatting problems. Double-check your PowerToys version, ensure clipboard settings are on in Windows, and verify your shortcuts are properly assigned. That’s how I finally cracked it after a night of tinkering. Good luck!