Paste Special shortcuts in Excel let you paste only the part of a copied cell you actually need, such as values, formulas, or formatting, without touching the mouse. The core shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+V, followed by a single letter that picks the paste type. Once the letters are memorized, a task that normally takes five clicks takes about one second.
Key Takeaways
- Press Ctrl+Alt+V after copying to open the Paste Special dialog box on Windows.
- Press one letter inside the dialog (V for values, F for formulas, T for formats) and then Enter.
- Alt+E+S is an older sequence that opens the same dialog and still works in Windows.
- On Excel for Mac, the shortcut to open Paste Special is Control+Command+V.
How to Use Paste Special Shortcuts in Excel: Step-by-Step
- Step 1: Select the cell or range to copy, then press Ctrl+C. A moving dashed border appears around the selection, which confirms the copy worked.
- Step 2: Click the first cell of the destination. Pasting always starts at the top-left cell of the area being filled, so there is no need to select the whole target range.
- Step 3: Press Ctrl+Alt+V. The Paste Special dialog box opens right away.
- Step 4: Press the underlined letter for the paste type needed. For example, press V to paste only values.
- Step 5: Press Enter to confirm. The content lands in the destination cell with only the chosen part applied.
Tip: The fastest way to strip formulas and keep only the numbers is Ctrl+C, then Alt+E+S+V, then Enter. It is a single rhythm that becomes automatic after a few days of use.
Paste Special Letter Keys Inside the Dialog Box
These are the underlined letters shown in the Paste Special dialog box on Windows. Pressing the letter selects that option, and Enter applies it.
- A – All, which pastes everything.
- F – Formulas, which pastes formulas without formatting.
- V – Values, which pastes results only, with no formulas.
- T – Formats, which pastes formatting only.
- C – Comments and Notes.
- N – Validation, which pastes data validation rules.
- H – All using Source theme.
- X – All except borders.
- W – Column widths.
- R – Formulas and number formats.
- U – Values and number formats.
Operation, Skip Blanks, and Transpose Letter Keys
The lower half of the dialog box has its own letters. A common real-world use is adding a fixed amount to a whole column of prices: copy the amount, select the prices, open Paste Special, and apply Add.
- D – Add.
- S – Subtract.
- M – Multiply.
- I – Divide.
- B – Skip blanks, so empty source cells do not overwrite existing data.
- E – Transpose, which flips rows into columns or columns into rows.
Tip: Operations and Transpose can be combined with a paste type. Select V first, then add M, and Excel multiplies the destination by the copied value while pasting values only.
Shortcut to Open Paste Special on Mac
On Excel for Mac, copy the cells with Command+C, select the destination, and press Control+Command+V to open the Paste Special dialog box. Choose the option from the dialog and click OK.
Assign Paste Values to the Quick Access Toolbar
For the most-used option, Paste Values, a dedicated shortcut is available through the Quick Access Toolbar. Right-click the Paste Values command on the Home tab and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar. Excel then assigns an Alt+number shortcut based on the button’s position in the toolbar, such as Alt+4. This pastes values with a single key press after Alt.
Common Problems and Fixes
Ctrl+Alt+V Does Nothing
Paste Special only opens when something has been copied. If the dashed border around the source cells has disappeared, the copy was cleared, often by pressing Esc or Enter. Copy the cells again with Ctrl+C and retry. On some keyboard layouts, Ctrl+Alt is read as the AltGr key, which can block the shortcut. In that case, use Alt+E+S instead.
The Dialog Shows Different Options
When the copied content comes from another program, such as a web page or an email, the dialog lists formats like Text or Unicode Text instead of the usual Excel choices. Pick the Text or Unicode Text option to paste clean text without outside formatting. Copying from inside Excel brings back the full list.
Alt+E+S Sequence Is Not Working
The keys need to be pressed one after another, not held together. After pressing Alt, release it, press E, release it, and then press S. If the sequence is typed too quickly, Excel can miss a key. Slowing down for the first attempt usually fixes it.
Formulas Are Still There After Pasting Values
This happens when a different letter was pressed, such as F or A, or when Enter was pressed before the letter registered. Press Ctrl+Z to undo, reopen Paste Special, press V, and confirm that the Values option is selected before pressing Enter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut for Paste Special in Excel?
On Windows, the shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+V, which opens the Paste Special dialog box after copying. The older Alt+E+S sequence also works. On Mac, the shortcut is Control+Command+V.
What is the shortcut to paste values only in Excel?
Copy the cells, select the destination, press Ctrl+Alt+V, then press V, and then press Enter. The Alt+E+S+V sequence followed by Enter does the same job.
How do I paste formulas only using a keyboard shortcut?
Press Ctrl+C, select the destination, press Ctrl+Alt+V, press F, and then press Enter. This pastes the formulas without copying the source formatting.
How do I paste formatting only with a Paste Special shortcut?
Open the dialog with Ctrl+Alt+V, press T for Formats, and press Enter. Only the formatting is applied to the destination cells, and the existing content stays as it is.
What is the Paste Special shortcut to transpose data?
After copying a range, press Ctrl+Alt+V, press E to tick the Transpose box, and press Enter. Rows become columns and columns become rows in the pasted result.
Can Paste Special be used to add or multiply a number across a range?
Yes. Copy the number, select the target range, press Ctrl+Alt+V, and press D for Add or M for Multiply. Press Enter to apply the operation to every selected cell.
How do I paste column widths using Paste Special shortcuts?
Copy a cell from the column with the desired width, select the destination column, press Ctrl+Alt+V, press W, and press Enter. The column width is matched without changing the cell contents.
Is there a Paste Special shortcut for Mac Excel?
Yes. Press Control+Command+V after copying to open the Paste Special dialog box in Excel for Mac. The option is then chosen in the dialog and confirmed with OK.
