Copy ChatGPT Text Without Formatting (Word, Docs, Notion)
Quick answer: paste with the "plain text" shortcut instead of the normal paste. On Windows that is usually Ctrl + Shift + V; on Mac it is Cmd + Shift + V in Google Docs, and Cmd + Option + Shift + V in many other Mac apps. In Word, choose Keep Text Only from the paste options. Plain-text paste drops the gray code-style background, fonts and colors that come along when you copy from a web page.
This guide is for people who draft in ChatGPT and finish in Word, Google Docs, Notion or an email client. Keyboard shortcuts and menu names change between app versions, so treat the steps below as the usual behavior and check your own app if something differs.
Why ChatGPT text arrives with a gray background
When you select text on a web page and copy it, the browser copies the visible styling as well as the words. ChatGPT shows some content, such as inline code, code blocks and tables, with its own fonts and shaded backgrounds. A word processor reads that styling and tries to reproduce it, so you see gray highlights, a monospaced font, odd spacing or a different text size. The words are fine; the extra formatting is what needs to go.
Method 1: Paste as plain text
This is the fastest fix and works in most apps.
- Copy the text from ChatGPT.
- Click where you want it in your document or email.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows or Chrome OS) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac, Google Docs).
- If the text still carries styling in a Mac app that ignores that combination, try Cmd + Option + Shift + V, which is the "paste and match style" shortcut in many Mac apps.
The result takes on the formatting of the place where you paste it, so headings and fonts match the rest of your document.
Method 2: Use each app's paste options
Microsoft Word
- Paste normally with Ctrl + V.
- Click the small Paste Options icon that appears near the pasted text.
- Choose Keep Text Only (the clipboard icon with an "A").
To skip the extra step, open Home > Paste > Paste Special and choose Unformatted Text, or set your default under File > Options > Advanced > Cut, copy, and paste. Menu labels can vary by Word version, and the exact shortcut for Paste Special may differ on Mac.
Google Docs
Use Edit > Paste without formatting or Ctrl + Shift + V (Cmd + Shift + V on Mac). Google's own shortcut list names these combinations.
Notion
Notion often converts pasted Markdown into headings, lists and code blocks on its own, so a normal paste can work well there. If the result is cluttered, use the plain-text paste shortcut and re-apply the formatting you want.
Email (Gmail, Outlook)
Both support a plain-text paste shortcut similar to the ones above. Plain text is safest for email, because the recipient's client will not inherit stray fonts or colors.
Method 3: Use the copy button, then check the result
ChatGPT shows a copy icon under its replies and on code blocks. Using it avoids dragging a selection across the page, so you do not pick up sidebar text or half-selected lines. What the button puts on your clipboard (Markdown text, rich text or both) can vary by interface version, so paste once and look at the result. If you see symbols such as ** or #, you have Markdown text, which leads to the next section.
Markdown symbols in Word and Docs
ChatGPT writes in Markdown: # for headings, **bold** for bold and - for bullets. Word does not convert those symbols into formatting when you paste them. Options:
- Paste as plain text, then apply Word styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, bullets) yourself. This is slower but reliable.
- In Google Docs, check whether your version offers a Markdown option in Tools > Preferences or in the Edit menu. Availability may vary by account and version.
- Paste into Notion first, let it render the Markdown, then copy from Notion into your final document.
- Ask ChatGPT for the answer without Markdown, for example "reply in plain paragraphs with no symbols for formatting."
Fixing tables and lists
Tables: a pasted table can turn into a stack of lines separated by | characters. Ask ChatGPT to format it as a table, then paste into Google Docs or Notion, which usually handle tables well. In Word, paste with the default option and avoid Keep Text Only for tables, because plain text removes the cell structure. If the cells still collapse, paste into a spreadsheet first and copy the cells into Word. Another route is to select the text in Word and use Insert > Table > Convert Text to Table.
Lists: plain-text paste can leave numbers as typed characters rather than real list formatting. Select the lines and apply your app's bullet or numbered list button. If double numbering appears (a typed "1." plus the automatic number), delete the typed numbers.
Code: if you want the monospaced look kept, use the copy button on the code block and paste normally into a code block or a monospaced style.
Troubleshooting and common mistakes
- Gray background remains in Word: select the text and use Home > Shading > No Color, or clear formatting with the eraser icon (Clear All Formatting).
- Shortcut does nothing: some apps use a different combination. Use the app's Edit or Paste menu instead.
- Everything lost its bold and headings: that is what plain text does. Re-apply styles, or use a normal paste and then clear only the background.
- Pasting into an address bar to strip formatting: this works as a hack but can mangle line breaks and long text. A proper plain-text paste is cleaner.
- Not proofreading: formatting is only half the job. Read the text and verify facts and figures before you publish or send it.
FAQ
What is the shortcut to paste without formatting?
Usually Ctrl + Shift + V on Windows and Cmd + Shift + V in Google Docs on Mac. Some Mac apps use Cmd + Option + Shift + V. Word's behavior can vary by version, so the Paste Options menu is the dependable route.
Does the ChatGPT copy button remove formatting?
Not always. It saves selecting by hand, but the result depends on the interface and the app you paste into. Paste once and check, then use plain-text paste if needed.
How do I keep headings and bold when I paste?
Use a normal paste into Notion or Google Docs and see whether the formatting carries over. In Word, apply heading styles after pasting plain text.
Why does my pasted ChatGPT table look broken?
Tables copy as structured content only in some combinations of app and browser. Try Google Docs or Notion, or paste into a spreadsheet first, then move it to Word.
Does this work on the ChatGPT mobile app?
The copy icon is available there too. On a phone, paste behavior depends on the receiving app, so look for a "paste as plain text" or "paste and match style" option in its menu.
Last reviewed: October 2026.