These two options will paste plain text, that we desire most of the time. Others are Unicode Text and Text (press T for selecting Text). The default is an HTML option, which will paste everything you copied. When using the paste special, here you will get only three options HTML, Unicode Text, and Text. In that case, you will use paste special. You would probably like to paste values only.

In those cases, if you directly paste using CTRL+V, excel will most likely paste all the components of source like formatting, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. Many times we copy data from other sources, like the internet or any other application. Similarly, we can do all of the tasks in using just the keyboard with the paste special shortcuts options. On Mac, use the command+T key to select Value. It pastes the formatting of the copied range to the selected range. To paste just formatting, press the T key (T is underlined for Forma ts). On Mac, we use the command+V key to select Value. It does not have any formatting or formulas. When I hit the Enter button, I get naked values. I hit the V key (V is underlined on Value option). Now press the shortcut CTRL+ALT+V in windows to open the paste special shortcut. Here I have an excel table that is formatted and has formulas in it. Let's have some examples to see the paste special shortcuts in action. To select an option from the list, we use the COMMAND+letter key in mac. In mac, we use CTRL+COMMAND+V key combination to open the paste special dialog. Each choice has a letter underlined that you can press on the keyboard to paste that property of copied cell/range. Here you will many choices for pasting your data.

Once you press this key combination, the paste special dialog box will open. In windows, the keyboard shortcut for paste special is CTRL+Alt+V. I often refer to this option for various tasks, and here the shortcut of paste special in excel comes in handy. It helps us control what we want to copy from the source and what we don't. The paste special feature is undoubtedly a very useful option in Excel.

Copy formatting shortcut