You can copy and paste text and images between your files — even if you're going from one type of file to another. You might be able to copy and paste with the right-click menu, but for security reasons, most browsers don't allow web apps (like
Docs, Sheets, and Slides) to use your computer's clipboard through menus. To copy and paste: Tip: To use the menu options, Docs Offline extension needs to be
installed. To copy and paste, you can use keyboard shortcuts: Copy text formatting (paint format)Use the right-click menu or keyboard shortcuts
If you use Chrome
If you use a different browser
More paste options
You can copy the formatting of text, cells, or an object with the paint format tool.
- On your computer, open a Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides file.
- Select the text, range of cells, or object you want to copy the format of.
- In the toolbar, click Paint format
. Your cursor icon will change to show you're in paint format mode.
- Select what you want to paste the formatting onto.
- The formatting will change to be the same as the formatting you copied.
Tip: To paste the formatting in multiple places, double click Paint format
Keyboard shortcuts
To copy the formatting of selected text:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + c (Windows or Chrome OS) or ⌘ + Option + c (Mac).
To apply the formatting you copied to a different text selection:
- Press Ctrl + Alt + v (Windows or Chrome OS) or ⌘ + Option + v (Mac).
Use paste special in a spreadsheet
You can use paste special to decide which formatting gets copied when copying cells.
Paste special works only within a single spreadsheet. You can't copy cells from one spreadsheet and use paste special in a spreadsheet open in another tab.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- Copy the data you want to paste and put your cursor in the cell you want to paste into.
- Click Edit
Paste special.
- Choose from the following:
- Paste values only: Pastes only the text from the original range of cells.
- Paste format only: This option is identical to using the paint format tool -- it only copies cell formatting, and won't change existing text or formulas.
- Paste all except borders: Pastes everything except cell borders.
- Paste column widths only: Resizes the selected columns to match the original.
- Paste formula only: Pastes the formulas contained in a copied range of cells, not the resulting calculations of the formulas.
- Paste data validation only: Pastes a data validation rule over a range of cells without changing existing formatting, formulas, or text.
- Paste conditional formatting only: Only applies conditional formatting rules to a range of cells.
- Paste transposed: Pastes a rotated version of the copied cells. For example, if you copy a column of cells and use paste transpose, it will paste them into a row, and vice versa.
Choose a format after pasting content
You can format the content after you paste it.
- On your computer, open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
- In a spreadsheet, copy the content you want to paste.
- Paste the content in the same spreadsheet.
- By default, the original formatting of the content will stay the same. To change the formatting, click Paste .
- Choose an option:
- Paste values only: Pastes only the text contained in the original range of cells.
- Paste format only: This option is identical to using the paint format tool -- it only copies cell formatting, and won't change existing text or formulas.
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