How to force OS X Notes application to lose formatting when I paste text from clipboard?

Question

While I do find Notes.app very useful, especially due to the iCloud integration with iOS counterpart apps, I am very annoyed about the text formatting used by the application.

I just want to be able to copy text from web pages and paste it as plain text in this application.

Is there any way to obtain this? Maybe some Clipboard manager that can work in background, or even another application that I can use to obtain this.

While I would like to keep bold and hyperlinks, I do not want to keep any fonts or sizes when I paste the text.

Note: the solution should be transparent — not requiring me to use extra steps for pasting, ⌘V only.

MattDMo · Answer 1 · 2013-03-09T17:54:56.897

94

You can use OptionShift⌘-V to paste and match the current style. This removes all previous formatting, links, etc.

If you would like to make this the default action when pressing ⌘V, open System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts, and select Application Shortcuts from the list on the left. Then, hit + to make a new shortcut, select Notes.app from the dropdown list, enter Paste and Match Style exactly in the Menu Title box, then hit ⌘V with your cursor in the Keyboard Shortcut box. After hitting Add, you can flip back to Notes.app and click on the Edit menu to see that the shortcut has been reassigned.

edited Mar 09 '13 at 17:54

answered Mar 09 '13 at 14:23

MattDMo

2,965

If I would be able to swap the shortcuts it would be a great solution! Thanks. – sorin Mar 09 '13 at 15:07
2

@SorinSbarnea - I just updated my answer to show you how to do it. – MattDMo Mar 09 '13 at 17:55
BTW, this is on Mountain Lion, not sure if the steps are different on previous versions... – MattDMo Mar 09 '13 at 18:12
5

Also, you can go to Format > Font > Remove Style to reset formatting to default for the current note. – Iulian Onofrei Feb 02 '15 at 08:32
This works in Sierra. Important to exactly copy Paste and Match Style – macloo Feb 27 '17 at 14:47
1

I would add to MattDMo that instead of pasting Paste and Match Style, the one worked with me is Paste and Retain Style. After that you need to close and open Notes app. – Jawad Sabir Apr 07 '17 at 03:27

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 02 '18 at 23:45

8

You can select the text in Notes app, then Format -> Font -> Remove Style. Unfortunately there's no keyboard shortcut for that command :/

answered Jan 02 '18 at 23:45

KarlV

81

it does not remove tables, attempt with "Paste and Match Style" can remove tables. – user432672 Jan 03 '18 at 19:58
Has this changed? It's unbelievable that in 2022 this cannot be done via a shortcut or set as default – Eugen Sunic Nov 30 '22 at 21:38

alakin_11 · Answer 3 · 2017-09-18T22:58:43.523

1

Once you have copied the data. Instead of doing cmd-v, go to Edit -> Paste and Retain Style.

Look at this tutorial for creating a keyboard shortcut: https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/something-copy-paste

edited Sep 18 '17 at 22:58

answered Sep 14 '17 at 21:40

alakin_11

397
3
3

Have you looked at the Edit-menu and its shortcuts for "Paste and Match Style?" Put that in and I think your answer improves. – LаngLаngС Sep 14 '17 at 22:17

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited Oct 19 '17 at 12:52

1

I actually found the keyboard combination difficult and it doesn't work in Word and Excel. Ended up getting an app from the App Store to do the job. Works great for me! Plain Text Copy

edited Oct 19 '17 at 12:52

Allan

101,432

answered Oct 19 '17 at 11:50

Steve Roald

19

How to force OS X Notes application to lose formatting when I paste text from clipboard?

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