Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Copying a Cell without Formatting.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 10, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
If you want to copy the contents of a cell without formatting, you can easily do so by using the Paste Special feature of Excel. Simply follow these steps:
In step 5 you could have chosen one of the Paste Values options, but Excel would not have transferred any formulas. Instead, it would have pasted the results of formulas, as if they were static values. In other words, to truly copy cell contents, you must use the Formulas option.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9045) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Copying a Cell without Formatting.
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2023-01-10 05:37:12
Mark Watson
For us keyboard warriors the Paste Special shortcut is Alt-E S
I tend to use these two:
Alt E S V to paste just the Values or
Alt E S T to paste just the Format
2019-03-30 07:40:07
Alex B
I used to think what I wanted to do was copy "without formatting" but when it resulted in dates turning out as numbers I soon realised that a much better option was to include the Number format in the copying.
On the Paste Special Dialogue box on the right hand side you will find these options.
• Formulas and number formats (or right-click paste special drop down > button with %fx - 1st row)
• Values and number formats (or right-click paste special drop down > button with %2 - 3rd row)
I use the values and number formats enough to have it on the quick access toolbar.
In vba xlPasteFormulasAndNumberFormats & xlPasteValuesAndNumberFormats.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
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