Paste Values Shortcut in Excel for Mac (Plus Formulas, Formats and Transpose)
Quick answer: To paste values only in Excel for Mac, copy the cells with ⌘C, select the destination, press Cmd+Ctrl+V to open Paste Special, press V to choose Values, then press Return. There is no single-key Paste Values shortcut built in, but this takes about a second once it is muscle memory.
On Windows the habit is Alt, H, V, V or Ctrl+Alt+V, V. The Alt sequence does not exist natively on a Mac, but the Paste Special route works the same way once you know the Mac keys.
Step by step
Select the cells that hold the formulas or formatted data and press ⌘C.
Click the first cell of the destination.
Press Cmd+Ctrl+V. Microsoft also documents Ctrl+Option+V and Cmd+Option+V for the same dialog.
Choose Values. Pressing V selects it.
Press Return to confirm.
To check the result, click a pasted cell and look at the formula bar: it should show the number or text, not a formula.
Other things Paste Special can paste
| Paste Special option | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Values | Replace formulas with their results |
| Formulas | Paste the formulas without formatting |
| Formats | Copy only the formatting |
| Column widths | Match the width of the source columns |
| Transpose | Swap rows and columns |
| Skip blanks | Avoid overwriting existing cells with empty ones |
Use the Ribbon instead
On the Home tab, open the Paste dropdown and choose Values. This is the best route while you are learning, because every option is visible.
Windows-style sequences with the Mac Excel Shortcuts app
If Alt-based sequences are already in your hands, the Mac Excel Shortcuts app adds them to Excel for Mac, for example:
| Need | Native Excel for Mac | Mac Excel Shortcuts app |
|---|---|---|
| Paste Values | ⌃⌘V, V, Return | Alt, E, S, V |
| Paste Formats | Paste Special ▸ Formats | Alt, E, S, T |
| Paste Formulas | Paste Special ▸ Formulas | Alt, E, S, F |
| Paste Transpose | Paste Special ▸ Transpose | Alt, E, S, E |
Common mistakes
Losing number formats. Pasting values drops formatting. Use Values and Number Formats in the Paste Special dialog if you want to keep dates or currency.
Pasting while still editing a cell. If the cursor is inside a cell, Paste Special is unavailable. Press Escape first.
Clearing the clipboard by pressing Return. After copying, pressing Return pastes and ends copy mode. Use Paste Special before that happens.
Overwriting your formulas. Keep a formula copy of the workbook if you need to recalculate later.
FAQs
What is the shortcut for paste values on Mac?
Cmd+Ctrl+V, then V, then Return.
Is there a one-key shortcut for Paste Values in Excel for Mac?
Not by default. You can create one in System Settings ▸ Keyboard ▸ Keyboard Shortcuts ▸ App Shortcuts by assigning a key to the menu command Paste Values, if your Excel version shows it in the Edit menu.
Why does Cmd+Ctrl+V do nothing?
Check that something is copied, that you are not editing a cell, and that the sheet is not protected. See Why Excel Keyboard Shortcuts Don't Work on Mac (and How to Fix Them).