I use notepad all the time at work (where I can’t install things like Notepad++). It’s especially useful when I just want to paste something I copied from one source in order to recopy it in plain text.
(As a side note: why can’t Excel let me paste something as plain text by default, damnit?!)
I’m going to guess that since you can’t install stuff, you probably can’t install PowerToys, but some places are more permissive of things that come from the Microsoft Store.
Anyhow, PowerToys has a paste as plain text shortcut of ctrl+win+alt V which is pretty handy for that.
Yeah, I work within a more sensitive network environment of the federal government, so what’s allowed to be installed is tightly controlled. I could probably get a request submitted to get that authorized, but it’s a painful and arduous process that takes a long, long time, so I don’t bother, haha.
Ctrl + shift + V should paste in plain text for most applications with the exception of Office products. In Office these keys are mapped to other functions because reasons in 1989 or something. I thought you could configure a hot key for it but I can’t remember off the top. Google fu it.
Edit: This was bugging me.
Excel appears to respect ctrl shift V
Word, you have two options, I used the latter. https://insider.microsoft365.com/en-us/blog/paste-text-only-shortcut-in-word?ocid=usoc_TWITTER_M365_spl100003894688686
or
Outlook is being Outlook. You can go to File, Options, Mail, Editor Options, Advanced, and scroll down to the Cut, Copy and Paste section. Make the adjustments that fit your use case. I set Keep Text Only under Pasting from other programs
I’m pretty sure I’ve tried Ctrl Shift V in Excel to no avail (think it brings up a menu where you can then select plain text). Excel is the biggest culprit of where I’d love a default to plain text Ctrl V functionality. I’ll double check the next time I use it, but I’m like 90% certain I’ve tried it… Thanks for the tips, though!
Maybe give this a look too: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/paste-as-plain-text
Good luck!