Word Show Hide Paste Options: How to Turn It Off

The “Show Paste Options” button in Microsoft Word is the small clipboard icon that appears after you paste text, letting you choose formatting (Keep Source Formatting, Merge Formatting, or Keep Text Only). If you find it intrusive, you can disable it from Word’s Options menu; the setting is called “Show Paste Options button when content is pasted” and unchecking it stops the icon from appearing.

Formula

This calculator is a simple illustration: the paste options button appears immediately after a paste and remains visible for a few seconds (typically 5–10 seconds) unless you press Ctrl or start typing. The formula f = 1 - 0 * sqrt(t) always returns 1 (the button shows) for any valid t, because the button’s visibility is a binary setting, not a function of time. The real control is the checkbox in Word’s Options dialog, not a timing formula.

Worked Example

Using the default input: t = 5 seconds. The expression gives f = 1 – 0 * sqrt(5) = 1, meaning the button is shown. In practice, the button appears for about 5 seconds after you paste, then fades. If you want it gone permanently, you must change the setting in Word Options, not wait for it to disappear.

Where the Setting Lives

In current versions of Microsoft Word (2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365), the option is under File → Options → Advanced. Scroll down to the “Cut, copy, and paste” section. The first checkbox is “Show Paste Options button when content is pasted.” Uncheck it and click OK. That’s it. The button will no longer appear after future pastes.

If you’re on a Mac, the path is Word → Preferences → Edit, and the same checkbox is there. The setting is global, meaning it applies to all documents, not just the one you’re working on.

Why the Button Exists

The Paste Options button was introduced in Word 2002 (part of Office XP) to solve a long-standing annoyance: pasting text from a web page or another document brought along unwanted fonts, colors, and hyperlinks. Before that, users had to use “Paste Special” from the Edit menu, which was clunky. The button gives you a quick way to choose the format of the pasted content without undoing and re-pasting.

The button appears as a small clipboard icon at the bottom-right of the pasted text. Clicking it opens a menu with three choices (in most cases):

• Keep Source Formatting – keeps the original font, size, color, and other formatting.
• Merge Formatting – matches the formatting of the surrounding text in your document.
• Keep Text Only – strips all formatting, leaving plain text.

In some contexts, you might also see “Use Destination Theme” or “Insert as Picture,” but those are less common.

How to Turn It Off (Step by Step)

1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click the File tab (or the Word menu on a Mac).
3. Select Options (on Windows) or Preferences (on Mac).
4. In the Options dialog, click Advanced (Windows) or Edit (Mac).
5. Scroll to the “Cut, copy, and paste” section.
6. Uncheck the box next to Show Paste Options button when content is pasted.
7. Click OK to save.

That’s all. The next time you paste, the button won’t appear. You can always re-enable it by following the same steps and checking the box again.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that the Paste Options button is the same as the clipboard pane (the one that shows a history of copied items). They are different: the clipboard pane is opened from the Home tab and shows a list of recent copied items; the Paste Options button is the small icon that appears at the paste location. Turning off the Paste Options button does not disable the clipboard history.

Another issue: even after unchecking the box, some users still see a small “Ctrl” icon when they paste. That’s the “Paste Options” smart tag that appears when you press Ctrl after pasting. To disable that, you need to also uncheck the option “Show Paste Options button when content is pasted” — but that’s the same checkbox. If you still see something, it might be the formatting marks or a different add-in. Check if you have any third-party clipboard managers that add their own overlay.

If the checkbox is grayed out, it’s likely because you’re using a document with restricted editing or you’re in a mode that doesn’t allow that setting. Save the document, close it, and change the option in a blank document.

Alternatives to Turning It Off

If you don’t want to disable the button entirely, you can simply ignore it. It disappears after a few seconds or when you start typing. If you want to keep the button but avoid accidentally changing formatting, you can set the default paste behavior to “Keep Text Only” in the same Advanced options. That way, every paste is plain text, and the button rarely matters.

Keyboard users can press Ctrl after pasting to cycle through the formatting options without clicking the button. Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V to paste, then press Ctrl to show the paste options menu, then press T for “Keep Text Only” (the hotkey might vary by version).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Paste Options button keep appearing even after I uncheck the box?

Make sure you clicked OK after unchecking. Also, if you have multiple Word versions installed (e.g., 2016 and 365), each has its own setting. Check the version you’re actually using. Additionally, some add-ins or macros can re-enable it. Try disabling add-ins temporarily to see if that helps.

Can I turn off Paste Options in Google Docs or other word processors?

Google Docs doesn’t have a similar button; it uses a right-click menu or keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+V for paste without formatting). In LibreOffice, you can disable the similar “Paste Options” under Tools → Options → LibreOffice Writer → General, but the exact wording may differ.

Does turning off Paste Options affect the ability to paste with formatting?

No. It only hides the button that appears after pasting. You can still paste with formatting by using the regular Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac). The default paste behavior remains whatever is set in the Advanced options.

Is there a way to see Paste Options after I’ve turned it off, just for one paste?

Yes. Even with the button hidden, you can press Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) immediately after pasting to bring up the Paste Options menu temporarily. Alternatively, use the right-click context menu, which always shows paste options regardless of the setting.

Why does the button sometimes show different options (like “Keep Source Formatting” vs “Merge Formatting”)?

The available options depend on the source and destination. If you paste from a web page, you’ll see more options. If you paste from another Word document, you might see “Use Destination Theme” or “Keep Source Formatting.” The button always shows the most relevant choices for that specific paste.

Does the Paste Options button appear in Excel or PowerPoint?

Yes, similar buttons exist in Excel and PowerPoint, but they have their own settings. In Excel, the option is under File → Options → Advanced → Cut, copy, and paste. In PowerPoint, it’s under File → Options → Advanced → Cut, copy, and paste. Each Office app has its own checkbox.

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in t | Paste time (s) | s | 5 | 0 | 60
out f | Show button? | - | 1 - 0 * sqrt(t) | 0