Ctrl+V

Updated: 12/10/2023 by Computer Hope
Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut

Alternatively written as Control+V and C-v, ^v, Ctrl+V is a keyboard shortcut most commonly used to paste text or other objects from the clipboard. Below are other programs that use this keyboard shortcut and related information.

Tip

On Apple computers, the shortcut to paste is Command+V.

How to use the Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut

To use this keyboard shortcut, press and hold either Ctrl key, and while continuing to hold, press V.

Ctrl+V in an Internet browser

In all major Internet browsers (e.g., Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera), pressing Ctrl+V will paste the contents of the clipboard into any editable field. For example, you could paste text from another program into a text box in a form.

Ctrl+V in Excel and other spreadsheet programs

In Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, pressing Ctrl+V will paste anything stored in the clipboard into the currently-selected cell. If you've copied more than one cell, Ctrl+V will paste them starting from your current position.

Ctrl+V in Microsoft PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, Ctrl+V pastes any text, image, video, or other objects into the currently-selected PowerPoint slide.

Ctrl+V in Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word and other word processors, pressing Ctrl+V pastes any text, image, video, or other object into the active document.

Ctrl+V in Google Docs

Pressing Ctrl+V in Google Docs makes the highlighted text bold or unbold.

Below are links to related keyboard shortcuts and individual key pages.

Ctrl, Keyboard shortcut, Keyboard terms, Paste, V