How to Use Ctrl + Alt + V (Paste Special) in Google Sheets
- David Pang
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
Ctrl + Alt + V is the Paste Special shortcut in Excel. It opens a dialog where you can choose exactly what to paste, like values, formats, formulas, column widths, and more. The whole thing works by keyboard, no mouse needed. But if you've moved from Excel to Google Sheets, this shortcut doesn't work.
Google Sheets has its own paste options, but they're limited. There's no full dialog, no keyboard navigation, and no way to customize anything to match what you're used to in Excel. Looking to bring Ctrl + Alt + V to Sheets with its complete working? This guide introduces you to SheetWhiz, which lets you use this and many other Excel shortcuts in Google Sheets.
What "Ctrl + Alt + V" Does in Excel?
Ctrl + Alt + V opens the Paste Special dialog in Excel. Instead of pasting everything at once, it lets you control exactly what gets pasted. This is useful when you want to paste values without bringing along the formula, or copy only formatting from one cell to another.
Once the dialog is open, you don't need the mouse. Each option has a letter shortcut that selects it instantly:
Key | Action |
V | Paste Values |
F | Paste Formulas |
T | Paste Formats |
E | Paste Transposed |
W | Paste Column Widths |
How does Paste Special work in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets does support Paste Special, but it works differently from Excel. Instead of providing a single keyboard-accessible Paste Special dialog with every paste option, Google Sheets places most paste commands inside the Edit → Paste Special menu or the right-click context menu.
You'll still find options for pasting values, formatting, formulas, data validation, column widths, and more. However, unlike Excel, these options aren't all available from one centralized keyboard workflow, making repetitive paste operations slower for many spreadsheet users.
Instructions: Copy the cell or range you want to paste, select the destination cell, then open Edit → Paste special (or right-click the destination cell and choose Paste special) to select the paste option you need.
Why Paste Special Shortcuts in Google Sheets Falls Short
Google Sheets' native paste options get the job done, but they come with real limitations:
No Full Dialog: Ctrl + Shift + V pastes values instantly with no options to choose from.
Mouse-Dependent: Accessing other paste types like formats or formulas requires right-clicking and navigating a submenu every single time.
No Keyboard Navigation: Once you're in the Paste Special submenu, there are no letter shortcuts to select an option quickly
No Customization: You can't remap existing shortcuts or add new ones for paste types that don't have a shortcut
No Full Ctrl + Alt + V Support: The shortcut only pastes formatting. No full menu, nothing else.
Why Having Excel Shortcuts on Google Sheets Matters
Excel users don't all work the same way. Some rely on Alt + E + S, which is the older legacy shortcut. Others use Ctrl + Alt + V, which became the standard in more recent versions of Excel. Both shortcuts open the same Paste Special dialog, but they come from different habits built over years of daily use.
When these users move to Google Sheets, both shortcuts stop working. Google Sheets doesn't just lack a properly working Ctrl + Alt + V, but it also doesn't allow any shortcut customization at all. You can't replace what's missing, and you can't adjust what's already there to match your workflow.
This is a bigger problem than it sounds. Keyboard shortcuts only save time when they're automatic. The moment you have to think about which key to press, or reach for the mouse because your shortcut doesn't work, the efficiency is already gone.
How SheetWhiz Brings Full Paste Special Control to Google Sheets
SheetWhiz is a Chrome extension that brings Excel shortcuts to Google Sheets. For Paste Special, it adds the full Excel-style dialog that Google Sheets is missing, complete with keyboard navigation for every paste type.
By default, SheetWhiz maps this to Alt + E + S, the legacy Excel shortcut. But you're not locked into that. SheetWhiz lets you customize the shortcut to any key combination you prefer, including Ctrl + Alt + V.
This means whether you've spent years on Alt + E + S or Ctrl + Alt + V, you can set SheetWhiz to match your existing muscle memory. You don't have to adapt to a new shortcut as the tool adapts to you.
P.S. We also have a guide on how to use ALT + E + S for paste special in Sheets.
How to Set and Use Ctrl + Alt + V as Your Paste Special Shortcut in Google Sheets
Here's how to get a full-working Ctrl + Alt + V shortcut in Google Sheets:
Step 1. Install the SheetWhiz Chrome Extension for free from the Web Store or the official site.
Step 2. Open Google Sheets, refresh the page, and log in after clicking the SheetWhiz icon.
Step 3. Now, access the SheetWhiz menu and navigate to shortcuts to find the Paste Special shortcut and change it from Alt + E + S to Ctrl + Alt + V.
Step 4. Once the shortcut is set, copy a cell or range and press Ctrl + Alt + V to access the full Paste Special dialog. From there, use the targeted letter from the following:
Paste Formula: Ctrl + Alt + V + F
Paste Values: Ctrl + Alt + V + V
Paste Formats: Ctrl + Alt + V + T
Paste Transposed: Ctrl + Alt + V + E
Paste Column Widths: Ctrl + Alt + V + W
Note: Mac users need to replace Ctrl with Command to utilize these shortcuts.
Other Excel Shortcuts You Can Use in Google Sheets with SheetWhiz
Paste Special is not the only shortcut SheetWhiz brings over from Excel. Here are some other shortcuts available, all of which can be customized to match your preferred key combination:
Shortcut | Action |
Ctrl + Shift + L | Add / Remove Filters |
Ctrl + Shift + + | Insert Columns or Rows |
Ctrl + Shift + - | Delete Columns or Rows |
Alt + H + B + P | Top Border |
Alt + H + B + O | Bottom Border |
Alt + H + B + A | All Border |
Alt + H + O + I | Autofit Column Width |
Alt + H + A + C | Align Center |
Conclusion
Google Sheets doesn't support Ctrl + Alt + V fully as in Excel, and its native paste options don't come close to what Excel offers. There's no full dialog, no keyboard navigation, and no way to change any of it.
SheetWhiz fills that gap. It brings the full Paste Special dialog to Google Sheets and lets you trigger it with whatever shortcut fits your workflow. If Ctrl + Alt + V is what your muscle memory knows, you can set it to that in under a minute and never think about it again.
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