Alt + E S V Mac Excel Shortcut: Legacy Paste Values (2026 Guide)

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Quick Answer

Alt + E + S + V is a legacy pre-ribbon shortcut for Paste Values. With Accelerator Keys, this shortcut works exactly like the modern Alt + H + V + V sequence.

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If you are looking for the Alt + E S V shortcut on Mac Excel, you may be familiar with this shortcut from older versions of Excel (2003 and earlier). This legacy shortcut still works with Accelerator Keys and maps to the modern ribbon equivalent.

What Does Alt + E S V Do?

Alt + E + S + V is the legacy shortcut for Edit > Paste Special > Values. It pastes only the values from copied cells, removing formulas and formatting. This is one of the most commonly used shortcuts among Excel power users.

Legacy vs. Modern Shortcut Comparison

Shortcut Era Menu Path
Alt + E + S + V Legacy (Excel 2003) Edit > Paste Special > Values
Alt + H + V + V Modern (Ribbon) Home > Paste > Values

Both shortcuts work with Accelerator Keys!

Step-by-Step: How to do Alt + E S V on Mac Excel

  1. Install the Fix: Download Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
  2. Copy your data: Select your cells and press Cmd+C (or Ctrl+C).
  3. Activate the Ribbon: Press the Option key.
  4. Execute Sequence: Press E, then S, then V.
  5. Result: Only the values are pasted, exactly like the legacy Windows behavior.

Note: This legacy shortcut is automatically mapped to the modern ribbon equivalent (Alt + H + V + V), so you can use whichever you prefer.

Why Use Legacy Shortcuts?

Many Excel power users learned the Edit menu shortcuts (Alt+E) years ago and have them committed to muscle memory. Accelerator Keys preserves this productivity by supporting both legacy and modern shortcuts.

The Alt + E + S + V shortcut has been used by millions of Excel users since the 1990s. Even though Microsoft replaced the Edit menu with the Ribbon in Excel 2007, the muscle memory remains.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the modern equivalent of Alt + E S V?

The modern ribbon shortcut is Alt + H + V + V (Home > Paste > Values). Both work with Accelerator Keys.

Does Alt + E S V work natively on Mac Excel?

No, the native Mac Excel “KeyTips” does not support legacy pre-ribbon shortcuts. You need Accelerator Keys to use Alt + E + S + V on Mac.

What other legacy Paste Special shortcuts are supported?

Accelerator Keys supports the full range of legacy Paste Special shortcuts:

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