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I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted.
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share...".
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again.
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation.

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps. The "Share > Copy" trick might not be available in other apps, though.

I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted.
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share...".
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again.
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation.

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps.

In Safari and Mail on iOS 12 to iOS 17, I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted.
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share...".
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again.
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation.

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps. The "Share > Copy" trick might not be available in other apps, though.

I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted.
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share...".
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again.
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation.

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps. The "Share > Copy" trick might not be available in other apps, though.

In Mail on iOS 12, I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share..."
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps. The "Share > Copy" trick might not be available in other apps, though.

In Safari and Mail on iOS 12 to iOS 17, I use the "Share > Copy" trick:

1. Paste formatted.
2. Select the just pasted text and in the context menu swipe right and tap on "Share...".
3. In the Share sheet, tap on "Copy". This copies as plain text!
4. Tap still selected text to get the context menu again.
5. In the context menu tap on "Paste" to replace the selected, formatted text with its plain text representation.

Still (too) many hoops to jump through but at least you don't need to switch between apps. The "Share > Copy" trick might not be available in other apps, though.