The basics: copy with Command+C
To copy something on your Mac, select it first, then press Command+C. That's the quickest way. Command is the key with the ⌘ symbol, usually to the left of your spacebar.
What you can copy this way: text from a document, a file or folder from Finder, an image, a link from your browser, or anything else highlighted on your screen. Once you've pressed Command+C, the item stays in your clipboard — the invisible holding area — until you copy something else or restart your Mac.
To paste what you copied, move to where you want it and press Command+V. If you want to paste without keeping the original formatting (useful in email or plain text), press Command+Option+V instead.
Key Takeaways
- Command+C copies anything selected on your screen, and Command+V pastes it where your cursor is.
- You can copy text, files, folders, images, and links using the same keyboard shortcut on any Mac application.
- Command+Option+V pastes text without formatting, which is useful when pasting into email or documents where you want plain text only.
- If copy and paste stops working, force-quit the frozen application and try again, or restart your Mac if the problem persists across multiple apps.
- Drag-and-drop is an alternative to copy-paste for moving files between folders or windows without using the clipboard.
Copying text from documents and websites
Click at the start of the text you want to copy, then drag to the end to highlight it. The highlighted area turns blue. Once it's selected, press Command+C. You can now paste this text anywhere — into an email, a note, another document, or a text message.
If you want to copy all the text in a document at once, press Command+A to select everything, then Command+C to copy it. This works in most applications: web browsers, word processors, email clients, and text editors.
Some websites prevent copying with a right-click block. If you run into this, try selecting the text anyway and using Command+C — it often works even when the context menu is blocked. If that fails, you can usually take a screenshot instead and use text recognition tools, but the direct copy method is faster when it's available.
Copying files and folders in Finder
Open Finder and locate the file or folder you want to copy. Click it once to select it (it highlights in blue), then press Command+C. The file is now in your clipboard.
Navigate to the location where you want the copy to appear — a different folder, your Desktop, or an external drive. Press Command+V to paste. A copy of the file or folder appears in that location, and the original stays where it was. If you want to move the file instead of copying it, press Command+Option+V after you've copied it, or use Command+X to cut and Command+V to paste.
To copy multiple files at once, click the first one, then hold Command and click each additional file you want. They all highlight. Press Command+C, navigate to your destination, and press Command+V. All selected files paste at once.
Copying images and screenshots
To copy an image that's already on your Mac, right-click it in Finder or in an application and select "Copy" from the menu. You can also click the image once and press Command+C. Paste it into an email, document, or messaging app with Command+V.
If you take a screenshot, your Mac automatically copies it to the clipboard. Press Command+Shift+4 to select a portion of your screen, or Command+Shift+3 to capture the whole screen. The screenshot is ready to paste immediately — no extra copy step needed. You can paste it into a document, email, or chat before it disappears from your clipboard.
For screenshots, you can also press Command+Shift+5 to open the screenshot tool, which lets you choose whether to capture a selection, a window, or the entire screen, and gives you options to save the file or copy it.
When copy and paste stops working
If Command+C and Command+V aren't working, the application you're using may have frozen or encountered a problem. Try closing the application completely and opening it again. If the issue happens in only one app, that app needs to be restarted.
If copy and paste isn't working across multiple applications, restart your Mac. This clears the clipboard and resets the system processes that handle copying and pasting. Shut down your Mac completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
Another common issue: you copied something, but too much time passed or you copied something else, and the first item is no longer in your clipboard. The clipboard only holds one item at a time. If you need to keep multiple items to paste later, consider using a clipboard manager application from the App Store, which stores a history of everything you've copied.
Using drag-and-drop as an alternative
Instead of copy and paste, you can drag files directly from one location to another. Open two Finder windows side by side, or open Finder and have your destination folder visible. Click and hold on the file you want to move, then drag it to the destination folder and release.
Dragging a file between folders on the same drive moves it by default. If you want to copy instead of move, hold the Option key while dragging. The cursor changes to show a plus sign, indicating a copy is happening. This method is often faster than copy-paste if you can see both the source and destination at the same time.
Drag-and-drop also works for copying files into applications. You can drag an image into an email, a document into a folder, or a file into an application window. The behavior depends on the application, but most will accept dropped files.
Copying links and web addresses
In your web browser, right-click a link and select "Copy Link" from the menu. The full web address is now in your clipboard. Paste it anywhere with Command+V — into an email, a document, a chat message, or another browser tab.
To copy the address of the page you're currently viewing, click the address bar at the top of your browser to select it, then press Command+C. The full URL is copied. This is useful when you want to share the page you're looking at or save the address for later.
Some browsers also let you right-click the page itself and select "Copy Page Link" or similar. The exact wording varies by browser, but the result is the same — the page's address goes into your clipboard ready to paste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between my Mac and iPhone or iPad?
Yes, if your devices are signed into the same iCloud account and have Handoff enabled. Copy something on your Mac, then switch to your iPhone or iPad and paste with Command+V (on iPad) or the standard paste gesture. It works in the opposite direction too. Check System Settings on your Mac under General > AirDrop & Handoff to make sure Handoff is turned on.
What's the difference between copy and cut?
Copy (Command+C) leaves the original in place and puts a duplicate in your clipboard. Cut (Command+X) removes the original and puts it in your clipboard. When you paste a cut item, it moves to the new location. Use cut when you want to move something; use copy when you want to keep the original.
Why does pasted text look different from the original?
When you paste text, it often picks up the formatting of the destination — font, size, color, bold, italics. To paste plain text without any formatting, use Command+Option+V instead of Command+V. This strips away all formatting and pastes only the words.
Can I copy something if the application is frozen?
No, a frozen application won't respond to copy commands. Force-quit the application by pressing Command+Option+Escape, select it from the list, and click "Force Quit". Then reopen it and try again. If the problem persists across multiple apps, restart your Mac.
How do I copy a file without pasting it right away?
Press Command+C to copy the file, and it stays in your clipboard until you copy something else or restart your Mac. You can copy it now and paste it days later, as long as you don't copy anything else in between. If you need to store multiple items to paste later, download a clipboard manager from the App Store.