The Basic Mac Copy and Paste Shortcuts
On a Mac, copying and pasting uses the same keyboard shortcuts as most other computers, but with one difference: you use the Command key instead of Control. To copy something, highlight the text or item you want, then press Command+C. To paste it elsewhere, click where you want it to go and press Command+V. That is the entire process for most everyday copying and pasting.
The Command key is the one with the ⌘ symbol on it, located on both sides of your spacebar. If you are used to Windows, where you use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, just swap Control for Command and everything works the same way on a Mac.
You can copy and paste text between different programs, between different documents in the same program, or even between your Mac and other devices on the same network. The clipboard — the invisible holding area where copied items sit — keeps whatever you copied there until you copy something else or shut down your Mac.
Key Takeaways
- Command+C copies text or items, and Command+V pastes them in the location where your cursor is positioned.
- You can cut text with Command+X instead of copying, which removes it from the original location and moves it to where you paste.
- Pasting without formatting (plain text only) uses Command+Option+V, which is useful when you do not want fonts, colors, or styles to come along.
- The Clipboard Viewer shows you what is currently copied and lets you access older items you have copied recently.
Cut, Copy, and Paste: What Each One Does
Mac gives you three related shortcuts. Command+C copies what you selected and leaves the original in place. Command+X cuts what you selected, which removes it from where it was and prepares it to be pasted elsewhere. Command+V pastes whatever you last copied or cut into the spot where your cursor is.
Most people use copy and paste for everyday tasks. Cut is useful when you want to move something — like moving a paragraph from one document to another, or moving a file from one folder to another. After you cut, the item stays on your clipboard until you paste it, so you can cut once and paste multiple times if you need to.
If you change your mind after cutting something, you can undo the cut by pressing Command+Z before you paste. Once you paste, the cut is complete and the original is gone.
Pasting Without Formatting (Plain Text Only)
When you copy text from a website or a formatted document and paste it into a new document, the colors, fonts, bold, italics, and other styling come along with it. Sometimes you want only the plain text without any of that formatting.
To paste plain text only, use Command+Option+V instead of Command+V. This strips away all the formatting and leaves you with just the words. This is especially useful when you are copying from a website into an email or document where you want to control the look yourself.
Not every program supports paste-without-formatting. If you press Command+Option+V and nothing happens, the program you are using does not have that feature, and you will need to use regular Command+V and then manually remove the formatting.
Using the Clipboard Viewer to See What You Copied
Your Mac keeps a record of the last several items you copied. To see this list, open Finder, go to the menu bar at the top, click Edit, and look for Show Clipboard. A small window will pop up showing exactly what is currently on your clipboard.
The Clipboard Viewer only shows your most recent copy. If you want to access older items you copied earlier, you will need a third-party clipboard manager app from the App Store. Built-in clipboard history is not available on standard Mac, but many free and paid apps add this feature.
The clipboard clears when you restart your Mac, so if you copied something important and shut down your computer, that item is gone. If you think you might need something again later, paste it into a document and save it rather than relying on the clipboard to hold it.
Copying and Pasting Between Your Mac and iPhone or iPad
If you have an iPhone or iPad signed into the same iCloud account as your Mac, you can copy something on one device and paste it on another. This works automatically — just copy on your Mac with Command+C, switch to your iPhone, and paste with the standard paste gesture (two fingers tap and hold, then tap Paste).
This feature is called Universal Clipboard and works with text, images, and files. It only works when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and signed into the same iCloud account. If it is not working, check that both devices are signed into iCloud and that Wi-Fi is on.
You can also copy on your iPhone and paste on your Mac the same way. The item stays on the shared clipboard for a few minutes, so you have time to switch devices and paste.
Troubleshooting When Copy and Paste Is Not Working
If Command+C and Command+V are not working, first check that you are actually selecting something before you copy. Click and drag to highlight text, or click an item once to select it. If nothing is selected, the copy command will not do anything.
If you have selected something but pasting is not working, make sure you are clicking in the right place before you paste. Your cursor needs to be in an editable area — like a text field or document — not in a read-only area. Some websites and programs do not allow pasting for security reasons, and in those cases Command+V simply will not work.
If copy and paste stopped working in one specific program, try closing that program completely and opening it again. If it still does not work, restart your Mac. If the problem continues across all programs, restart your Mac and try again — a restart fixes most clipboard issues.
Copying Files and Folders Instead of Text
Copy and paste works on files and folders the same way it works on text. In Finder, click a file or folder to select it, press Command+C to copy it, navigate to where you want it to go, and press Command+V to paste it. The file or folder is duplicated in the new location, and the original stays where it was.
If you want to move a file instead of copying it, use Command+X to cut it, then Command+V to paste it. The file moves to the new location and is no longer in the original folder.
You can also copy multiple files at once. Click the first file, then hold Command and click each additional file you want to copy. All of them will be selected. Then press Command+C and paste them all together in the new location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my pasted text look different from the original?
When you paste formatted text into a new document, the new document's fonts and styles take over. If you want the text to look exactly like it did in the original, use Command+Option+V to paste plain text, then manually reapply the formatting you want. Or use Command+Z to undo the paste and try pasting into a document with matching formatting.
Can I copy something and paste it multiple times?
Yes. Once you copy something with Command+C, it stays on your clipboard until you copy something else. You can paste it as many times as you want by pressing Command+V in different locations. This works the same way with cut — after you cut something, you can paste it multiple times before copying or cutting something new.
What is the difference between copying a file and duplicating it?
Copying a file with Command+C and pasting it with Command+V creates a duplicate in a new location. Duplicating a file (right-click and select Duplicate) creates a copy in the same folder with "copy" added to the name. Both end up with two versions of the file, but copying lets you choose where the duplicate goes.
Does copy and paste work between my Mac and a Windows computer?
Not directly through the clipboard. You would need to use a file-sharing service like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or Google Drive to move files between a Mac and Windows computer. For text, you can paste into an email or shared document and send it between devices that way.
What happens to my clipboard when I restart my Mac?
The clipboard clears completely when you restart. Whatever you had copied is gone. If you need to save something you copied, paste it into a document and save that document before you restart your Mac.