The basic keyboard shortcuts for cut, copy, and paste
On a Chromebook, cut, copy, and paste work the same way as on Windows or Mac, but the keyboard shortcuts use the Ctrl key instead of Cmd. You do not need to install anything or change any settings — these shortcuts are built in and work everywhere: in Google Docs, Gmail, web forms, and most other programs.
Copy means making a duplicate of text or an image that stays in your clipboard. Cut means removing text or an image and putting it in your clipboard so you can move it somewhere else. Paste means inserting what you cut or copied into a new location.
Here are the three shortcuts you need:
- Ctrl + C to copy
- Ctrl + X to cut
- Ctrl + V to paste
Key Takeaways
- Use Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + X to cut, and Ctrl + V to paste on any Chromebook — these work in Google Docs, Gmail, web forms, and most other places.
- You can also right-click on selected text or images and choose Copy, Cut, or Paste from the menu that appears.
- Your clipboard holds only one item at a time, so copying or cutting something new replaces what was there before.
- If a paste shortcut does not work, the program you are using may not support pasting — try right-clicking instead.
- Chromebooks do not have a clipboard history tool built in, but you can use Google's clipboard extension if you need to access multiple copied items.
How to copy text or images step by step
Copying is the safest way to duplicate something because it leaves the original in place. Select the text or image you want to copy by clicking and dragging your mouse over it, or by triple-clicking a paragraph to select the whole thing.
Once the text or image is highlighted in blue, press Ctrl + C. You will not see any confirmation — the item is now in your clipboard. Move to where you want to paste it and press Ctrl + V. If you want to paste the same thing multiple times, you can press Ctrl + V as many times as you need.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, right-click on the selected text or image. A menu will appear with Copy as one of the options. Click it, then move to your new location and right-click again to paste.
How to cut and move text or images
Cut removes something from where it is and puts it in your clipboard so you can move it. Select the text or image you want to move by clicking and dragging, then press Ctrl + X. The text will usually appear faded or dimmed to show it has been cut.
Click where you want to move it and press Ctrl + V. The text or image will appear in the new location and disappear from the old one. If you change your mind before pasting, you can press Ctrl + Z to undo the cut and restore the original.
Cut is useful when you are reorganizing a document or moving text between different sections. If you are not sure whether you want to move something, copy it instead — that way the original stays in place until you are certain.
Using the right-click menu instead of keyboard shortcuts
If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can do everything through the right-click menu. Select the text or image you want to work with, then right-click on it. A menu will appear with three options: Cut, Copy, and Paste.
Click the option you need. This method works the same way as the keyboard shortcuts — cut removes the item and puts it in your clipboard, copy duplicates it, and paste inserts it in the new location. Some people find right-clicking easier to remember, especially if they are new to Chromebooks.
The right-click menu also works in places where keyboard shortcuts sometimes fail, such as certain web forms or older websites. If Ctrl + V does not work, try right-clicking and selecting Paste instead.
What to do when paste is not working
If you copied or cut something but the paste shortcut does not work, the most common reason is that the program or website you are using does not support pasting. Some web forms and older sites block pasting for security reasons, especially password fields and payment forms.
Try right-clicking and selecting Paste from the menu instead. If that does not work either, the program itself is blocking the action and there is no way around it — you will need to type the information manually. This is most common in banking sites and password managers.
If paste works in some programs but not others, make sure you actually copied something first. Your clipboard only holds one item at a time. If you copied text, then copied an image, the text is gone and you can only paste the image. Press Ctrl + C again on the item you want to paste.
Understanding your Chromebook clipboard
Your Chromebook clipboard is temporary storage that holds one item — either text or an image — until you copy or cut something else. When you copy a new item, it replaces the old one. If you close your browser or restart your Chromebook, the clipboard is cleared.
Chromebooks do not have a built-in clipboard history tool like some other computers do, which means you cannot go back and paste something you copied five minutes ago if you have copied something else since then. If you need to keep track of multiple items you have copied, you can install the Google Keep extension from the Chrome Web Store, which lets you save snippets of text and images for later.
For most everyday tasks, the single-item clipboard is not a problem. Copy something, paste it, and you are done. If you find yourself needing to juggle multiple copied items regularly, that is when a clipboard extension becomes useful.
Copying and pasting between different programs
Cut, copy, and paste work across different programs on your Chromebook. You can copy text from a website, paste it into Google Docs, copy an image from Gmail, and paste it into a Google Slide. The clipboard does not care where the item came from or where it is going.
This is one of the most useful features of cut and paste — you can gather information from multiple places and combine it in one document. Copy a paragraph from a web article, paste it into a Google Doc. Copy a table from a spreadsheet, paste it into an email. The process is the same every time.
One thing to keep in mind: when you copy formatted text (text with bold, italics, colors, or special fonts), some programs will paste it with the formatting intact, and others will paste it as plain text only. Google Docs usually keeps the formatting, but pasting into a Gmail compose box often strips it out. If the formatting matters, check the result after you paste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste images on a Chromebook?
Yes. Select an image by clicking on it, press Ctrl + C to copy it, then press Ctrl + V to paste it into Google Docs, Google Slides, Gmail, or most other programs. You can also right-click an image and choose Copy from the menu.
What is the difference between cut and copy?
Copy leaves the original in place and creates a duplicate in your clipboard. Cut removes the original and puts it in your clipboard so you can move it. Use copy when you want to keep the original, and cut when you want to move something to a new location.
Why does paste not work in some websites?
Some websites and web forms block pasting for security reasons, especially password fields and payment forms. If you cannot paste, you will need to type the information manually. This is intentional and cannot be bypassed.
Can I paste something I copied a long time ago?
No. Your clipboard only holds one item at a time, so if you copied something new, the old item is gone. If you need to save multiple items to paste later, you can use Google Keep or another note-taking app to store them.
Do I need to do anything special to use cut, copy, and paste on a Chromebook?
No. These shortcuts are built in and work everywhere on your Chromebook. You do not need to install anything or change any settings. Just select what you want, press Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, or Ctrl + V, and you are done.