If you need to move text, an image or another object from one part of a document to another, or from one app to another, you need to use copy (or cut) and paste. On a Mac or MacBook, the keyboard shortcuts for this are different from other devices, so if you are coming from Windows you might be confused.
We’ll explain the simple steps you need to take to cut, copy and paste on a Mac. Our tips will show you how to copy and paste on a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini or any other Mac.
We’ll also cover how to copy and paste using the keyboard on a Mac and copy and paste using a Mac mouse or a trackpad, how to paste without formatting, how to copy multiple items on Mac, and how to copy and paste between Macs and iPhones.
The main difference between Windows and Macs is the key you need to press – in Windows, the Copy, cut and Paste key combinations are Control-C, Control-X and Control-V, respectively. On the Mac, it’s very similar – all you do is use the Command (⌘) key instead of Control. Command has a ⌘ symbol on it and is located next to the space bar.
You may also require the Option key, which on some Mac keyboards is marked as the Alt key.
Another issue may be if you are using a PC keyboard with your Mac, in which case you won’t have a Command key. In that case the Windows key tends to act as the Command key. SImilarly the Alt key on a Windows keyboards is the Option key if you use it with a Mac.
At a glance
These are the basic keyboard combinations you need to copy and paste on a MacBook (or Mac):
- Copy: Press Command-C
- Cut: Press Command-X
- Paste: Press Command-V
- Paste text without formatting: Press Command-Option-Shift-V
How to copy on a MacBook or Mac
Want to copy something on a Mac? Here’s what to do:
- Highlight the text/object you want to copy: If it’s a word double-click on it, if it’s a sentence or a paragraph click at the beginning and drag your cursor to the end of the section, or click at the top of a section, press shift, and then click at the bottom of the section.
- Copy the selection by pressing Command-C, or Cut with Command-X. Both save the selected text/object to the pasteboard, but Copy leaves it in place while Cut removes it.
How to paste on a Mac or MacBook
The process is similar if you want to know “how do I paste on a Mac”.
- As above, you need to first select the text or item you want to copy or cut.
- Then press Command-C to copy, or Command-X to cut.
- Put the cursor where you want to place the text/object, and paste by pressing Command-V.
Note that the target can be in a different document or even an entirely different application. Or even on a different device, for that matter – we’ll explain how you can copy and paste from your Mac to your iPhone or vice versa below.
How to paste without formatting
Did you know that you can also paste text without its original formatting? Not knowing that this is possible on a Mac, many users paste text into a plain-format text editor to strip it of any styling before copying and pasting it again to its intended destination. But you don’t have to do that. You can use a command that makes sure the pasted text follows the formatting of the paragraph or document it’s joining, rather than the one it just left behind.
In that case, you need to follow these steps:
- Select the text or object you want to copy or cut by pressing Command-C to copy, or Command-X to cut.
- Put the cursor where you want to place the text/object, and Paste by pressing Command-Option/Alt-Shift-V and it will be automatically stripped of any formatting.
This is a system-wide shortcut, so you can use it almost anywhere in macOS that accepts text input. If Command-Option/Alt-Shift-V doesn’t work try Command-Shift-V.
If you are using Microsoft Word you need to click on Paste in the menu and choose Keep Text Only. You can set this as the default paste if you want.
Cut and paste with your mouse
Most people use the Command shortcuts listed above, but there are alternatives.
You could just use your mouse:
- Select the text you want to copy (either by double-clicking on a word, or clicking and dragging to select more).
- Right-click on the selection.
- Select Cut or Copy.
- Right-click where you want to paste the text and choose Paste.
Cut and paste via the menus
Alternatively, you can use the menus (app dependent):
- Select the text you want to copy.
- In the menu choose Edit.
- Select Cut or Copy.
- Right-click where you want to paste the text and choose Paste from the menu.
In Pages there is an option to paste and match style which could be helpful if you want to lose any formatting. Other apps are likely to have a similar option.
How to copy multiple items on Mac
If you are coming to Mac from Windows you may be wondering if you can copy multiple items to your Clipboard on your Mac so that you can paste them.
- To select multiple items: Press and hold the Command key, then click the items (they don’t need to be next to each other).
- To select multiple items that are adjacent: Click the first item, then press the Shift key and click the last item. All items in between are included in the selection.
- You can also click near the first item, press and hold the trackpad or mouse button, then drag over all of the items. This method’s especially useful in the Icon view in the Finder.
- To select all items in a window: Click a window to make it active, then press Command-A.
- Deselect one item when multiple items are selected: Command-click the item.
Copy:
- Press Command-C on your keyboard to copy the selected item.
- Or choose Copy from the Edit menu in the menu bar.
- Or Control-click (or right-click) the item you selected, then choose Copy from the shortcut menu.
Cut:
- Press Command-X on your keyboard to cut the selected item.
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Or choose Cut from the Edit menu in the menu bar.
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Or Control-click (or right-click) the item you selected, then choose Cut from the shortcut menu.
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Paste:
- First click to place your insertion point, then use one of these steps to paste your copied item at that location.
- Press Command-V on your keyboard to paste the item you cut or copied.
- Or choose Paste from the Edit menu in the menu bar.
- Or Control-click (or right-click) the item you selected, then choose Paste from the shortcut menu.
If you can’t cut, copy, or paste on Mac
Sometimes you may have a problem with copy and paste not working on your Mac. When you experience this problem, you’ll find that when you copied or cut an item and tried to paste it, nothing will happen.
It’s worth noting that each app determines which items it can cut, copy, or paste, and when and where those actions are possible in the app. When cut, copy, or paste isn’t possible on Mac, its menu item is dimmed so that you can’t choose it or use its keyboard shortcut.
For some items, such as files or folders, you might have the option to delete or move to the Trash, but not the option to cut. To move items, you might be able to drag and drop instead.
You can also try these troubleshooting steps if you are unable to copy and paste on Mac:
- If you are having this issue in a certain app, try restarting the app. The issue may be with the app. Ensure that the app is up to date. You can also delete and reinstall this app if you are sure the problem is isolated to only that app.
- Restart your Mac.
- Ensure that your Mac has the latest version of macOS.
- There may be a software conflict. Have you installed any third-party security or cleaner type of apps on your Mac. They could be causing the problem. If they have an option to disable them, disable them and try again.
Best clipboard managers for Mac
There are some clipboard managers available for Mac including:
Jérémy Marchand’s Clipboard Center ($6.99), Apprywhere’s Copy’em Paste ($14.99), FIPLAB’s CopyClip ($7.99/£7.59), maxbor’s CopyLess ($5), Plum Amazing’s CopyPaste ($30/£23.70) and Stairways Software’s $36 macro utility Keyboard Maestro.
Clipboard histories are available in Butler ($20), LaunchBar ($35), and Quicksilver (with the optional, free Clipboard Plugin).
We think that Alfred is a good option. Alfred is an award-winning productivity app, but among other features it offers a Clipboard History as part of the optional £34 Powerpack. With this tool everything you copy will be available in your searchable history. You can even save popular text snippets for easy access. You can choose for Alfred to remember your Clipbpard History for 24 hours, 7 days, 1 month or 3 months.
Where is the Clipboard on a Mac?
You will only be able to see the last thing you copied, but you can see the Clipboard on a Mac, here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Finder.
- Click on Edit in the menu.
- Choose Show Clipboard.
Unfortunately, it won’t keep a record of everything you have copied.
How to copy and paste between iPhone, iPad & Mac
One more advanced tip before we leave this mostly simple topic behind. Since the launch of Universal Clipboard in macOS Sierra in 2016 it’s been possible to copy on your Mac and then Paste on to your iPhone, or vice versa. It is also possible to share a mouse and keyboard between multiple Macs and iPads.
Universal Clipboard isn’t a feature that you see, but it behaves just like copy and paste does on your Mac, except with Universal Clipboard, when you paste, you can do so on one of your other Apple devices, like an iPhone or an iPad.
But how do you make sure Universal Clipboard is available on your Mac, iPhone and iPad?
It’s been available since the arrival of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra 2016, so chances are you are on a compatible version of Apple’s operating systems. It also requires a compatible device, which includes:
- iPhone 5 or later
- iPad Pro (all models)
- iPad (4th generation) or later
- iPad Air (all models)
- iPad mini 2 or later
- iPod touch (6th generation) or later
On the Mac side this includes:
- MacBook introduced in 2015 or later
- MacBook Pro introduced in 2012 or later
- MacBook Air introduced in 2012 or later
- Mac mini introduced in 2012 or later
- iMac introduced in 2012 or later
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later
- Mac Studio introduced in 2022 or later
Also make sure of the following:
- You’re signed in to the same Apple Account on both devices.
- Both devices have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, and Handoff turned on.
- Your devices are within 30 feet (10 meters) of one another.
If you have all of the above, here’s what you need to do to enable Universal Clipboard on your Mac and iPhone/iPad:
- On the Mac, open System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff. (System Preferences on older Macs).
- Select ‘Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices’.
- On the iPhone/iPad, open Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff.
- Make sure that ‘Allow Handoff’ is selected.
To copy and paste between your Mac and other devices:
- Select the text or image on your Mac, then press Command-C or choose Edit > Copy from the menu bar.
- On your other device, either tap (on an iPhone or iPad) or place the pointer (on another Mac) where you want to paste the text or image, then tap or click Paste.
If you’re having difficulty getting Universal Clipboard to work, restart your devices and try again.
