The basic keyboard shortcuts for Mac copy and paste
On a Mac, copying and pasting uses two keyboard shortcuts: Command+C to copy and Command+V to paste. The Command key is the one with the ⌘ symbol, located on either side of the spacebar at the bottom of your keyboard. This works the same way whether you're copying text, images, files, or almost anything else on your screen.
The process is straightforward: highlight what you want to copy, press Command+C, then click where you want it to go and press Command+V. Your Mac holds what you copied in temporary storage (called the clipboard) until you copy something else, so you can paste the same thing multiple times if you need to.
Key Takeaways
- Command+C copies whatever you have selected, and Command+V pastes it where your cursor is positioned.
- You can paste the same copied item as many times as you want until you copy something new.
- If you make a mistake, Command+Z undoes your last action, including a paste.
- The trackpad right-click menu offers Copy and Paste options if you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts.
- Copying works across different apps, so you can copy text from a web browser and paste it into an email or document.
Step-by-step: copying and pasting text
Start by selecting the text you want to copy. Click at the beginning of the text, then drag your mouse or trackpad to the end of what you want. The selected text will highlight in blue. Once it's highlighted, press Command+C. You won't see any confirmation on screen, but the text is now copied.
Next, click in the location where you want the text to appear. This could be in the same document, a different document, an email, a web form, or anywhere else you can type. Position your cursor exactly where you want the pasted text to start, then press Command+V. The text will appear instantly.
If you copied the wrong thing by accident, just press Command+Z to undo the paste. This works even if you've already pasted something else since then — each undo takes you back one step.
Copying and pasting files and folders
You can copy files and folders the same way you copy text. In Finder (the app that shows your files and folders), click on the file or folder you want to copy, then press Command+C. Navigate to the folder where you want it to go and press Command+V. The file will be copied to that location, and the original stays where it was.
If you want to move a file instead of copying it, you can also drag it directly to a new folder. But if you're moving it to a location on a different disk or drive, dragging will copy it instead of moving it — in that case, use Command+C and Command+V, then delete the original if you want.
Using the right-click menu instead of keyboard shortcuts
If keyboard shortcuts feel awkward, you can use your trackpad or mouse to access copy and paste through a menu. Right-click (or click with two fingers on a trackpad) on the item you want to copy. A menu will appear with a "Copy" option. Click it, then navigate to where you want to paste, right-click again, and select "Paste" from the menu.
This method takes more steps than the keyboard shortcuts, but it's useful if you're not comfortable with Command+C and Command+V yet. Once you've used the shortcuts a few times, they become automatic and much faster than the menu route.
What to do if paste isn't working
If you press Command+V and nothing happens, the most common reason is that you haven't actually copied anything yet. Go back to what you want to copy, make sure it's selected (highlighted), and press Command+C again. Then try pasting.
Another possibility is that the app you're pasting into doesn't allow pasting in that particular spot. For example, some password fields won't let you paste for security reasons. If that's the case, you'll need to type the information manually instead.
If copy and paste stopped working entirely across your whole Mac, restart your computer. This fixes most clipboard problems. If the issue persists after a restart, try logging out and back in: click the Apple menu in the top left, select "Log Out," and then log back in with your password.
Copying images and other content types
Copying images works exactly like copying text. Right-click on an image in a web browser or document, select "Copy" from the menu, then navigate to where you want it and press Command+V. You can paste images into email, documents, presentations, or even some messaging apps.
You can also copy images directly from a web page without right-clicking. Take a screenshot of the area you want (press Command+Shift+4, then drag to select), and the image goes to your clipboard ready to paste. This is useful when you want only part of an image rather than the whole thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy something on my Mac and paste it on my iPhone or iPad?
Yes, if you're signed into the same iCloud account on both devices. This feature is called Universal Clipboard. Copy something on your Mac, then switch to your iPhone or iPad and paste it within a few minutes. It works in the opposite direction too.
What's the difference between copy and cut?
Copy (Command+C) leaves the original where it is and puts a duplicate on your clipboard. Cut (Command+X) removes the original and puts it on your clipboard. When you paste after a cut, the item moves to the new location instead of being duplicated.
How many times can I paste the same thing?
As many times as you want, until you copy or cut something else. Once you copy new content, the old content is replaced on your clipboard and you can't paste it anymore. If you need to paste something multiple times, copy it once and paste as many times as needed before copying anything else.
Why does my pasted text look different from the original?
When you paste text into a different app or document, it often takes on the formatting of the destination — the font, size, and color already in use there. If you want to paste text without any formatting, use Command+Option+Shift+V instead of Command+V. This pastes plain text only.
Can I see what's currently on my clipboard?
Not through a built-in Mac menu, but you can paste it somewhere to see what it is. Some third-party apps like Paste or ClipboardManager let you view and manage your clipboard history, but they're not necessary for basic copying and pasting.