The basic Mac copy and paste shortcuts

On a Mac, you copy text or an image by pressing Command + C, and you paste it by pressing Command + V. Command is the key with the ⌘ symbol, located on both sides of the spacebar. This works in almost every program — email, web browsers, word processors, notes apps, and most others.

The process is the same whether you're copying a single word, a paragraph, a photo, or a file. Select what you want to copy (by clicking and dragging, or by triple-clicking a paragraph), press Command + C, move your cursor to where you want it, and press Command + V. The copied content stays in your clipboard until you copy something else, so you can paste the same thing multiple times.

If you want to undo a paste you just made, press Command + Z. This works immediately after pasting and will remove what you just pasted without affecting anything else.

Key Takeaways

  • Command + C copies text, images, or files; Command + V pastes them into a new location.
  • The copied content stays available until you copy something else, so you can paste the same thing multiple times in different places.
  • Command + Z undoes a paste if you change your mind immediately after pasting.
  • Paste Special (Command + Option + V) removes formatting like bold or color when you paste, leaving only plain text.
  • On a trackpad, you can also paste by tapping with two fingers, though the keyboard shortcut is faster and more reliable.

How to select text before copying

Before you can copy anything, you need to select it. The most common way is to click at the start of what you want, hold down the mouse button or trackpad, and drag to the end. Release when you've highlighted everything you need.

For a single word, double-click it and it will select automatically. For an entire paragraph, triple-click anywhere in that paragraph. If you want to select all the text in a document or window, press Command + A — this selects everything at once, which you can then copy with Command + C.

You can also select by clicking at the start point, then holding Shift and clicking at the end point. This is useful when the text spans a large distance and dragging would be awkward.

Paste Special: removing formatting when you paste

Sometimes when you paste text, it brings along formatting you don't want — bold text stays bold, colored text stays colored, or the font changes to match the original. To paste only the plain text without any of that formatting, use Command + Option + V instead of Command + V.

Paste Special works in most programs, including email clients, word processors, and web browsers. It strips away everything except the actual words or numbers, so the text takes on whatever formatting is already in the place you're pasting into. This is especially useful when copying from a website into an email or document where you want consistent formatting.

Not every program supports Paste Special — some older or simpler apps may not recognize the shortcut. If Command + Option + V doesn't work, try the menu instead: look for Edit in the top menu bar, then find "Paste Special" or "Paste and Match Style" in the dropdown.

Copying and pasting files and folders

You can copy files and folders the same way you copy text: select the file or folder in Finder, press Command + C, navigate to where you want it, and press Command + V. The file or folder will be copied to the new location, and the original will remain where it was.

If you want to move a file instead of copying it (so it only exists in one place), you can cut it with Command + X instead of Command + C, then paste it with Command + V. The file will disappear from its original location and appear only in the new one.

When copying large files or many files at once, you may see a progress window showing how much has been copied. You can continue working while the copy happens in the background, though copying will be slower if you're doing other demanding tasks at the same time.

Using the trackpad to paste

If you prefer not to use the keyboard, you can paste on a Mac trackpad by tapping with two fingers at the location where you want to paste. This is equivalent to Command + V and works in most programs. However, the keyboard shortcut is usually faster and more reliable, especially if your trackpad is sensitive or if you're working quickly.

Two-finger tapping for paste works best when you've already copied something and you're in a program that supports trackpad gestures — most modern Mac programs do. If two-finger tapping doesn't work, the program may not support it, and you should use Command + V instead.

What to do if copy and paste isn't working

If Command + C and Command + V don't seem to be working, first check that you've actually selected something before copying. Click and drag to highlight text, or click a file to select it, then try Command + C again. Many people press the shortcut without realizing nothing is selected.

If you've selected something but the shortcut still doesn't work, try using the menu instead. Click Edit in the top menu bar of the program you're using, then click Copy or Paste from the dropdown. If the menu options work but the keyboard shortcuts don't, your keyboard may have a problem, or the program may not support the standard shortcuts.

Restarting the program often fixes copy-and-paste problems. Close the app completely (press Command + Q), wait a few seconds, then open it again and try copying and pasting once more. If the problem persists across multiple programs, restart your Mac itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between different programs?

Yes. When you copy something in one program, it stays in your clipboard and you can paste it into any other program. For example, you can copy text from a web browser and paste it into an email, or copy a file from Finder and paste it into a document.

What's the difference between cut and copy?

Copy (Command + C) leaves the original where it is and puts a duplicate in your clipboard. Cut (Command + X) removes the original and puts it in your clipboard. When you paste either one, the result looks the same, but cut is useful when you want to move something rather than duplicate it.

Does copy and paste work the same way on an external keyboard?

Yes. Whether you're using the built-in Mac keyboard or an external keyboard connected by USB or Bluetooth, Command + C and Command + V work the same way. The Command key is always the one with the ⌘ symbol.

Can I copy multiple things at once and paste them separately?

Not with the standard copy and paste. When you copy something new, it replaces what was previously in your clipboard. However, some programs and utilities let you view your clipboard history and paste older items. Check the Edit menu in your program to see if a clipboard history option is available.

Why does pasted text sometimes look different from the original?

The program you're pasting into may have different default formatting — different font, size, or color. Use Paste Special (Command + Option + V) to paste only the plain text without formatting, so it matches the destination instead of keeping the original appearance.