How To Copy and Paste on Mac
Copying and pasting on a Mac works differently from Windows — you use the Cmd (⌘) key instead of Ctrl. Once you learn the shortcuts, it becomes second nature. This guide covers every way to copy and paste on Mac, including text, files, images, and paste-without-formatting tricks.
Basic Copy and Paste Shortcuts on Mac
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Copy | Cmd + C |
| Paste | Cmd + V |
| Cut | Cmd + X |
| Paste without formatting | Cmd + Option + Shift + V |
| Select All | Cmd + A |
| Undo | Cmd + Z |
How To Copy and Paste Text on Mac
- Select the text you want to copy:
- Click at the start, then hold Shift and click at the end
- Or click and drag to highlight
- Or double-click a word to select it, triple-click to select a paragraph
- Press Cmd (⌘) + C to copy
- Click where you want to paste
- Press Cmd (⌘) + V to paste
Using Right-Click:
- Select the text
- Right-click (or Control + click) on the selection
- Choose "Copy" from the menu
- Right-click where you want to paste
- Choose "Paste"
Using the Menu Bar:
- Select the text
- Click Edit in the menu bar at the top
- Click Copy
- Click where you want to paste
- Click Edit → Paste
How To Cut and Paste on Mac
Cutting removes the original text/file and places it on your clipboard:
- Select the text or file
- Press Cmd + X to cut
- Navigate to the new location
- Press Cmd + V to paste
Note about files in Finder: You can’t directly "cut" files with Cmd + X in Finder. Instead:
- Select the file(s) and press Cmd + C to copy
- Navigate to the destination folder
- Press Cmd + Option + V to move (not copy) the files — this is the equivalent of cut and paste for files
How To Paste Without Formatting on Mac
When you copy text from a website or document, it often carries over bold, font size, colors, and other formatting. To paste as plain text:
- Press Cmd + Option + Shift + V (instead of Cmd + V)
This strips all formatting and matches the text style of wherever you’re pasting.
Apps that support this natively:
- Safari, Chrome, Firefox: Works with the keyboard shortcut
- Pages, Keynote: Edit → Paste and Match Style
- Microsoft Word: Edit → Paste Special → Unformatted Text
- Google Docs: Cmd + Shift + V
How To Copy and Paste Files on Mac
In Finder:
- Select the file(s) you want to copy — click to select one, or Cmd + click to select multiple
- Press Cmd + C to copy
- Navigate to the destination folder
- Press Cmd + V to paste a copy
Duplicate a File:
- Select the file and press Cmd + D to create a copy in the same folder
Move Instead of Copy:
- Copy with Cmd + C, then paste with Cmd + Option + V to move the file (cut and paste)
How To Copy and Paste Images on Mac
From a Browser:
- Right-click the image
- Select "Copy Image"
- Open your destination (email, document, Messages)
- Press Cmd + V to paste
From Preview or Photos:
- Open the image
- Select the area with Cmd + A (select all) or use the selection tool
- Press Cmd + C
- Paste into your destination with Cmd + V
Screenshot to Clipboard:
- Press Ctrl + Cmd + Shift + 3 (full screen) or Ctrl + Cmd + Shift + 4 (selected area) to copy a screenshot directly to clipboard
- Then Cmd + V to paste anywhere
How To Copy and Paste Between Devices (Universal Clipboard)
If you have an iPhone and Mac signed into the same Apple ID, you can copy on one device and paste on the other:
Requirements:
- Both devices signed into the same Apple ID
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on both
- Handoff enabled: Mac → System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff → Allow Handoff
How It Works:
- Copy text, an image, or a file on your iPhone
- On your Mac, press Cmd + V — the content pastes from your iPhone’s clipboard
- This also works in reverse: copy on Mac, paste on iPhone
Universal Clipboard content expires after about 2 minutes, so paste promptly.
Troubleshooting: Copy and Paste Not Working on Mac
If copy and paste stops working:
- Restart the clipboard process: Open Terminal and type
killall pboard, then press Enter - Restart your Mac: Sometimes the clipboard gets stuck after extended use
- Check the app: Some apps restrict copying (DRM-protected content, banking apps)
- Check keyboard: Ensure the Cmd key is functioning — test with other shortcuts like Cmd + Space (Spotlight)
- Third-party clipboard managers: Apps like Paste, Maccy, or Alfred may intercept clipboard operations
Tested on macOS Sequoia 15.3, macOS Sonoma 14, and macOS Ventura 13 on MacBook Air M3, MacBook Pro M3 Pro, and iMac M4. Last updated March 2026 by the DevX editorial team — our Mac specialists have over a decade of experience covering Apple products and productivity workflows.
