How To Copy And Paste on Mac

How To Copy And Paste on Mac

We all know that Copying and pasting are the most used tools on computers, whether it is Windows or Mac. The use of these tools is different for various devices. Windows users may think it is hard to copy-paste on Mac as they need to get used to it. But it is just a myth that Windows users cannot operate Mac. Fortunately, Mac is easy to work like Windows PC. You need to know the right way to do it. A little practice will make you an efficient user of Mac as well. If you need clarification about using these tools for the first time in Mac, we are here to help you. We collected some useful tips and tricks for those who need help using a Mac computer for copying and pasting. 

How To Copy And Paste On Mac

Copying and pasting on the computer saves us a lot of time and effort. While you copy text from a website, you can save it on your computer by pasting it into a Word document. These shortcuts can also be used to copy an entire folder or file and put it into another place. We will show you how to use these tools to cut, copy, and paste items with your keyboard, mouse, or trackpad. On a Mac, there are multiple techniques to copy and paste, and knowing them all will help you use this function regardless of where you’re performing. 

Here’s how to do everything.

How To Use Keyboard Shortcuts To Copy And Paste on Mac

First, select the text or image that you want to copy. To choose text from your keyboard, use the Shift key while pressing the up and down arrow keys. 

Then, on your keyboard, press Command+ C. Hold down the Command button and press the letter C once. The content will be copied to the clipboard.

To paste what you copied, open a program named a Text app on your Mac to paste the copied text or images.

To paste, press Command + V. This will copy the text or images from the clipboard and paste them. Also, read How To Clear The Browser Cache on iPhone.

How To Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Cutting and Pasting

You can use the cut function to remove text from one location and paste it into another. Cut text and images to shift them from one place to another. Unlike copying written content, the Cut command removes the text from the original file.

  • Select the text or image you want to cut.
  • Use your keyboard to press Command + X.
  • Right-click on the highlighted text and images and select Cut from the contextual
  • Menu that appears.

How To Do Pasting Without Formatting The Text

Sometimes, copying and pasting with formatting is easier. Nothing is more aggravating than copying and pasting from one document to another to discover that the design is also copied. It can change the design of your content, which you can do by using the Command in Mac that ensures the pasted text adheres to the required formatting of your original document.

Take the following steps to do this:

  • Select the content to copy or cut by pressing Command + C or Command + X.
  • Place the cursor where you want the text/object to go, then Paste it by pressing Command + Option/Alt + Shift + V.
  • If Command + Option/Alt + Shift + V does not work, try Command + Shift + V.
  • If you’re using Microsoft Word, go to the Paste menu and select Keep Text Only. If you want, you can make this the default paste.

How To Cut and Paste Files and Folders

Moving files and folders on a Mac is simple, thanks to the copy-and-paste functions. To copy a folder for pasting, press Command + C. Use the shortcut Command + V. To avoid duplicates, cut the file first and then paste it. You can do it if you follow these steps. 

Here’s how to use cut and paste to move a file or folder on a Mac.

  • Choose the file or folder to be copied.
  • To copy using the keyboard, press Command + C.
  • Navigate to the folder where you want the file to be pasted.
  • Hold down Command + Option + V. This will copy the file or folder from the old location to the new one.
  • Look into the Finder menu bar to find the Option to move a file under Edit. Also, read How To Turn off Apple Watch.

How To Copy Paste Using Mouse

You can also use the mouse to copy and paste the content on Mac. Here is the way to do it.

  • Mark the text that you want to choose.
  • Now, Right-click your mouse and Select Copy from the contextual menu.
  • To paste what you copied, open a program. Place your cursor where you want the copied content to go.
  • Now, right-click your mouse and choose Paste from the contextual menu.

How To Copy Paste Using the Menus

You can also cut and paste from the menus by following these steps.

  • Select the content you want to copy.
  • In the menu, choose Edit.
  • Select Cut or Copy—Right-click where you want to paste the text.

How To Paste between iOS Devices

When you are looking for a way to copy and paste any content, including text, files, and images, between iOS devices, including iPad, iPhone, and Mac, here is the way to do it. 

On your iPhone, select the object and then tap Copy.

Now, on your Mac, open a document and press Command + V. It will take between 3 to 10 seconds to copy text or image for an image. Both devices must also be linked to the same iCloud account—and internet connection. 

The method for copying and pasting an item from your iPad to your Mac is similar. Copy the article on your iPad first, then open a document on your Mac and use the Command+V shortcut to paste it.

Editor’s Note

We now understand that using the copy and paste function on Mac is as easy as on Windows. There are numerous ways to copy, cut, or paste on macOS. Some methods depend on the mouse or trackpad, while others require keyboard input. We discussed different ways to copy and paste text image files and folders on Mac and between all Apple devices. You can choose the way that suits you most. 

P.S. It is recommended to cut the text or images you want to paste somewhere else on your Mac as it will keep your PC clutter-free, and you will have more useful storage. Having duplicates of the same text and files can create confusion for the users as well. Also, read Best Sites Like Omegle.

FAQ’s

How do I use the Mac keyboard to copy and paste?

On a Mac, to copy and paste text by using keyboard shortcuts, use these steps. 

 Choose the text you want to copy. You can do this by highlighting the text in blue by clicking and dragging your cursor over it.

Tap on Command + C.

 Move your cursor to the location where you want to paste the text.

Tap on Command + V.

Why am I unable to copy and paste on my Mac?

Some viruses can corrupt your Mac clipboard, which stops you from functioning properly. A large, uncleared clipboard history and a faulty keyboard or mouse may also prevent you from copying or pasting correctly. It can cause the clipboard to malfunction, and you cannot copy and paste. So, before you start working, make sure that your Mac is free from viruses. Also, read Turn Off The Flashlight On The iPhone.

How can I copy and paste text only on Mac?

You may be familiar with the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + V (Cmd + Shift + V on Mac)—also known as “keep text only” or “paste plain text”—due to its popularity in other applications such as Microsoft Teams, Word for the web, Google, and Gmail. Whatever you call it, the Paste Text Only shortcut is now available in both Word for Windows and Word for Mac.

Naomi McCarthy
Naomi McCarthy