Copy and paste on a MacBook works almost the same as on Windows, with one difference: you use the Command key (⌘) instead of Ctrl. Command + C copies, Command + V pastes. But a few things work differently, such as moving files and pasting without formatting. This article lists every method.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If Command, C or V do not work properly, the keyboard is sometimes the cause; more about that at the end.
The basics
- Copy: select text or a file and press Command + C.
- Paste: click where it should go and press Command + V.
- Cut (text): Command + X, then paste with Command + V.
- Select all: Command + A.
Prefer the trackpad? Click the selection with two fingers (right-click) and choose Copy or Paste. More about right-clicking in right-click on a MacBook.
Moving files (cut and paste)
In the Finder Command + X does not work for files. Moving works like this:
- Select the file and press Command + C.
- Go to the folder where it should go.
- Press Option + Command + V. The file is moved instead of copied.
You can also just drag a file. Within the same drive it is moved; to another drive it is copied. Hold Option while dragging to force a copy.
Duplicate instead of copy
If you want a copy of a file in the same folder, select it and press Command + D. The Finder immediately makes a copy with "copy" in the name. Handy before you start editing a document.
Paste without formatting
If you copy text from a website into an e-mail or document, the Mac brings the font and colours along. If you only want the text, use Option + Shift + Command + V. In some apps this is called "Paste and Match Style".
Copying between iPhone and Mac
With Universal Clipboard you copy on your iPhone and paste on your Mac, or the other way round. Requirements: both devices are signed in with the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and Handoff is on (on the Mac in System Settings, General, AirDrop & Handoff). Just copy on one device and paste within a few minutes on the other.
Finding something you copied earlier
By default the macOS clipboard only remembers the last thing you copied. Recent versions of macOS also let you find earlier copied items through Spotlight. If you cut and paste a lot, there is also software that keeps a longer history.
Copy and paste does not work
- Try it via the Edit menu at the top of the screen. If it works there, the keys are the problem.
- Restart the app or restart the Mac. A stuck clipboard usually recovers that way.
- Test the keys in TextEdit. If Command, C or V do not respond or type twice, there may be dirt under them or the keyboard is damaged. Read MacBook keyboard not working.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
If certain keys no longer work, we check whether cleaning is enough or whether a key or the keyboard needs replacing. You hear beforehand what it will be. More on our pages about MacBook repair in Amsterdam and MacBook keyboard repair.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Ctrl + C not work on my Mac?
On the Mac you use Command instead of Ctrl. With a Windows keyboard, the Windows key is the Command key.
How do I copy a screenshot straight to the clipboard?
Hold Control with the shortcut: Control + Shift + Command + 4. Then paste it with Command + V.
Can I copy a whole folder?
Yes, the same way as a file: select it, Command + C and Command + V in the new place.
