How to copy and paste on your Mac

❘ Published: 2023-05-10T15:19:56

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Copying and pasting on Mac is one of the most commonly used features on your device. But, there are several different ways to perform it, and we’ll guide you through all of them.

When you start using a Mac, the first thing to learn is how to copy and paste. While this is a mundane task, it can be challenging for people using a Mac for the first time or switching loyalties from Windows. This is because a Mac keyboard’s layout differs from the one used on a Windows laptop.

Unlike Windows, Mac uses a command key with a ⌘ symbol on the keyboard that helps you perform tasks like cutting, copying, and pasting.

How to copy and paste on Mac using keyboard shortcuts

MacOS has several different key combinations in order to help you Cut, Copy and Paste. Luckily, all you have to do is remember that handy command button, and the keys are actually identical to their Windows counterparts. We’ve listed them all below:

Cut – Command + X
Copy – Command + C
Paste – Command + V

If it’s a piece of text that you want to copy and paste into a different document, or an image that you want to move to a new folder, follow the below steps:

Select the required text or file
Press and hold the command key and then press C to copy it
Command + X will cut the text, and it will get removed from the original location
Go to the target folder or file and press Command + V to paste the copied text /file

Copy and paste on Mac using a Mouse

You can still copy and paste Mac easily using a mouse over a keyboard.

Highlight or select the required text or file
Rright-click on the selected file/text
Click Copy in the Context menu
Head over to the target location
Press right-click and click Paste

How to copy and paste on Mac using Finder

You can also move files on your Mac using the Finder application.

Open Finder
Locate the files that need to be transferred
You can select multiple files by holding down the Command key and selecting all the files
Once done, press right-click on one of the selected files
Select Copy from the context menu
Head over to the new location, press right-click on your mouse
Click Paste from the context menu

How to copy and paste unformatted text on Mac

Sometimes you want to copy and paste text but want to avoid carrying the formatting to the new location. Copying unformatted text is almost similar to the ones mentioned above. However, a slight change in the pasting method ensures that formatting doesn’t get carried over.

Highlight or select the text
Press the right-click on the mouse on the selected text
Click Copy in the Context menu or press Command + C on the keyboard
Head over to the target location
Paste it by pressing Shift + Command + V
Alternatively, you can also go to Edit in the main menu on the application you’re using and select Paste Special
Select Unformatted Text from the pop-up menu and click Ok to paste the text

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