How to Copy, Cut and Paste Files in Mac

Copying and pasting is one of the most basic tasks on any operating system. For macOS, this function is performed using a combination of simple keyboard shortcuts or mouse actions. Whether you’re using a MacBook, Mac mini, or iMac, mastering these essential features can significantly boost your productivity.

How to Copy, Cut and Paste Files in Mac

This guide will show you how to easily copy, cut, and paste items on your Mac, as well as some useful tips to enhance the process. Additionally, we will cover advanced functionalities like how to paste without formatting and how to copy multiple items on macOS.

Basic Keyboard Shortcuts for Copying, Cutting, and Pasting

We will start with the basic keyboard shortcuts that is being used by everyone to copy, cut and paste. Let's break it down.

Keyboard Shortcuts on macOS

• Copy: Command + C
• Cut: Command + X
• Paste: Command + V

To copy text or objects, highlight the content you want to duplicate and press Command + C. If you need to cut something (remove and move it), press Command + X. To paste the item into a new location, simply place the cursor where you want it and press Command + V.

Note: These shortcuts work in almost all apps and documents on macOS, including web browsers, word processors, and emails.

Copy and Paste with Mouse or Trackpad

If you prefer using a mouse or trackpad instead of keyboard shortcuts, macOS offers an intuitive way to copy and paste.

• Select the content you want to copy or cut by either double-clicking a word or clicking and dragging over a section of text.
• Right-click on the selected text and choose Copy or Cut from the context menu.
• Right-click where you want to paste the content and select Paste.

Alternatively, you can use the app’s Edit menu to access the Copy, Cut, and Paste commands.

How to Paste Without Formatting

A common frustration when copying and pasting is carrying over unwanted formatting (such as fonts, colors, and sizes). To avoid this, macOS allows you to paste text without its original formatting.

How to Paste Without Formatting:

• Select the content you want to copy (using Command + C or Command + X).
• Go to the target location and position the cursor where you want to paste.
• Press Command + Option + Shift + V to paste the text without formatting.

This command ensures that the pasted text adopts the formatting of the document you're pasting into, rather than carrying over the style of the original content.

Copy and Paste Between Different Apps

One of macOS’s standout features is the seamless integration between different applications. You can easily copy and paste content not only within the same app but also between apps.

Example: Copying from Safari to Pages

• Copy the content in Safari (Command + C).
• Switch to Pages, place the cursor where you want to paste, and press Command + V.
• Done: The content from Safari is now in Pages, whether it’s text, an image, or a link.

This works similarly across all macOS apps like Mail, Notes, and Finder, making it incredibly easy to transfer information.

How to Copy Multiple Items on macOS

Unfortunately, macOS doesn't natively support copying multiple items to the clipboard like Windows, where you can select multiple things and paste them at will. However, macOS users can install clipboard manager apps that provide this functionality.

Best Clipboard Managers for macOS:

1. CopyClip – A simple clipboard manager that allows you to track multiple copied items.
2. Alfred – A productivity app that features clipboard history, making it easy to access and paste any item you copied in the last 24 hours, 7 days, or longer.
3. Paste – A more feature-rich clipboard manager with a sleek interface and ability to organize clipboard history for quick access.

These apps enable you to store multiple copied items, and you can paste them selectively.

Advanced: Copy and Paste Between Devices with Universal Clipboard

macOS allows you to copy content on your Mac and paste it onto an iPhone, iPad, or another Mac seamlessly. This feature, known as Universal Clipboard, works when all devices are signed into the same iCloud account.

How to Use Universal Clipboard:

1. Enable Handoff: On your Mac, go to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff and enable Handoff. Similarly, on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff.
2. Copy on Mac: Copy the desired content on your Mac using Command + C.
3. Paste on iPhone/iPad: Open an app on your iPhone/iPad and press Command + V to paste the content there.

Universal Clipboard works for both text and images, although there might be a slight delay.

Copy, Cut, and Paste Using Drag and Drop

In addition to the traditional methods of using keyboard shortcuts and the context menu, macOS supports the Drag and Drop feature. This method is incredibly convenient for quickly copying or moving files and text between apps or within the same app.

How to Use Drag and Drop:

1. Select the content (text, image, file) you want to copy or cut.
2. Click and hold on the content until it’s highlighted.
3. Drag the item to the desired location and release the mouse button to drop it.

For example, you can drag an image from a web page and drop it into a document or onto your desktop.

Note: While dragging, if you want to copy (not move) the item, hold the Option key while dragging.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you're encountering issues with copying and pasting on macOS, here are some solutions:

1. Clipboard Not Working: Restart your Mac and check if the clipboard is functioning correctly.
2. Apps Not Responding to Keyboard Shortcuts: Ensure that the app supports macOS standard shortcuts (Command + C, Command + V). In some cases, you may need to enable shortcut support in the app’s settings.
3. Text Formatting Issues: If you're unable to paste without formatting, try using the Command + Option + Shift + V shortcut, or use a third-party app like TextEdit to strip formatting.

Conclusion

Mastering copy, cut, and paste on macOS is crucial for efficient use of your MacBook, Mac mini, or iMac. With the tips and shortcuts provided, you can now easily manage your clipboard tasks, paste content without unwanted formatting, and even copy and paste between different Apple devices.

If you're coming from Windows, macOS may seem a little different, but with practice, these basic tasks will soon become second nature.