The basic shortcuts: Command instead of Control

On a Mac, you use Command (the key with the ⌘ symbol) instead of Control. To copy something, press Command + C. To paste it, press Command + V. To cut (remove and copy), press Command + X. These three shortcuts work the same way across almost every Mac process — email, web browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, everything.

The Command key sits on either side of the spacebar at the bottom of your keyboard. It looks like a four-pointed star or cloverleaf. If you are used to Windows, where you use Control + C and Control + V, the only real difference is swapping Control for Command.

You do not need to hold down any other keys. Just press Command and the letter at the same time, then release both. The text or object you copied stays in your clipboard until you copy something else, so you can paste the same thing multiple times in different places.

Key Takeaways

  • Command + C copies text or objects; Command + V pastes them; Command + X cuts them — these work in nearly every Mac process.
  • The Command key is the one with the ⌘ symbol, located on both sides of the spacebar at the bottom of your keyboard.
  • You can paste the same copied item as many times as you want until you copy something new.
  • If a shortcut does not work in a specific process, try using the Edit menu at the top of the screen instead.
  • On a trackpad, you can also right-click (or two-finger tap) on selected text to see Copy and Paste options in a menu.

How to select what you want to copy first

Before you copy anything, you need to select it. Click at the beginning of the text or object you want, then drag your mouse or trackpad to the end. The selected text will usually turn blue or highlight in some way. Once it is highlighted, press Command + C to copy it.

If you are copying a single word, you can double-click on it to select the whole word at once. If you want to select an entire paragraph or block of text, triple-click anywhere in it. For selecting all the text in a document or window, press Command + A instead — this selects everything at once.

Using the trackpad to copy and paste

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can right-click (or two-finger tap on a trackpad) on any selected text. A menu will pop up with Copy, Cut, and Paste options. Click the one you want. This method works the same way in most Mac applications.

Two-finger tapping means placing two fingers on your trackpad and tapping it at the same time. On newer Macs, you can also click with two fingers instead of tapping. Either way, the context menu appears and you can select Copy or Paste from there.

When the keyboard shortcut does not work

Some older applications or specialized programs might not respond to Command + C and Command + V. If a shortcut does not work, try the Edit menu at the top of your screen. Click Edit, and you will see Copy, Cut, and Paste options listed there. Click the one you need.

You can also check whether the text is actually selected. If nothing is highlighted, the Copy option in the menu will often appear grayed out or disabled. Select your text again and try the shortcut or menu option once more.

Copying and pasting between different applications

One of the most useful things about copy and paste is that it works across applications. You can copy text from a web browser, paste it into an email, copy a sentence from that email, and paste it into a document — all using the same Command + C and Command + V shortcuts. The clipboard holds whatever you copied last, regardless of which process you were in.

If you copy something and then switch to a different process, the copied text stays in your clipboard. You can paste it when ready or wait and paste it later. The only time it disappears is when you copy something else or restart your Mac.

Pasting without formatting (plain text only)

Sometimes when you paste text, it brings along formatting like bold, colors, or different font sizes. If you want to paste only the plain text without any of that formatting, use Command + Option + V instead of Command + V. This strips away all the formatting and pastes just the words.

This is especially useful when you copy text from a website and want to paste it into an email or document without all the web colors and styles coming along. Not every process supports this shortcut, but most modern ones do — including Mail, Notes, Word, and Google Docs.

Undo if you paste the wrong thing

If you paste something by mistake, press Command + Z to undo it. This works when ready after pasting and will remove the pasted text and restore what was there before. You can undo multiple times in a row to go back several steps if needed.

Undo works in almost every Mac process. If you realize a few minutes later that you pasted the wrong thing, undo might not work anymore — it depends on the process. But if you catch it right away, Command + Z will fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac use Command instead of Control like Windows does?

Apple designed Macs with the Command key to avoid conflicts with other keyboard shortcuts that use Control. On Windows, Control + C is copy. On Mac, Command + C is copy. Both systems work the same way — you just use a different modifier key. Once you use it a few times, it becomes automatic.

Can I copy and paste images and files, or just text?

You can copy and paste images, files, and other objects the same way you copy text. Select the image or file, press Command + C, then press Command + V in the location where you want it. Some applications handle this differently — for example, you might not be able to paste a file into an email the same way you paste text — but the keyboard shortcut works across most of Mac.

What is the difference between cut and copy?

Copy (Command + C) leaves the original text where it is and puts a duplicate in your clipboard. Cut (Command + X) removes the text from where it was and puts it in your clipboard. When you paste after cutting, the original disappears. Use copy when you want to keep the original; use cut when you want to move something.

Does my clipboard hold multiple things at once?

No. Your Mac clipboard holds only one thing at a time — the last thing you copied or cut. When you copy something new, it replaces what was there before. If you need to keep multiple pieces of text to paste later, you will need to paste them into a document or notes app first, or use a third-party clipboard manager process.

Can I copy something on one Mac and paste it on another?

Yes, if both Macs are signed into the same iCloud account and have Handoff enabled. This feature is called Universal Clipboard. Copy something on one Mac, switch to the other, and paste — it works across devices. Check System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs) under General to see if Handoff is turned on.