How to Copy and Paste on Mac

If you want to move text or a photo from one place to another, you need to use copy and paste. It's one of the most basic and useful shortcuts that you need to know. It saves time and keeps text and images in their original form. You don't have to type out text when you can just copy and paste it into an email or document. This article shows you different ways to copy and paste or cut on a Mac, Macbook Air, Macbook Pro, and even across Apple devices.  

How to copy and paste on Mac with keyboard shortcuts

1. Use your mouse or trackpad to select and highlight the text you want to copy.

2. Press Command ⌘ + C to copy the highlighted text.

3. Click the place where you want to paste the text you copied.

4. Press Command ⌘ + V to paste.

If you want to cut, do one of the following options:

Press Command ⌘ + X.

Or choose Edit then select Cut from the menu bar.

Or Control-click (or right-click) the item you selected, then select Cut from the shortcut menu.

How to copy and paste on Mac with a mouse or trackpad

1. Use your mouse or trackpad to select the text you want to copy, and then right-click. If you want to copy an image, GIF, or other types of files, just move the cursor over it before you click.

2. Click Copy in the pop-up menu.

3. Click where you want to paste the text or file you just copied.

4. Right-click and select Paste from the menu that appears. If you are just perform copy and paste, the text you pasted will have the same format as its original context.

RELATED: How to right-click on a Mac.

How to copy and paste on Mac using the toolbar

1. Use your mouse or trackpad to select the text you want to copy.

2. Click Edit in the toolbar at the top of your screen.

3. Select Copy from the drop-down menu.

3. Click the place where you want to paste the text you copied.

4. Click Edit in the toolbar at the top of your screen

5. Select Paste from the drop-down menu.

How to copy and paste on a Mac to match formatting style

If you follow the methods above, the text you pasted will have the same format as its original context. If you want to make it match the style of the new place where you're pasting it, here's how:

1. Use your mouse or trackpad to select the text you want to copy.

2. Use one of the methods above to copy the text (Command + C, toolbar, mouse, or trackpad).

3. Click the place where you want to paste the copied text.

4. Click Edit from the toolbar at the top of the screen.

5. Select Paste without formatting or Paste and Match Style.

If you select this option, the text you copied will match the style of the email or document that you're pasting into.

RELATED: How to take a screenshot on Mac.

Copy and paste between Apple devices

If your iPhone, iPad, and Mac are all using the same iCloud account, it's easy to copy and paste text and photos between them.

1. Open System Preferences on your Mac.

2. Click General. 

2. Tick the box next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices. 

3. Now on your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings. 

4. Tap on General. 

4. Select AirPlay & Handoff.

5. Tap the switch next to Handoff to make it turn from grey to green and turn on this feature.

6. On your iPhone or iPad, tap to highlight the text or image that you want to copy.

7. Tap Copy.

8. On your Mac, follow any of the methods above to paste.

Conclusion

Copy and paste on a Mac is simple. You can copy, paste, or cut to move text, images, or other objects from one part of a document to another, or from one app to another. If you're coming from Windows, you might be confused by the keyboard shortcuts on a Mac or MacBook for doing this.