The cut shortcut key is Ctrl + X on Windows and Command + X on a Mac. Cut removes the selected text and keeps it on the clipboard, so you can put it somewhere else with Ctrl + V.
Cut is how you move things: a paragraph to a new place in a letter, a row of data, or a file into another folder. The steps below show the cut and paste shortcut key for each case, plus the one similar key you should be careful with.
Quick facts
Windows
Ctrl + XMac text
Command + XPaste it
Ctrl + VUndo a cut
Ctrl + ZMove files on Mac
Command + C, then Option + Command + VRemember
Cut is only gone for good if you never paste
How to use the cut shortcut key to move things
- Select the text, cells or files to move.
- Press Ctrl + X. Text disappears at once; files turn faded until you paste.
- Click where the item should go, or switch to the folder you are moving files into.
- Press Ctrl + V. The item moves there.
Until you paste, the item lives only on the clipboard. If you copy something else first, a cut piece of text is lost, so paste soon after cutting. If you change your mind, Ctrl + Z brings it back; see the undo shortcut key guide.
Cut, copy and paste compared
| Action | Windows | Mac | Original stays? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut | Ctrl + X | Command + X | No, it moves |
| Copy | Ctrl + C | Command + C | Yes |
| Paste | Ctrl + V | Command + V | Puts the clipboard item here |
Full guides: copy shortcut key and paste shortcut key. All three are collected on the cut, copy and paste hub.
Cutting files in File Explorer
Pick the files, press Ctrl + X, go into the folder where they belong and hit Ctrl + V. The files move instead of being duplicated, which saves space. If the paste does not happen, the files stay in their old folder, so cutting files is safe.
Cut in Excel
In Excel, Ctrl + X draws a moving dotted border around the cells. They stay visible until you paste with Ctrl + V or Enter. Press Esc to cancel. To move cells and push others aside instead of replacing them, right click the target and choose Insert Cut Cells, or press Ctrl + Plus after cutting.
Why not to use Shift + Delete for cut
Some old programs treat Shift + Delete as cut. In File Explorer, though, Shift + Delete deletes files permanently without the Recycle Bin. To avoid a costly mistake, always use Ctrl + X to cut. The permanent delete shortcut page explains the warning box you see.
When the cut keyboard shortcut does not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens on a web page | You cannot cut text you are not allowed to edit; copy it instead |
| Cut file is still in the old folder | You did not paste; open the target and press Ctrl + V |
| Ctrl + X does something else in one program | That program uses its own keys; use the Edit menu |
| Cut text is lost | Press Ctrl + Z in the same document straight away |
Cut on a Mac
Command + X cuts text, cells and images on a Mac. Finder does not cut files. Instead, copy the file with Command + C and in the new folder press Option + Command + V to move it. Finder file moves are covered in our Mac copy and paste guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut key for cut?
What is the shortcut for cut and paste?
Cut with Ctrl + X, then paste with Ctrl + V.
Is cut the same as delete?
No. Cut keeps the item on the clipboard so you can paste it. Delete removes it.
Can I cut files with Ctrl + X?
Yes, in File Explorer. The files move when you paste them in another folder.
What happens if I cut and never paste?
Files stay where they were. Cut text stays on the clipboard until you copy something else, then it is gone.
What is the cut shortcut key in laptop keyboards?
The same Ctrl + X; no Fn key is needed.