The copy paste shortcut in Mac is Command + C to copy and Command + V to paste. The Command key, marked with a looped square symbol, sits on both sides of the space bar and does the job that Ctrl does on Windows.
Two things surprise Windows users. Finder does not cut files with Command + X; you copy and then move with Option + Command + V. And pasting text so it matches the document's font uses Option + Shift + Command + V.
Quick facts
Copy
Command + CPaste
Command + VCut text
Command + XSelect all
Command + APaste and match style
Option + Shift + Command + VMove file
Command + C, then Option + Command + V
Copy paste shortcut in Mac and Windows compared
| Action | Mac | Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | Command + C | Ctrl + C |
| Cut text | Command + X | Ctrl + X |
| Paste | Command + V | Ctrl + V |
| Select all | Command + A | Ctrl + A |
| Paste plain text | Option + Shift + Command + V | Ctrl + Shift + V in many apps |
| Move a file | Command + C, then Option + Command + V | Ctrl + X, then Ctrl + V |
For the Windows side, our guides on copying and pasting go deeper.
Moving files in Finder
- Select the file or folder in Finder.
- Press Command + C. Nothing seems to happen; the file is now on the clipboard.
- Open the folder where it should go.
- Press Option + Command + V. The Edit menu calls this Move Item Here, and the original is removed from the old place.
Plain Command + V would make a copy instead. Dragging a file to another disk also copies it; hold Command while dragging to move.
Clipboard shortcut on Mac
macOS keeps only the last thing you copied. To see it, open Finder's Edit menu and choose Show Clipboard. There is no built in clipboard history like the Windows Win + V list, so if you need older copies, paste each one somewhere before copying the next. With the same Apple account on another Apple device nearby, Universal Clipboard lets you copy on one and paste on the other.
Select text with the keyboard on Mac
| Select | Keys |
|---|---|
| Everything | Command + A |
| One letter | Shift + Right |
| One word | Option + Shift + Right |
| To end of line | Command + Shift + Right |
| To end of document | Command + Shift + Down |
When copy and paste does not work on Mac
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Paste gives an older item | Nothing was selected when you copied |
| Command + X does nothing on a file | Finder does not cut files; use copy then Option + Command + V |
| Pasted text has the wrong font | Use Option + Shift + Command + V |
| Clipboard seems stuck | Restart the app, or log out and back in |
Switching from Windows to Mac
The hardest part of moving to a Mac is muscle memory: your left little finger reaches for Control, but Mac copy and paste wants the thumb on Command. Practise for a day by keeping your thumb resting on Command. If you use both systems, many people swap the Mac modifier keys in System Settings, Keyboard, Modifier Keys, though most find it easier to learn the Mac way. Typing a Windows style Control + C on a Mac usually does nothing in text, so no harm is done.
More Mac keys
Screenshots are on the Mac screenshot shortcut page, undo in Mac undo and redo, and the full list on the Mac shortcut keys page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the copy paste shortcut in Mac?
Which keys cut on a Mac?
How do I paste without formatting on a Mac?
Does a Mac remember earlier copies?
No, macOS holds just one item at a time unless you add a clipboard manager app.
What is the select all shortcut on Mac?
Can I use Ctrl + C on a Mac?
No. Mac apps use Command; Control does other jobs.