A complete guide on how to copy and paste on Mac and between other Apple devices

If you’re a new Mac user or just recently joined the Apple world, learning the new shortcuts might be tricky for you.

But don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it may seem. Once you get the commands, you’re good to go!

Writing Laptop GIF of Writing GIFs

There is not much difference if you are a Windows user, since it is mainly the keys that have been renamed, but their function remains the same.

So as long as you understand that, you will finally get the desired result. One of the most common commands that confuse users with a different keyboard is ‘How to copy paste Mac?’.

Let’s get rolling and quickly tell you all the methods to do it!

4 Ways to Copy and Paste on Mac

One of the most basic and common commands used on any desktop is the copy and paste command. However, the ways to do this may vary from device to device, even if the end result is the same.

Whether you’re a new Mac user or just looking for ways other than the usual keyboard keys to copy and paste on a Mac, we’re here to tell you all about it.

On a Mac, you can copy and paste text, images, files, folders, and more! So now, let’s get down to the methods and get started!

Keyboard shortcuts

To copy and paste on your Mac using the most common method, which is command keys, you can follow the steps below:

Highlight the text you want to copy.

Then press Command + C keys to copy the selected text.

Now go to the space where you want to paste the copied text. Press Command + V.

And now, the text will be pasted.

To copy and paste on Mac, shortcut keys are one of the most common methods. However, if you want to do it with the mouse, read the next section.

By right click

Another way to copy and paste on Mac is by right-clicking with your Mac mouse pad or trackpad. If you’re using the mouse and want to copy and paste text without moving your hands, follow these steps:

Highlight and select the text you want to copy.

Once it is selected, right-click anywhere on the selected text.

After that, the options menu will appear, select Copy.

Then go to the location where you want to paste the text.

Right-click on the space and tap Paste. The text will now be pasted there.

With the help of these steps, you will be able to copy and paste on Mac. If you want to use a different method, read on.

Through the application menus

Apart from the methods explained above, you can also copy and paste on Mac using the application menu. Every app has a menu that appears at the top left of the screen on Mac. So, to copy and paste on Mac using it:

Select by dragging the cursor over the text you want to copy.

After that, hover over Edit at the top of the open app and click on it.

Once the options appear, select Copy.

Now go where you want to paste the copied text.

Tap Edit > Paste. And now the text will be pasted successfully!

And that is! You now have the copied text pasted in the desired location. If you use the Clipboard on your iPhone or iPad more and want to explore it on Mac for copy and paste as well, the next section covers that briefly.

with clipboard

One of the easiest ways to copy and paste on Mac is through the Clipboard, as it stores recently copied items. So you can just take the text from there and copy it.

First though, you need to know where to view clipboard history on Mac: Finder > Edit > Clipboard.

Please note that the official Apple Clipboard does not keep track of all copied items and they may disappear after a while. Now let’s get started with the steps to copy and paste on Mac:

Once you’ve reached the clipboard, select and copy the desired text by pressing Command + C or right-clicking on it and selecting Copy.
Now go to the location where you want to paste the text and just press Command + V or right-click and tap Paste.

Now the copied text will be successfully pasted into the document. However, it was about pasting a particular text or element. If you have to copy and paste on Mac for more than one item, what’s the problem? We’ll see.

Ways to Copy and Paste Multiple Items on Mac

As you may have learned in the previous section on copying and pasting on Mac, let’s take a look at the steps to follow to do the same but with more elements.

Use of the search engine

Finder is an important space on Mac and is often used compared to other applications. However, if you want to copy and paste documents and files on Mac using Finder app, then follow the steps below.

Select the documents you want to share.

Now right click on them and select Copy.

Go to the folder where you want to paste them.

Tap Paste 2 Items.

Then the copied items will be successfully pasted into a different folder.

These were the methods to copy and paste on Mac. But if you want to do it between Mac and other Apple devices, then you can refer to the next section of the article.

How to copy and paste from Mac between other devices?

The copy and paste process may be different from device to device. For example, if you want to copy and paste on Chromebook, it has its own respective keys for that.

However, if we have to talk about Mac, the copy and paste process can be done not only on it but also on other Apple devices. And here, we are not talking about individual devices, but about copying and pasting from Mac between other devices. Let us tell you how.

by transfer

Before you start sharing files between Mac and other Apple devices, make sure that it is enabled on your devices and that you are signed in with the same Apple ID on all respective devices.

Now, to keep it simple and short, Handoff is a unique Apple feature that basically allows you to do more than just sync. According to Apple, you can “pick up where you left off with Handoff on Mac.”

So to make sure Handoff is enabled on your Mac:

Solution brief: System Settings > General > AirDrop and transfer > Allow transfer between this Mac and your iCloud devices

And you need to do the same for your iPhone or iPad and check if Handoff is enabled.

Now we will give the steps to copy paste on Mac with the help of Handoff feature.

Select the text you want to copy and press Command + C.

Now open the other device where you want to paste the copied text.

Touch and hold where you want to paste the text and once the options appear, click Paste.

Now a message will appear and show that the text is being copied from Mac.

After that, the text will be pasted successfully.

You can also do the same process for images. However, to do it with other media files and documents, follow the next section.

Via AirDrop

You might be thinking what is AirDrop doing in the copy and paste section, but in the case of sharing files and folders on Apple devices, it comes quite handy.

If you need to transfer an entire document instead of just copying and pasting the information in it, you can use the AirDrop feature. First, to make sure it’s on:

Solution brief: Settings > General > AirDrop & transfer > AirDrop (contacts only)

Once you’ve enabled it, go to the file or document you want to transfer or share to a different Apple device.

After that, just right-click on it and tap on Share. Now select AirDrop and send it to your device. Accept the request if your device is not paired, and you’re done!

But if you recently changed your AirDrop name, there could be a little situation…

How to paste on Mac without formatting?

It can be frustrating if you have to copy and paste from one document to another, but the copied text is not in the desired font or formatting. So, to copy the text on Mac without formatting, follow these steps:

Select the text and to copy, press Command + C or Command + X to cut.
Now go to the location where you want to paste the selected text. To paste, press Command + Option or Alt + Shift + V.

Pressing these keys for the command may seem like a big task. But if you do it correctly, the text will be pasted without any formatting from the previous document and according to the desired document style and formatting.

Note, however, that this shortcut works in Apple’s Pages app, and if you want to paste it into a different document or app, try Command + Shift + V.

For Microsoft Word, click File Menu > Paste > Select Keep Text Only. You can also set this as the default paste if you use the same format in most of your documents.

Sign off

There are a lot of cool features from Apple like dark mode on Mac if you start exploring. However, managing everything smoothly may not be so simple. The same can happen in the case of slightly different key combinations on MacBook.

While many users get confused with basic commands like copy and paste on Mac at first, once they get used to the keys and their functions, it certainly becomes much easier. All they need to do is make frequent use of the correct command keys and keep trying the different methods as described in the articles instead of staying on the same.

Sources

How to copy and paste on Mac, Apple Support

Rain Kengly, 4 Easy Ways to Copy and Paste on a Mac, wikiHow

Pick up where you left off with Handoff on Mac, Apple Support