How to Copy and Paste on a Mac
To copy and paste on a Mac, press Command+C to copy, then Command+V to paste.
- Command+X cuts.
- On a Mac, the Command key does what Ctrl does on Windows.
- You can also Control-click (right-click) the selection and choose Copy, then Paste.
On this page
- Copy and paste shortcuts: Windows vs. a Mac
- How do I copy and paste text on a Mac?
- How do I paste without formatting on a Mac?
- How do I cut and paste files on a Mac?
- How do I undo, redo and select all on a Mac?
- Does a Mac have a clipboard history?
- Can I keep Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V on a Mac?
- Frequently asked questions
Copy and paste shortcuts: Windows vs. a Mac
| What you want | On Windows | On a Mac | With WinPlug |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy | Ctrl+C | Command+C | Ctrl+C |
| Paste | Ctrl+V | Command+V | Ctrl+V |
| Cut | Ctrl+X | Command+X | Ctrl+X |
| Undo / Redo | Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y | Command+Z / Shift+Command+Z | Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y |
| Select all | Ctrl+A | Command+A | Ctrl+A |
| Find | Ctrl+F | Command+F | Ctrl+F |
| Move files | Ctrl+X, then Ctrl+V | Command+C, then Option+Command+V | Ctrl+X, then Ctrl+V |
| Clipboard history | Win+V | Command+Space, then Command+4 | Ctrl+Alt+V |
On a Windows keyboard plugged into a Mac, the Windows key works as Command. So copy is Windows key+C, and paste is Windows key+V.
How do I copy and paste text on a Mac?
With the keyboard
- Select the text: drag over it, or press Command+A to select everything.
- Press Command+C to copy it.
- Click where you want it, then press Command+V to paste.
To move text instead of copying it, press Command+X to cut, then Command+V to paste.
With the mouse or trackpad
- Select the text.
- Control-click the selection (or right-click with a mouse, or click with two fingers on a trackpad) and choose Copy.
- Control-click where you want the text and choose Paste.
The Edit menu at the top of the screen also has Cut, Copy, Paste and Select All, with their shortcuts written next to them.
How do I paste without formatting on a Mac?
Press Option+Shift+Command+V. This is Paste and Match Style: the pasted text takes the font and size of the text around it, instead of keeping the style it had.
You’ll also find Paste and Match Style in the Edit menu. Not every app supports it.
How do I cut and paste files on a Mac?
In the Finder, Command+X doesn’t cut files. You copy them first, then move them when you paste:
- Select the files and press Command+C.
- Open the folder where they should go.
- Press Option+Command+V. The files move there, and disappear from where they were.
Press plain Command+V instead, and you get a copy: the file stays in both places. You can also drag files to another folder on the same disk to move them.
How do I undo, redo and select all on a Mac?
- Undo: Command+Z.
- Redo: Shift+Command+Z. (Ctrl+Y on Windows.)
- Select all: Command+A.
- Find in a page or document: Command+F.
Does a Mac have a clipboard history?
Yes, on recent versions of macOS. Press Command+Space to open Spotlight, then press Command+4 (or click the Clipboard button next to the search field). The first time, Spotlight may ask you to allow clipboard results.
Can I keep Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V on a Mac?
Yes, with WinPlug. After years on Windows, your fingers press Ctrl, not Command. No need to relearn it: keep your Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.
With WinPlug, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y, Ctrl+A and Ctrl+F work like on Windows. They work on a Windows or a Mac keyboard, in QWERTY or AZERTY. Your Command shortcuts keep working too. Terminals and code editors keep their own Ctrl, and one shortcut, Ctrl+Alt+Win+W, turns every Windows shortcut off.
In the Finder, Ctrl+X then Ctrl+V moves files, like on Windows. Use Windows keyboard shortcuts on your Mac: see every key WinPlug brings back.
Miss Win+V? WinPlug Clipboard opens your clipboard history with Ctrl+Alt+V: search it, pick an item with the arrow keys, press Enter to paste. It keeps up to 500 items, encrypted on your Mac. Learn more about clipboard history for Mac.
Keep your Windows habits on your Mac
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Other Windows habits WinPlug brings back
- Win+Shift+S and the Print Screen key take screenshots. See how to screenshot on a Mac.
- Ctrl+Alt+Delete opens Activity Monitor.
- Alt+Tab shows every open window, and Alt+F4 closes one.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t Ctrl+C work on a Mac?
On a Mac, copy and paste use the Command key, not Control. Press Command+C to copy and Command+V to paste. On a Windows keyboard plugged into a Mac, the Windows key works as Command.
How do I cut and paste files on a Mac?
In the Finder, select the files and press Command+C. Open the destination folder and press Option+Command+V. The files move instead of being copied.
How do I paste without formatting on a Mac?
Press Option+Shift+Command+V. This is Paste and Match Style: the pasted text takes the style of the text around it. Not every app supports it.
How do I undo and redo on a Mac?
Press Command+Z to undo. Press Shift+Command+Z to redo. Command+A selects everything.
Does a Mac have a clipboard history?
Recent versions of macOS have one in Spotlight: press Command+Space, then Command+4. With WinPlug Clipboard, Ctrl+Alt+V opens a clipboard history panel, like Win+V on Windows.
Sources
- Apple Support, “Mac keyboard shortcuts”, support.apple.com/en-us/102650 (checked October 2026).
- macOS User Guide, “Search your Clipboard history on Mac”, support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchl40d5b86b/mac (checked October 2026).
