How to copy and paste on Mac

Duplicating both text and images is a straightforward process.
By Amanda Yeo  on 
Brand new redesigned MacBook Air laptops are displayed during the WWDC22 at Apple Park on June 6, 2022 in Cupertino, California.
Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

If you've grown accustomed to Windows PCs, the move to a Mac can feel discombobulating. While Apple's Macs can process words, edit images, and browse the web just as well as PCs, differences such as the absence of a Windows key may leave new users floundering.

Fortunately, many of Mac's operations are very similar to Windows, including its copy and paste function. It'll only take a little bit of patience and practice until you're just as fluent in Mac as you are in PC.

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

How to copy and paste text on Mac

Total Time
  • 30 secs
What You Need
  • Mac

Step 1: Select the text you would like to copy.

You can do this by clicking and dragging your cursor over the text to highlight it in blue. Alternatively, if it is editable text, click to place your cursor at the beginning or end of the text, then hold down Shift and use your arrow keys to highlight the lines you want.

Step 2: Press Command + C.

Press and hold the Command button at the bottom of your keyboard while also pressing C to copy the text. Alternatively, you can either right click on the highlighted text, or hold down Control and click on it. Doing either will bring up a dropdown menu, from which you can then select Copy.

A screenshot of the dropdown menu with "Copy" highlighted.
Credit: Mashable

Step 3: Click where you would like to paste the text to move your cursor there.

This must be an area in which text is editable, such as a web browser's address bar, a text box, or a word processing document.

Step 4: Press Command + V.

Similarly to copying, press and hold the Command button at the bottom of your keyboard while also pressing V to paste the text. You can also bring up the dropdown menu following the same method as above, and then select Paste. Your chosen text will then be pasted into the new area.

If you want to match your copied text to the font, size, and other style settings of the text you're pasting it into, you can press Option + Shift + Command + V instead of just Command + V. You can also Cut rather than Copy by selecting Cut from the dropdown menu or pressing Command + X instead of C.

How to copy and paste an image on Mac

Total Time
  • 30 secs
What You Need
  • Mac

Step 1: Right click on the image you would like to copy.

Alternatively, you can hold down Control and click on the image. Doing either will bring up a dropdown menu.

Step 2: Select Copy Image from the dropdown menu.

A screenshot of the dropdown menu, with "Copy Image" highlighted.
Credit: Mashable

Step 3: Move your cursor to where you would like to paste the image.

This must be an area in which images can be inserted, such as an image editing program or a word processing document.

Step 4: Press Command + V.

Press and hold the Command button at the bottom of your keyboard while also pressing V to paste the image. You can also bring up the dropdown menu again and then select Paste. Your image will then be pasted into the new area.

Topics MacBook

Amanda Yeo
Amanda Yeo
Reporter

Amanda Yeo is Mashable's Australian reporter, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. This includes everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets.


Recommended For You
Satellite texting may come to Android, with a big leg up over iPhone
Android logo on phone outside

How to restart your iPhone
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max on a bench

Google Maps to use satellites if you can't connect to a network, according to new report
Google Maps

How to transfer iPhone to iPhone
A brand new Apple iPhone 15 pro titanium is displayed with box and packaging.

New M4 MacBook Pro with AI focus tipped to come soon — here’s what we know
Apple logo on MacBook

More in Tech
Amazon's Pet Day deals are here with big savings on essentials for furry family members
a tractive GPS tracker for dogs, a furhaven dog bed with its box and dog sleeping on the bed, and a chuckit ball launcher on an orange background

A running list of the best deals on Mother's Day flower delivery
'love you forever' bouquet from the bouqs co.


Save $30 on the Bird Buddy smart birdfeeder ahead of Mother's Day
A Bird Buddy and a smartphone using the Bird Buddy app are pictured against a green background

Memorial Day sales are already kicking off — here's what you need to know
Person putting a sheet on a Leesa mattress.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 7
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 7
a phone displaying Wordle

Everything Apple announced during its iPad event, including new OLED iPad Pro
iPads against a blue background

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 7
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!