Copy and Paste on a Mac
If you are you new to Macs, you can copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts -- Command + C for copy and Command + V for paste -- or you can right click and select the "Copy" and "Paste" options manually. Once you know how to complete this basic function, you can play around with text, images and other material on your computer.
Contents
Steps
Keyboard Method
- Open the words or pictures you want to copy and paste.
- Highlight it. This can be simply done by dragging your cursor over what you want to copy and paste.
- Press the ⌘ Command key. It has the Apple logo on old Macs and the looped square logo on new Macs located on the keyboard. It is below the X key.
- Copy. While holding down the ⌘ Command key, press the C key.
- Paste. Press the ⌘ Command key again and hold it down, then press the V key.
Right Click Method
- Click and drag over the text you want to copy.
- Right click. One easy way to right click on a Mac is to simultaneously press Control on the keyboard and your mouse click. The right click will bring up the Options menu.
- Select the 'Copy" option. This can also usually be found by going to the "Edit" section at the top of Microsoft Word or the similar platform you are using.
- Repeat these steps to paste.
Tips
- To print, press ⌘ Command+P.
- Newer Macs have a propeller-like sign instead of the Apple logo.
- This works with anything you can highlight with your cursor.
- To bold your font, press ⌘ Command+B
- To underline your font, press ⌘ Command+U
- To select all, press ⌘ Command+A
- Cutting is just as easy. Press ⌘ Command+X
Warnings
- Don't press the wrong key. It may cause unexpected results beyond simply not copying or pasting!
Things You'll Need
- A Mac Computer
- A keyboard made by Apple (Built into laptops)
- A mouse
- Something to copy (Usually text)
- Something to paste into (Usually a text field)
Related Articles
- Use the Print Screen Function on a Mac
- Use the Function Keys on the Mac
