How to Copy and Paste Text on a Computer
Learn the simple steps to copy and paste text, files, and images on a Windows or Mac computer using your keyboard or mouse.
What you will learn
In this guide, you will learn how to copy text from one place and paste it into another on your computer. This is one of the most useful skills you can learn. It saves time and avoids typing mistakes.
What you need
- A computer (Windows or Mac)
- A keyboard and mouse
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Select the text you want to copy
Click at the beginning of the text you want to copy. Hold down your mouse button and drag to the end of the text. The selected text will become highlighted in blue.
Quick tip: To select all the text on a page, press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac).
Step 2: Copy the selected text
With the text highlighted, press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Cmd + C (Mac) on your keyboard.
Nothing visible will happen, but the text has been saved to your computer’s clipboard (a temporary storage area).
You can also right-click on the highlighted text and select Copy from the menu that appears.
Step 3: Click where you want to paste
Open the document, email, or text box where you want to put the text. Click once to place your cursor exactly where the text should go.
Step 4: Paste the text
Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac) on your keyboard.
The text you copied will appear at the cursor position. You can paste the same text multiple times by pressing the shortcut again.
You can also right-click and select Paste from the menu.
Step 5: Learn the cut shortcut
If you want to move text instead of copying it, use Cut instead of Copy:
- Select the text.
- Press Ctrl + X (Windows) or Cmd + X (Mac).
- Click where you want to move it.
- Press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Cmd + V (Mac) to paste.
The text will disappear from its original location and appear in the new one.
Tips
- These shortcuts work almost everywhere: web browsers, email, word processors, and even file folders.
- To copy a file on your computer, click on it once to select it, then use the same Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V shortcuts.
- If you paste text and it looks different from the rest of your document (different font or size), use Ctrl + Shift + V (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + V (Mac) to paste without formatting. This pastes only the plain text.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between copy and cut?
Copy makes a duplicate of the selected text or file. The original stays where it is. Cut removes the original and moves it to the clipboard, ready to be pasted somewhere else.
Can I copy and paste images too?
Yes. You can copy images from websites, documents, or your file folders and paste them into other documents, emails, or folders using the same method.
How long does copied text stay available?
Copied text stays on the clipboard until you copy something else or restart your computer. Only one thing can be on the clipboard at a time.
Why is paste not working?
Make sure you actually copied something first (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C). Also, some websites block copying. If pasting into a specific program does not work, try pasting into a simple text editor like Notepad first.
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