This wikiHow teaches you how to copy and paste text or files on a Mac. While the Mac's built-in menu bar is the preferred medium for copying and pasting information, you can also use your trackpad or computer keyboard to do this.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the Menu Bar
Step 1. Find the text or content you want to copy
You can copy text to paste in another document or text field, or copy one or more files to paste in another directory on your computer.
Step 2. Select the text or content
To select text, drag the cursor over the text to mark it. You can select a file by clicking on it once.
If you want to select multiple files at once, hold down Command while clicking each file you want
Step 3. Click Edit
It's on the left side of the menu bar at the top of your Mac's screen. Once clicked, a drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Click Copy
This option is in the drop-down menu “ Edit After that, the selected text or file will be copied to the computer clipboard.
- If you want to copy the files separately, you can see the file name next to the “ Copy ”.
- You won't see any duplicate text or files at this point.
Step 5. Go to the location where you want to add text or content
You can paste text in any text field or document. Meanwhile, files can be pasted in most folders on the computer.
If you want to paste text into a text field, make sure you've clicked the column before continuing
Step 6. Click Edit
This option is in the menu bar. After that, the drop-down menu will be displayed again.
Step 7. Click Paste Items
This option is in the drop-down menu. You can see the text or file displayed in the selected column or space.
- Click the option " Paste Items ” if you are copying multiple files.
- If you are copying a single file, click the “ Paste [filename] " (eg. " Paste "Screenshot 1" ”) in the drop-down menu.
Method 2 of 2: Using Trackpad
Step 1. Try using a keyboard shortcut
You can use your computer keyboard to access the right-click menu, copy the content, and paste it:
- Hold down the Control key while clicking on the content to display a drop-down menu with the option “ Copy " and " Paste ”.
- Press Command+C once the text or content is selected to copy it.
- Press Command+V after the text or content is copied to paste it.
Step 2. Open Apple menu
Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on System Preferences…
This option is in the drop-down menu. The “System Preferences” window will appear after that.
Step 4. Click Trackpad
It's at the top of the “System Preferences” window. A pop-up window will appear after that.
Step 5. Click the Point & Click tab
This tab is at the top of the “System Preferences” window.
Step 6. Check the box " Secondary click"
This box is on the left side of the window. Once clicked, the two-finger click feature will be activated on the computer trackpad.
If this box is checked, the secondary click feature is enabled
Step 7. Find the text or content you want to copy
Go to the document or folder containing the content or text that you want to copy.
Step 8. Select the text before copying it
You will need to click and drag the cursor over the desired text before you can copy it.
If you want to copy multiple files, hold down Command while clicking each file you want to copy
Step 9. Click the trackpad with two fingers on the selected content
Place the cursor on the selected content and touch the trackpad with two fingers to display the drop-down menu.
If you select multiple files, all you have to do is click on one of the selected files with two fingers
Step 10. Click Copy
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, the selected content will be copied to the computer clipboard.
- You won't be able to see duplicate text or content at this stage.
- If you are copying a single file, you will see the file name next to the “ Copy ”.
Step 11. Open the folder or place where you want to add text or content
You can paste text in any text field or document. Meanwhile, files can be pasted in most folders on your computer.
Step 12. Click a text field or an empty space in the folder with two fingers
After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 13. Click Paste option
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, the selected text or file will be displayed in the selected column or directory.
- Click " Paste Items ” if you are copying multiple files.
- If you are copying a single file, click the “ Paste [filename] " (eg. " Paste "Screenshot 1" ”) in the drop-down menu.
Tips
- If your Mac is equipped with a mouse (e.g. an iMac), press the right side of the mouse to display a drop-down menu with the option “ Copy " and " Paste ”.
- You can use the " Cut " feature to remove text from a document or text field after copying it to the clipboard. Option " Cut " is in the drop-down menu " Edit ”, or can be accessed by pressing the “ Command ” + “ X ” to cut the selected text.
Warning
- Copying other content or text before you have time to paste the last copied content or text will overwrite the existing old information. It can be a “disaster” if you copy and paste sensitive information between documents or folders.
- Some texts cannot be viewed in certain contexts. For example, if you copy a text message with emoji from the Messages app on a Mac and paste it into the Facebook text field (or similar platform), there's a good chance that the copied emoji won't be displayed.
