How to Copy and Paste on Windows, Mac, and Phone

Computer basics, in plain English · Updated November 3, 2026

Copy and paste lets you use the same words in another place without typing them again. You might copy an address into a message or a recipe into a note.

Copy and paste keyboard shortcuts at a glance

Looking for the keys? Hold Ctrl on a Windows computer or Command (⌘) on a Mac, then press the letter shown. These shortcuts work in many programs, including documents, email, and browser text boxes.

• Copy: Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).
• Paste: Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).
• Cut: Ctrl + X (Windows) or Command + X (Mac).
• Select all: Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac).
• Undo: Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac).

Example: To copy a sentence, highlight it, hold Ctrl and tap C. Click where you want the copy, hold Ctrl and tap V. The original stays where it was.

1. Select the words you want to copy

To copy a sentence with a mouse, put the pointer at its beginning. Hold the main mouse button, move to the end of the sentence, then release. The selected words usually have a colored background.

This is called selecting or highlighting. Only the selected words will be copied.

2. Copy with a mouse or keyboard

Right-click the selected words and choose Copy if the menu offers it. You can also use these keyboard shortcuts:

The plus sign means “hold the first key, press the second key, then release.” Do not type a plus sign. For example, hold Ctrl, tap C once, then release Ctrl.

No right-click on your Mac? Hold the Control key while clicking the selected words, then choose Copy. Control-click opens the menu; Command + C is the Mac copy shortcut.

Copying often gives no visible confirmation. The selected words stay where they are. Continue to the next step.

3. Choose where the words should go

Open your note, document, or message. Click in a place where you can type. A blinking line often shows where the words will appear.

If other words are selected there, pasting may replace them. Click an empty place if you want to add text.

4. Paste the copied words

Right-click the typing area and choose Paste, or use the Paste shortcut above. You should now see the copied words.

Copying uses a temporary holding place called the clipboard. Copying something else usually replaces its current contents. The clipboard is not a reliable place to save work.

Try it yourself: a copy-and-paste exercise

1. Open a new, unimportant note or document.
2. Type “Milk and bread.”
3. Select those words and copy them.
4. Click on a new line and paste.

You should see the words twice. You have kept the original and made a copy.

Copy and paste not working? Check these first

1. Make sure the text is selected. Look for a colored highlight over the words before choosing Copy. If nothing is highlighted, select the words and copy again.
2. Click somewhere you can type. Try a blank note or document. You cannot paste text into ordinary text on a web page. Look for a blinking typing cursor in a text box, document, or message.
3. Use the right shortcut. Windows uses Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. Mac uses Command + C and Command + V. If the shortcut fails, try the app’s Edit menu or its right-click menu.
4. Copy the text again if the wrong words appear. Copying another item usually replaces the clipboard’s current contents. Go back to the original words, select them, copy, then paste without copying anything else in between.
5. Check whether the source is an image or the app restricts copying. A photo or screenshot of words is different from selectable text. Some devices have a text-recognition feature, but the normal selection steps may not work on a picture. Some apps also limit copying or pasting.

If it works in a plain note but not in another app, focus on that app or typing area. If a paste accidentally replaces words, use the app’s Undo command before making more changes.

Need to show someone what you are seeing? Follow our simple screenshot guide for Windows and phones.

How to copy and paste on an Android phone or iPhone

Touch and hold a word until selection handles appear. Drag the handles to cover the words you want, then tap Copy. Open the message, note, or other place where you want the words, touch and hold the typing area, and tap Paste. Some apps use slightly different menus.

To copy a link, touch and hold the link and look for Copy link. You can also copy an address from the browser address bar.

Can I copy a website address?

Yes. Click the address bar at the top of your web browser. Select the full address, copy it, then click in a message or note and paste it. These steps copy the address; they do not copy the entire website.

Can I copy and paste files the same way?

You can also copy files, but you select a file and paste into a folder rather than selecting words and pasting into a typing area. Start with the text exercise above, then read What Are Files and Folders? to understand where files go.

How to paste without the original formatting

If text arrives with unexpected fonts or colors, use your app’s Paste as plain text or Paste and Match Style option. Many Windows browsers and apps support Ctrl + Shift + V; on Mac, the shortcut varies by app. You can also look in the Edit menu for a plain-text paste option.

Copy and cut are different

Cut prepares selected text to be moved and can remove it from the original place. Start with Copy while practicing. These steps cover text; moving files has its own rules.

Shortcut references: Microsoft’s keyboard guide and Apple’s copy and paste guide.

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