Keyboard Shortcuts

Copy Paste Shortcut — Every Keyboard Combo by Platform

Published: April 16, 2026 10 min read IT Cares

Quick Answer

Windows & Linux: Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste. Mac: Cmd+C and Cmd+V. Terminal (Linux/Mac): add Shift — Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V (because Ctrl+C cancels a running process). iPhone/iPad: tap and hold → Copy/Paste, or Cmd+C/V with an external keyboard.

Copy and paste is the most-used keyboard action on any computer — yet most people only know one platform's shortcut. If you switch between Windows and Mac, work in the terminal, or troubleshoot copy-paste issues on mobile, this guide covers every combination you will ever need. We also cover the pro-level tricks: pasting without formatting, clipboard history, and copying between devices seamlessly.

Whether you are a student, a professional who works across platforms, or someone who has ever asked "why doesn't Ctrl+C work here?" — this is the definitive reference for 2026.

Platforms covered

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Difference between Mac and Windows

The Master Copy Paste Shortcut Table

The table below covers every major platform. Bookmark this page for instant reference.

Platform	Copy	Cut	Paste	Paste Without Formatting
Windows	`Ctrl`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`V`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`
Mac	`Cmd`+`C`	`Cmd`+`X`	`Cmd`+`V`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+`V`
Linux (Desktop)	`Ctrl`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`V` or middle-click	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V` (some apps)
Linux Terminal	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	—	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`	middle-click
Mac Terminal / iTerm2	`Cmd`+`C`	—	`Cmd`+`V`	—
Chromebook	`Ctrl`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`V`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`
iPhone / iPad (touch)	Tap & hold → Copy	Tap & hold → Cut	Tap & hold → Paste	Tap & hold → Paste and Match Style (iOS 16+)
iPhone / iPad (keyboard)	`Cmd`+`C`	`Cmd`+`X`	`Cmd`+`V`	`Cmd`+`Option`+`Shift`+`V`
Android	Tap & hold → Copy	Tap & hold → Cut	Tap & hold → Paste	Tap & hold → Paste as plain text (varies by app)
Microsoft Excel	`Ctrl`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`V`	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V` (Paste Special)
Google Docs / Sheets	`Ctrl`+`C`	`Ctrl`+`X`	`Ctrl`+`V`	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`

Platform-by-Platform Deep Dive

Windows Copy Paste Shortcuts

Most Common

Windows has used Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V since Windows 3.1 in the early 1990s. These shortcuts work in virtually every Windows application: browsers, Office, Notepad, File Explorer, and more.

Copy: Ctrl+C — copies selected text, files, or images to clipboard
Cut: Ctrl+X — moves the selection (removes from source)
Paste: Ctrl+V — inserts the clipboard contents
Paste plain text: Ctrl+Shift+V — pastes without formatting (browsers, Slack, Notion)
Clipboard history: Win+V — shows everything you have copied this session
Select all before copying: Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C

Mac Copy Paste Shortcuts

Cmd Key

Mac uses the Cmd (Command) key in place of Ctrl. The logic is identical to Windows, but the key is different. This is the single most common source of confusion for people who switch between Mac and Windows.

Copy: Cmd+C
Cut: Cmd+X
Paste: Cmd+V
Paste and Match Style: Cmd+Option+Shift+V — pastes text using the formatting of the destination document
Move files (cut equivalent in Finder): Cmd+C to copy, then Cmd+Option+V to move
Mac has no built-in clipboard history — see the Clipboard History section below for third-party tools

Linux Copy Paste Shortcuts

Two Clipboards

Linux desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, XFCE) use the same Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V shortcuts as Windows. However, Linux uniquely maintains two separate clipboards: the standard clipboard and the "primary selection" clipboard.

Standard clipboard: Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste
Primary selection: simply highlighting text copies it to a secondary clipboard; middle-click pastes it anywhere — no keyboard shortcut needed
Terminal: Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V because plain Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal to cancel the current process
Middle-click paste also works in the terminal, using the primary selection clipboard

Chromebook Copy Paste Shortcuts

Same as Windows

ChromeOS uses the exact same shortcuts as Windows. If you know Windows shortcuts, you already know Chromebook shortcuts.

Copy: Ctrl+C
Paste: Ctrl+V
Paste without formatting: Ctrl+Shift+V
Clipboard manager: ChromeOS 120+ includes a built-in clipboard panel — press the Launcher key + V (on newer Chromebooks)

iPhone, iPad & Android

Touch & Keyboard

Mobile copy and paste is gesture-driven unless you have a physical keyboard connected. The workflow is consistent across iOS and Android, though the exact labels differ slightly between apps.

iPhone/iPad (touch) — Copy: tap and hold on text → drag handles to select → tap Copy in the context menu
iPhone/iPad (touch) — Paste: tap and hold in the target field → tap Paste
iPad with keyboard: Cmd+C / Cmd+V — identical to Mac
iOS 16+ paste without formatting: tap and hold in the target field → look for "Paste and Match Style" if available
Android (touch) — Copy: tap and hold → drag selection handles → tap Copy
Android (touch) — Paste: tap and hold in text field → tap Paste
Android clipboard history: Gboard keyboard shows recent clips when you tap the clipboard icon

Excel & Spreadsheet Shortcuts

Power User

Excel extends the standard copy/paste with powerful special paste options. Knowing these saves hours of reformatting when moving data between sheets or workbooks.

Copy cell(s): Ctrl+C (a marching-ants border appears around the copied range)
Paste values only (no formulas, no formatting): Ctrl+Alt+V → choose Values → Enter
Paste Special dialog: Ctrl+Alt+V — reveals all paste options including Formats, Formulas, Transpose, and Operations
Fill Down (copy to cells below): select a range starting with your source cell → Ctrl+D
Fill Right: Ctrl+R
Copy and paste with arrow keys: Ctrl+C to copy → navigate with arrow keys → Enter to paste (preserves the copied range for multiple pastes)
Mac Excel: same as above but substitute Cmd for Ctrl

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Paste Without Formatting — The Pro Trick

When you copy text from a webpage, PDF, or email and paste it into a Word document or presentation, it often arrives with the wrong font, size, and colour. Paste without formatting strips all that away, giving you clean text that inherits the style of the document you are pasting into. This is one of the most useful shortcuts for writers, marketers, and anyone who works with documents daily.

Windows — Universal plain-text paste

In most modern apps (Slack, Notion, OneNote, browsers, Google Docs), pressing Ctrl+Shift+V pastes the clipboard content as plain text. In Microsoft Word and Excel, use Ctrl+Alt+V to open Paste Special, then select "Unformatted Text."

Mac — Paste and Match Style

Press Cmd+Option+Shift+V in Pages, Keynote, TextEdit, and most Mac apps to paste and match the destination's style. In Google Docs on Mac, the same shortcut applies. You can also find this under Edit → Paste and Match Style in any Mac app that supports it.

The browser address bar trick (any platform)

On any platform, pasting into the browser address bar automatically strips all formatting. Type the URL of your destination, copy the text there, then move it to wherever you need it. This is a quick workaround when you do not remember the dedicated shortcut.

    Power user tip: In Microsoft Word on Windows, you can change the default paste behaviour permanently. Go to File → Options → Advanced → Cut, copy, and paste. Set "Pasting between documents" and "Pasting from other programs" to "Keep Text Only" to always paste plain text by default.
  

Clipboard History — Copy Multiple Items

The standard clipboard only holds the last item you copied. Clipboard history expands this into a scrollable list of recent copies — invaluable when you are building documents from multiple sources or doing repetitive data entry.

Windows Clipboard History (Win+V)

Windows 10 (version 1809 and later) and Windows 11 include a built-in clipboard history. Press Win+V to open it. The first time, Windows will ask you to enable it — click "Turn on." After that, every time you press Ctrl+C, the item is added to the history. You can scroll through the list, pin frequently used items, and clear individual entries or the entire history.

    Note: Clipboard history is cleared when you restart your computer, unless you pin an item. Pinned items persist across reboots.
  

Mac Clipboard History (third-party tools)

Mac does not include a native clipboard history. The best free option is Maccy (open source, available at maccy.app), which adds a clipboard history accessible via a menu bar icon or a custom keyboard shortcut. Other popular choices include Paste (paid, with iCloud sync), Raycast (free, with clipboard history as a built-in feature), and Alfred (Powerpack required).

Linux Clipboard History

On Linux, clipboard manager tools such as CopyQ (cross-platform, feature-rich, free), Parcellite, or GPaste (GNOME extension) add history support. Most can be bound to a custom keyboard shortcut through the system settings.

Copy Between Devices — Universal Clipboard and Cross-Platform Tools

Copying text on your phone and needing it on your computer — or vice versa — is one of the most common modern workflows. Here are the best options by platform combination.

Apple Universal Clipboard (Mac + iPhone/iPad)

Seamless

If you own a Mac and an iPhone or iPad, Universal Clipboard lets you copy on one device and paste on another automatically — no app or setup required beyond enabling it.

Both devices must be signed into the same Apple ID
Both must have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled
Enable Handoff: on Mac go to System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff → turn on Handoff
On iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → AirPlay & Handoff → turn on Handoff
Once enabled, copy on iPhone → paste on Mac within 2 minutes (the clipboard syncs in the background)
Works for text, images, photos, and files

Android + Windows — Phone Link & Nearby Share

Microsoft App

For Android-to-Windows clipboard sharing, Microsoft's Phone Link (previously "Your Phone") is the most polished solution. It runs as an app on both Windows and Android and syncs clipboard content in real time.

Install Phone Link on Windows (built into Windows 11) and Link to Windows on Android
Sign into the same Microsoft account on both devices
Enable clipboard sync in Phone Link settings
Once connected, copy on Android → Win+V on Windows shows the synced content
Nearby Share (now called Quick Share on Android 14+) also allows file and text sharing over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi between Android devices and Windows PCs with the Quick Share for Windows app installed

KDE Connect (Android + Linux or Windows)

Open Source

KDE Connect is a free, open-source app that bridges Android with Linux and Windows. It syncs clipboards bidirectionally, sends files, and even lets you control your PC from your phone.

Install KDE Connect on Android (Google Play / F-Droid) and on your PC (available for Linux via package manager; Windows app available at kdeconnect.kde.org)
Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network
After pairing, clipboard sync is automatic — copy on Android, paste on PC immediately
No Microsoft or Google account required — fully local and private

    Privacy note: Any app that syncs your clipboard between devices has access to everything you copy — including passwords, credit card numbers, and private messages. Stick to trusted apps (Apple, Microsoft, KDE Connect) and avoid clipboard sync apps from unknown publishers.
  

Why Ctrl+C Does Not Work in the Terminal

This is the single most common copy-paste confusion for anyone new to Linux or Mac terminal work. In every graphical application, Ctrl+C copies selected text. But in a terminal (Bash, Zsh, fish), pressing Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal (SIGINT) to the foreground process — which stops a running command or script.

This is intentional and essential for terminal use: if you run a command that hangs or takes too long, Ctrl+C cancels it. The convention predates graphical interfaces by decades and cannot be changed without breaking countless programs.

The solution is simple: in a Linux terminal, use Ctrl+Shift+C to copy and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste. On Mac Terminal and iTerm2, the system-level Cmd key is separate from Ctrl, so Cmd+C and Cmd+V work as normal copy/paste without conflicting with terminal signals.

# Linux/Mac terminal: WRONG approach (cancels your running process) Ctrl+C ← sends SIGINT, kills current command # Linux terminal: CORRECT copy/paste Ctrl+Shift+C ← copy selected text Ctrl+Shift+V ← paste # Mac Terminal / iTerm2: CORRECT copy/paste Cmd+C ← copy Cmd+V ← paste

Common Copy Paste Problems and Fixes

If your standard copy/paste shortcuts have stopped working, here are the most common causes and fixes before calling technical support.

Clipboard is "stuck" and paste inserts old content

This usually means an application is holding onto the clipboard. On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), find and close any clipboard managers or "RDP Clipboard Monitor" processes. Restarting the application that was the source of your last copy also clears it.

Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V not working in a specific app

Some apps remap these shortcuts. In Remote Desktop (RDP) sessions, clipboard sharing must be enabled in the connection settings under "Local Resources." In virtual machines, look for "Clipboard sharing" in the VM settings. In some games, shortcuts are captured by the game and do not pass through to the OS.

Copy/paste very slow (2-5 second delay)

A slow clipboard is almost always caused by an antivirus scanning clipboard contents in real time, or by a clipboard sync app (like Teams or a cloud tool) intercepting the data. Try temporarily disabling real-time protection and test. If speed returns, add your most-used apps to the antivirus exclusion list for clipboard access.

Cannot paste into a password field

Some banking and corporate websites deliberately block clipboard paste in password fields for misguided "security" reasons. Work around it by using your browser's password manager (which autofills without relying on clipboard paste), or use the browser developer tools to remove the onpaste="return false" attribute from the field temporarily.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't Ctrl+C work in the terminal?

In Linux and Mac terminals, Ctrl+C is reserved as an interrupt signal (SIGINT) that cancels the currently running process. This predates graphical interfaces and is essential for stopping hung commands. To copy text in a Linux terminal, use Ctrl+Shift+C instead. To paste, use Ctrl+Shift+V. On Mac Terminal and iTerm2, Cmd+C and Cmd+V work normally because the system distinguishes between the Cmd and Ctrl keys.

How do I paste without formatting?

On Windows, use Ctrl+Shift+V in most apps (Slack, Google Docs, browsers, Notion), or Ctrl+Alt+V to open Paste Special in Microsoft Office. On Mac, use Cmd+Option+Shift+V to paste and match the destination style in Pages, Keynote, and most Mac apps. A universal workaround on any platform is to paste into the browser address bar first — it always strips formatting — then copy again and paste into your target document.

Can I paste images with Ctrl+V?

Yes. When you copy an image — for example using Print Screen or Snipping Tool (Win+Shift+S) on Windows, or Cmd+Shift+4 on Mac — it is stored in the clipboard as image data and can be pasted directly into image editors (Paint, Photoshop, GIMP), Microsoft Word, Outlook, Gmail, Slack, Teams, and many other apps using Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac). Web browsers and plain-text editors do not accept image pastes and will simply ignore the command.

How do I copy from one device to another?

On Apple devices, Universal Clipboard lets you copy on iPhone or iPad and paste on Mac (and vice versa) with no extra setup beyond signing into the same Apple ID and enabling Handoff. On Android and Windows, use Microsoft Phone Link (built into Windows 11) paired with the "Link to Windows" app on Android — it syncs clipboard content in real time. KDE Connect is a free open-source alternative that works between Android, Linux, and Windows over a local Wi-Fi network with no account required.

What is the clipboard history shortcut?

On Windows 10 and 11, press Win+V to open Clipboard History, which shows a scrollable list of everything you have copied in the current session. You must enable it the first time — press Win+V and click "Turn on" when prompted, or go to Settings → System → Clipboard. On Mac, there is no built-in clipboard history — install Maccy (free, open source) or Raycast to add this functionality. On Linux, tools like CopyQ or GPaste (GNOME) provide clipboard history with configurable keyboard shortcuts.

Why is copy paste so slow sometimes?

Slow copy and paste is usually caused by one of three things: an antivirus scanning clipboard data in real time (very common with Malwarebytes, Norton, or older Kaspersky versions), a very large item such as a high-resolution image or a very long text string taxing the clipboard, or a background app monitoring clipboard activity (Teams, Outlook, or a remote desktop client). On Windows, temporarily disabling real-time protection and testing can confirm the antivirus is the cause. On Mac, a conflicting background app is usually responsible. If the problem is persistent and affects your productivity, IT Cares can diagnose and resolve it remotely from $59.

Comments

Sarah B. — Vancouver, BC

April 16, 2026

I just switched from Windows to Mac and kept instinctively pressing Ctrl+C with nothing happening. This article made it click — the Cmd key is just in a different spot. Two days in and Cmd+C/V already feels natural. The "paste and match style" shortcut is a game changer for pasting into documents without all the web formatting coming along.

Alex R. — Ottawa, ON