How to Copy and Paste — Every Device & Method (2026)
Windows: Select text, press Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, Ctrl+X to cut. Mac: Cmd+C, Cmd+V, Cmd+X. iPhone & Android: tap and hold to select, then tap Copy — then tap where you want to paste and tap Paste. Full breakdown for every platform and method below.
Copy and paste is one of the most used actions on any device — but every platform does it slightly differently. Whether you are on a Windows PC, a MacBook, an iPhone, an Android phone, a Chromebook, a Linux terminal, or an iPad, this guide covers every method in plain language so you are never stuck again.
This guide also covers clipboard history (Windows Win+V, Mac clipboard apps), paste without formatting, copying between Apple devices via Universal Clipboard, and what to do when copy-paste stops working entirely.
Copy and Paste on Windows (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X)
Windows uses a three-shortcut system that has been unchanged since the 1990s and works across virtually every Windows application — browsers, Office, Notepad, File Explorer, and more.
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Fastest Method- Copy: Select text or a file, then press
Ctrl + C - Paste: Click where you want to paste, then press
Ctrl + V - Cut: Select text or a file, then press
Ctrl + X(removes original) - Select all text on the page:
Ctrl + A, thenCtrl + C - Undo a paste:
Ctrl + Z
How to Select Text Before Copying
To copy specific text, you first need to select it:
- Mouse: Click at the start of the text, hold Shift, click at the end — or click and drag over the text.
- Double-click a word to select that word only.
- Triple-click to select an entire paragraph.
- Keyboard: Place the cursor with arrow keys, then hold Shift + arrow keys to extend the selection.
- Ctrl+A selects everything in the current text field or document.
Right-Click Copy and Paste on Windows
If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, right-click works in nearly every application:
Select the Text or File
Highlight the text by clicking and dragging, or click a file once to select it.
Right-Click and Choose Copy
Right-click on the selection and choose Copy from the context menu. For files, you will also see Cut here.
Right-Click at the Destination and Choose Paste
Click where you want the content to go, right-click, and choose Paste. In browsers and modern apps you may also see Paste as plain text which strips formatting.
Copy and Paste on Mac (Cmd+C, Cmd+V, Cmd+X)
Mac uses the Command key (⌘) instead of Ctrl. Everything else follows the same logic as Windows.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
Fastest Method- Copy: Select text or file, press
Cmd + C - Paste: Click destination, press
Cmd + V - Cut: Select text, press
Cmd + X - Select all:
Cmd + A - Undo:
Cmd + Z - Paste without formatting:
Cmd + Option + Shift + V(in most apps)
Copy and Paste on iPhone (iOS)
iPhone does not have a physical keyboard shortcut for copy-paste, so everything is done through the tap-and-hold gesture and the popover menu that appears.
Tap and Hold to Select Text
Press and hold a word until it becomes highlighted and selection handles (blue dots) appear. Drag the handles to expand or shrink the selection to cover exactly the text you want.
Tap Copy in the Popover Menu
A floating menu appears above the selection with options including Cut, Copy, Paste, and sometimes Look Up or Translate. Tap Copy.
Navigate to the Destination and Tap Paste
Open the app or text field where you want to paste. Tap and hold in the text field until the cursor appears, then tap Paste from the popover menu.
Cmd+C and Cmd+V shortcuts work exactly as they do on a Mac.
Copy and Paste on Android
Android uses the same tap-and-hold approach as iOS, though the visual style varies slightly between manufacturers (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.).
Long-Press a Word to Start the Selection
Tap and hold on any word in a text field or web page. Selection handles appear. Drag them to adjust the selection to the text you want to copy.
Tap the Copy Icon or Menu Option
A toolbar appears at the top of the screen (or as a floating menu on older Android) showing icons for Cut, Copy, Share, and more. Tap Copy.
Tap the Destination and Choose Paste
Navigate to where you want to paste. Tap and hold in the text input field. The context menu shows Paste (and sometimes Paste as plain text). Tap it.
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Copy and Paste on iPad
iPad supports both the touch method (same as iPhone) and keyboard shortcuts when a physical keyboard is attached. It also has a unique three-finger pinch gesture.
iPad Gesture Shortcuts
Touch Method- Copy: Select text, then pinch inward with three fingers
- Paste: Tap the destination, then spread three fingers apart (pinch out)
- Cut: Select text, then pinch inward with three fingers twice quickly
- Undo: Swipe left with three fingers
- Redo: Swipe right with three fingers
When a Magic Keyboard or any Bluetooth keyboard is connected to an iPad, Cmd+C, Cmd+V, and Cmd+X work identically to a Mac.
Copy and Paste on Chromebook
Chromebooks run ChromeOS and use the same shortcuts as Windows, since most Chromebook keyboards have a Ctrl key. One exception: there is no Delete key on most Chromebooks, but copy-paste is unaffected.
Chromebook Shortcuts
Fastest Method- Copy:
Ctrl + C - Paste:
Ctrl + V - Cut:
Ctrl + X - Paste without formatting:
Ctrl + Shift + V - Right-click on Chromebook touchpad: tap with two fingers simultaneously
Copy and Paste in the Linux Terminal
Linux is the one platform where the standard shortcuts behave differently. In the graphical desktop (GNOME, KDE, XFCE), Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V work as expected. But in a terminal emulator (bash, zsh, fish), Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal to stop the running process — it does not copy.
Linux Terminal Shortcuts
Terminal Only- Copy in terminal: Select text with mouse, then press
Ctrl + Shift + C - Paste in terminal:
Ctrl + Shift + V - Middle mouse button: pastes the X11 primary selection (whatever you last highlighted with the mouse — even without pressing Ctrl+C)
- Graphical desktop (outside terminal): standard
Ctrl+CandCtrl+V
Ctrl+C kills a running command (like pressing Stop). If you accidentally press Ctrl+C while a command is running, you will interrupt it. Always use Ctrl+Shift+C to copy text in the terminal.
Comparison Table: Copy and Paste on Every Platform
| Platform | Copy | Paste | Cut | Paste Plain Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Ctrl+C |
Ctrl+V |
Ctrl+X |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
| Mac | Cmd+C |
Cmd+V |
Cmd+X |
Cmd+Opt+Shift+V |
| iPhone / iPad | Tap & hold → Copy | Tap & hold → Paste | Tap & hold → Cut | Paste → Match Style |
| Android | Long-press → Copy | Long-press → Paste | Long-press → Cut | Paste as plain text |
| Chromebook | Ctrl+C |
Ctrl+V |
Ctrl+X |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
| Linux terminal | Ctrl+Shift+C |
Ctrl+Shift+V |
— | Middle-click |
Paste Without Formatting
When you copy text from a website or a styled document and paste it into another app, the formatting (font, size, colour, bold) usually comes with it. This can break the look of your document. Pasting without formatting strips the styling and matches the destination's look.
Paste Without Formatting on Windows
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox, VS Code:
Ctrl + Shift + V - Microsoft Word:
Ctrl + Alt + V→ choose "Unformatted Text" → OK - Any app — right-click method: right-click → "Paste as plain text" or "Paste Special"
- Google Docs:
Ctrl + Shift + V - Notepad: Notepad has no formatting, so regular
Ctrl+Valways pastes plain text
Paste Without Formatting on Mac
- Most apps:
Cmd + Option + Shift + V - Chrome, Safari:
Cmd + Shift + V - TextEdit: Format menu → Make Plain Text, then paste
- Notes: Edit menu → Paste and Match Style
Cmd+V. This makes every paste strip formatting automatically.
Clipboard History: See All Your Recent Copies
By default, your clipboard holds only one item at a time — the last thing you copied. Clipboard history solves this by storing your last several copies so you can paste any of them.
Clipboard History on Windows (Win+V)
Windows 10 and Windows 11 have built-in clipboard history, but it is off by default.
Enable Clipboard History
Open Settings → System → Clipboard. Toggle Clipboard history to On.
Open Clipboard History
Press Win + V anywhere. A panel appears showing your last 25 copied items: text snippets, images, and HTML. Click any item to paste it.
Pin Frequently Used Items
In the clipboard history panel, click the three-dot menu next to any item and choose Pin. Pinned items stay in your clipboard history even after a restart.
Clipboard History on Mac
macOS does not include multi-item clipboard history natively. Apple provides only one clipboard slot. To get clipboard history on Mac, install a third-party app:
- Maccy (free, open source) — lightweight, stores 200 items, hotkey Cmd+Shift+C
- Paste (paid) — more polished UI, iCloud sync across Apple devices
- Alfred (paid) — includes clipboard history as part of a broader productivity tool
Copy Between Devices: Universal Clipboard (iPhone + Mac)
Apple's Universal Clipboard lets you copy something on your iPhone and paste it on your Mac — or vice versa — without any app or action beyond the usual copy-paste gestures.
Requirements for Universal Clipboard
- Both devices signed in to the same Apple ID
- Both devices have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on
- Both devices are within approximately 3 metres (10 feet) of each other
- Handoff is enabled: Settings → General → AirPlay & Handoff → Handoff turned On (iPhone); System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff → Allow Handoff (Mac)
- iOS 10+ and macOS Sierra (10.12)+ or later
Once set up, copy anything on your iPhone with the usual tap-and-hold method, switch to your Mac, and paste with Cmd+V. The clipboard syncs within a few seconds. It also works in the reverse direction — copy on Mac, paste on iPhone.
Troubleshoot: Copy-Paste Not Working
Copy-paste stops working more often than you might expect. Here are the most common causes and fixes for each platform.
Copy-Paste Not Working on Windows
- Restart rdpclip.exe: Press
Ctrl+Shift+Escto open Task Manager, findrdpclip.exe, right-click → End Task. Then File → Run new task → typerdpclip.exe→ OK. This fixes most clipboard failures, especially after remote desktop sessions. - Clear the clipboard: Settings → System → Clipboard → Clear clipboard data. Sometimes a corrupt item gets stuck in the clipboard and blocks new copies.
- Restart Windows Explorer: Task Manager → find
Windows Explorer→ right-click → Restart. - Check antivirus or clipboard manager conflicts: Some security software intercepts clipboard events. Temporarily disable your AV to test.
- Reboot: A full restart clears clipboard state and fixes most transient issues.
Copy-Paste Not Working on Mac
- Restart the pasteboard server: Open Terminal and run
killall pboard— macOS restarts it automatically. - Force quit the app you are copying from: Sometimes a single app holds the clipboard and freezes it. Cmd+Option+Esc to force quit.
- Log out and back in: This fully resets the clipboard daemon.
Copy-Paste Not Working on iPhone or Android
- Make sure you are holding long enough when selecting text — a quick tap does not trigger the selection mode.
- Some apps (banking apps, PDF viewers, certain browser extensions) disable clipboard access for security. This is intentional — use the share button instead.
- On iOS, check that the app has clipboard permissions if it keeps asking. Settings → Privacy & Security → Pasteboard.
- Restart the app or device if copy-paste suddenly stops across all apps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
First try restarting the rdpclip.exe process: press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find "rdpclip.exe", end the task, then go to File → Run new task and type rdpclip.exe. Also try clearing the clipboard via Settings → System → Clipboard → Clear. If the issue persists, check whether any antivirus or third-party clipboard manager is intercepting clipboard actions. A full system restart fixes most copy-paste failures on Windows.
On Windows, use Ctrl+Shift+V in most browsers and apps like VS Code or Google Docs. In Microsoft Word, use Ctrl+Alt+V and choose "Unformatted Text". On Mac, use Cmd+Option+Shift+V in most browsers, or look for Edit → Paste and Match Style. On iPhone and iPad, paste normally then tap the "Paste" option that appears and choose "Paste and Match Style" if available. On Android, tap and hold where you want to paste and choose "Paste as plain text" if your app offers it.
Yes. On Windows 10 and 11, press Win+V to open clipboard history. You must enable it first under Settings → System → Clipboard → Clipboard history. It stores the last 25 items including text and images. On Mac, macOS does not include multi-item clipboard history natively, but free apps like Maccy or paid options like Paste add this feature. On iPhone and iPad, clipboard history is not built in to iOS but third-party apps can archive your copies.
Apple's Universal Clipboard handles this automatically. Both devices must be signed in to the same Apple ID with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, and within about 3 metres (10 feet) of each other. Enable Handoff on both: Settings → General → AirPlay & Handoff → Handoff (iPhone) and System Settings → General → AirDrop & Handoff (Mac). Once enabled, copy on iPhone and paste on Mac with Cmd+V within a few seconds — and vice versa.
In the Linux graphical desktop (GNOME, KDE, etc.), copy is Ctrl+C and paste is Ctrl+V — identical to Windows. In a terminal emulator however, Ctrl+C sends an interrupt signal to stop the running process instead of copying. In the Linux terminal, use Ctrl+Shift+C to copy and Ctrl+Shift+V to paste. You can also select text with your mouse and middle-click anywhere to paste using the X11 primary selection buffer, without needing to press any shortcut.
When you copy text from a website, document, or email, the clipboard captures both the text and its formatting (font, size, colour, spacing). When you paste into an app that preserves rich formatting such as Word, Google Docs, or Outlook, it brings all that styling with it. To avoid this, paste without formatting instead: Windows uses Ctrl+Shift+V or right-click → "Paste as Plain Text". Mac uses Cmd+Option+Shift+V or Edit → Paste and Match Style. This strips all formatting and applies the destination document's existing style.
Comments
I had no idea Win+V was a thing. I have been using Windows for 20 years and I just discovered clipboard history. I copied six different things before writing my email and pasted them all from the history panel. This is a game-changer. Thank you for the tip!
The Linux terminal section saved me so much frustration. I kept pressing Ctrl+C thinking I was copying text and accidentally killing my running processes. Ctrl+Shift+C in the terminal is the one thing I wish someone had told me when I started using Linux. Clear and accurate guide.
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