Copy and paste how to

How to copy and paste text in a document or another program 

Updated: by Computer Hope

NoteBelow is information on how to copy and paste text and not: How to copy files. Also, keep in mind that when you copy, you're duplicating the text. If you want only one copy of the text, see: How to cut and paste.

The forllowing information is on how you can copy and paste text from any computer device and program. We've also included keyboard shortcuts, tips, and areas where you can practice copying and pasting text on this page.

How to copy and paste text on a desktop or laptop computer

Copying text

Highlight the text you want to copy. For example, you could highlight a word, one line, a paragraph, or all of the text in the document. Once highlighted, perform any of the steps below.

Right-click the selected text and select Copy.

- OR -

Click Edit from the top file menu in the program and then click Copy.

- OR -

Highlight the text and use the shortcut key Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Insert on a PC or Cmd+C on an Apple Mac.

NoteYou must highlight or select something before it can be copied.

Pasting the text

Once the above steps are completed, the text is moved into a temporary area known as the clipboard. To paste that text, move the cursor to where you want to paste and do any of the steps below.

Right-click where you want to the text to appear and select Paste.

- OR -

Click Edit from the top file menu in the program and then click Paste.

- OR -I

Press the shortcut key Ctrl+V on a PC or Cmd+V on an Apple Mac.

TipYou can paste text in the clipboard as much as you want until something else is stored in the clipboard. Also, once something is placed into the clipboard it can be copied into other documents and programs.

NoteIf nothing is in the clipboard nothing can be pasted, and the Paste option is grayed out. Something must be cut or copied before it can be pasted.

Practice copying and pasting text

Use the two text fields below to copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) the text in the first box and pasting (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

How to copy and paste text in a document

To copy and paste text in a document such as a Microsoft Word document, follow the steps below.

1. Highlight the text you want to copy.
2. Use the shortcut key Ctrl+C on a PC or Cmd+C on an Apple Mac to copy the text.
3. Move the text cursor to where you want to paste the text.
4. Press the shortcut key Ctrl+V on a PC or Cmd+V on an Apple Mac to paste the text.

TipMost programs also allow you to right-click on your mouse to copy and paste text.

Practice copying and pasting text

Use the two text fields below to copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) the text in the first box and pasting (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

How to copy and paste between files

To copy and paste text from one document or file into another document or file, follow the steps below.

1. Open the document or file containing the text you want to copy or move.
2. Highlight the text you want to copy.
3. Use the shortcut key Ctrl+C on a PC or Cmd+C on an Apple Mac to copy the text.
4. Open or switch to a new or existing document or file where you want to move that text.
5. Move the text cursor to where you want to paste the text.
6. Press the shortcut key Ctrl+V on a PC or Cmd+V on an Apple Mac to paste the text.

TipMost programs also allow you to right-click on your mouse to copy and paste text.

Practice copying and pasting text

Use the two text fields below to copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) the text in the first box and pasting (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

What keyboard keys copy and paste?

The keyboard key shortcuts for copying and pasting all depends on the type of computer you're using. Below is a list of the most common types of computers with the shortcut keys for copy and paste. Memorizing these two keyboard shortcuts is one of the most important shortcuts to memorize since it is one of the most commonly performed actions on a computer.

PC running Microsoft Windows or Linux

Copy = Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Insert
Paste = Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert

Apple Mac computer running macOS

Copy = Cmd+C
Paste = Cmd+V

Google Chrome computer

Copy = Ctrl+C
Paste = Ctrl+V

Apple iPhone and iPad with iOS

There are no keyboard shortcuts for iPhones and iPads. See our copy and paste text on an Apple iPhone and iPad steps on how to copy and paste on these devices.

Google Android phone and tablet

There are no keyboard shortcuts for Google Android devices. See our copy and paste text on an Android smartphone and tablet steps for help with copying and pasting on these devices.

Practice copying and pasting text

Use the two text fields below to copy (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C) the text in the first box and pasting (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

Copy and paste in a Linux command line

Copying text

To copy text in the Linux command line, use of the following two methods below.

Highlight the text you want to copy by left-clicking with your mouse at the start of the text, then drag your mouse to the end of the text while continuing to hold the button.

- OR -

Double-click on the text you want to copy to highlight the text.

NoteIf there are spaces in the text you are copying, you need to use the first copy method above.

Pasting text

To paste text in the Linux command line, move the text cursor to where you want to paste the text, then right-click with your mouse. The copied text will be pasted at the cursor's position.

Copy and paste in a Linux console

Copying text

Highlight the text you want to copy. For example, you could highlight a word, one line, a paragraph, or all of the text. In the Linux console, highlighting the text should automatically copy the text to the clipboard. If the text is not automatically copied, right-click with your mouse and select Copy in the pop-up menu. You can also press Ctrl+C to copy the highlighted text.

Pasting text

To paste text in a Linux console, place the mouse cursor where you want to paste the text, then use any of the methods below.

If you have a mouse with a scroll wheel, press down on the wheel (not scroll) to paste the text.

- OR -

If you have a three button mouse, press the middle mouse button to paste the text.

- OR -

If you have a two button mouse with no scroll wheel, right-click with the mouse and select Paste in the pop-up menu.

Copy and paste text on an Android smartphone and tablet

Copying text

Press and hold down on any text with your finger and then let go. Upon letting go, a menu should appear on top-right of the screen (shown to the right) that allows you to copy. Highlight any other text you want to copy and then press your finger on Copy to copy.

Pasting text

Press and hold down your finger on the screen where you want to paste and select Paste to paste the text.

Practice copying and pasting text

Using the two text fields below, try copying the text in the first field and pasting it into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

Copy and paste text on an Apple iPhone and iPad

NoteThese steps are only for the Apple iPad and iPhone. If you have an Apple desktop or laptop computer, see our desktop and laptop steps.

Copying text

Press and hold down on any text with your finger and then let go. Upon letting go, a menu appears, tap your finger on Copy or Select.

TipTo copy more than the default selected text, press your finger on the left or right blue circle, and while pressing down move in the direction you want to select.

Pasting text

To paste the text, press and hold down with your finger where you want to paste the text and then tap Paste. If you want to paste this text in a different app, open the other app before pasting the text.

Practice copying and pasting text

Using the two text fields below, try copying the text in the first field and pasting it into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

Copy and paste text on a Chromebook

Copying text

For Chromebooks that have no mouse buttons, you can copy and paste text by following the steps below.

1. Press down on the touchpad and while continuing to hold down the touchpad drag your finger in the direction you want to copy text.
2. Once the text is highlighted, tap two fingers on the touchpad to bring up the right-click menu and select Copy.

- OR -

1. Highlight the text you want to copy.
2. Press the Ctrl+C keyboard shortcut.

Pasting text

To paste text, move your cursor to where you want to paste and then right-click by touching two fingers on the touchpad and then click Paste or press Ctrl+V.

Practice copying and pasting text

Using the two text fields below, try copying (Ctrl+C) the text in the first box and pasting (Ctrl+V) into the second. After copying and pasting the text, "Example copy text" will be in both boxes.

Copy and paste text on a Kindle

Unfortunately, there is no copy and paste options when reading Kindle books on any device. However, you can Highlight text in any book, which is added to your highlights that can be viewed online or copied from the Kindle to your computer. When viewing your highlights, you can copy and paste any saved highlights using any of the steps mentioned above depending on the device you are using.

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