Unlock the Secret to Effortless Copying and Pasting on Your Mac with These Pro Tips!
Copying and pasting is undoubtedly one of the most frequently used functions on a computer, and yet it can be frustratingly tricky to master sometimes. However, on a Mac, there are various pro tips and tricks that can make copying and pasting a breeze. In this article, we’ll show you how to unlock the secret to effortless copying and pasting.
Copying
Copying lays the foundation for all other subsequent pasting operations. Without the ability to copy text, images, or files, pasting would be impossible. However, with these tips in mind, you’ll never have to struggle with copying again.
Use the Shortcut Keys
The most common way to copy on a Mac is by using the shortcut keys “command” + “c”. Simply highlight the text, image, or file that you want to copy and press these keys. The copied object will then be stored in the clipboard, ready for pasting.
Use Right-Click
Another way to copy on a Mac is to right-click on the object and select “Copy” from the context menu. This works for text, images, and files alike.
Use the Menu Bar
If you don’t feel comfortable using shortcut keys or right-clicking, you can also use the menu bar. Simply select the text, image, or file that you want to copy and then click on “Edit” in the menu bar. From there, select “Copy”.
Pasting
Once you’ve successfully copied an object, pasting is the next logical step. If you’re unfamiliar with the different pasting options available on a Mac, here’s what you need to know.
Use the Shortcut Keys
The most common way to paste on a Mac is by using the shortcut keys “command” + “v”. This will paste the most recently copied object from the clipboard onto the current document or app.
Use Right-Click
Alternatively, you can also right-click on an empty space in the document or app and select “Paste” from the context menu.
Use the Menu Bar
If you prefer using the menu bar, simply click on “Edit” and then select “Paste” from the drop-down menu.
Bonus: Other Pro Tips
If you’re looking to take your copying and pasting to the next level, here are a few additional tips that will make the process even more effortless.
Use Universal Clipboard
If you own multiple Apple devices and have them all logged into the same iCloud account, Universal Clipboard allows you to copy and paste across those devices. Simply copy an object on one device and then paste it on another.
Use Applications Like Alfred
Using applications like Alfred can speed up the copying and pasting process on a Mac. These apps allow you to assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently copied items, making the process much quicker.
Use TextExpander
Finally, if you find yourself frequently copying and pasting the same blocks of text, using an application like TextExpander is a game-changer. With TextExpander, you can assign a shortened abbreviation to a longer text block, making it simple to paste commonly used phrases and snippets of text.
With these pro tips, you’ll be copying and pasting like a master in no time. Whether you’re a seasoned Mac user or a newcomer, these tips are sure to make your computing experience even more enjoyable.
While copy and paste should be an easy thing to do on any computer, if you just switched from Windows to Mac, you might be confused on how to carry out this copy and paste task easily. Here’s how to copy and paste files and text on Mac.
1. Using the Menu Box
To copy and paste on your Mac:
Highlight the item to be copied by holding down the left mouse key. Ensure that the highlighted section shows a colored box.
Right-click the selected file or textm and choose the “Copy” or “Cut” command.
Move to the location for pasting the copied item.
Right-click the chosen location and select the “Paste” option.
2. Using the Command Key
Highlight the item to be copied by holding down the left mouse. Ensure that the highlighted section shows a colored box.
Use Mac keyboard shortcuts such as Command + C (Copy) or Command + X (Cut).
Use keyboard shortcut Command + V to paste the item.
3. Using the Option Key to Copy
This method of copying is less known but quicker than the two mentioned above.
Place your mouse cursor on the item you want to copy.
Hold down the Option key as well as the right button of your mouse.
This should automatically create a duplicate.
4. Hold Down Command and Drag to Cut
The Command + X (Cut) method does not work for files, but there is a way around this:
Hold down the Command key as well as the right button of your mouse and drag the file.
You should see that the “plus” icon on the file has disappeared. This means the file is is being cut and not copied.
How to Copy and Paste Files/Folders and Images
Mac’s Finder tool makes it easy to copy files and folders from one location and paste it in another. To do so:
Select the file or image you want to copy by placing your mouse arrow on it.
Right-click the selected file and choose “Copy” out of the pop-out options or use a keyboard shortcut.
The copied file will be placed in your clipboard.
Move to the location you want the file pasted using the Finder window.
“Paste” the file.
Apart from copying the image itself, another thing a Mac system allows you to do is to copy the image address.
Select the image you want to copy by placing your mouse arrow on it.
Right-click the selected image and choose “Copy Image Address.”
The copied address will be placed in your clipboard.
How to Copy and Paste Across Apple Devices
If you have more than one Apple OS device synced, copying and pasting across the devices should be simple. The Universal Clipboard for Apple products made available when you enable Continuity on Mac makes it possible for you to copy any text or image from an iOS device such as an iPhone and then paste to your Mac. To do so,
Select the item you want to copy by placing your mouse arrow on it.
Right-click the selected item which should bring out options.
Choose “Copy” from the options or make use of a keyboard shortcut to perform this action.
The copied item should be available on all your Apple devices, so all you have to do is “Paste” it.
How to Use the Paste and Match Style
What does it mean when you copy text from a document and the pasted version looks funny? It simply means you copied and pasted the formatting of the text as well. A simple way to avoid this is by using a command that makes sure the pasted text match up to the formatting of the new document.
To do this;
Access the Menu Box by right-clicking.
Select “Paste and match style.”
There is also a keyboard shortcut, but it varies between apps in use. You can try eisenberg of the shortcuts below:
- Command + Shift + V
- Command + Shift + Alt/Option + V
Conclusion
Knowing how to copy and paste on a Mac and across Apple devices will save you a lot of time. That is, instead of rewriting something which has been done in the past, you can easily transfer with the click of a few buttons.
Do you know more copy-and-paste tricks that we missed? Feel free to comment below.
Sarah Adedun is a technology enthusiast. When she is not reviewing tech products, you can find her sharing personal thoughts on Medium and researching ways to merge Finance and Technology together.
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