How To Copy And Paste With A MacBook Pro: 9 Helpful Things to Know

We never really get the hang of using MacBooks, no matter how long we have used them. More so because Mac computers and laptops get the latest updates every now and then. Hence, most of us get puzzled while running the simplest programs on a MacBook. 

One of those simple things is the function of copy and paste. While it is really easy to do it on any other PC or laptop, with Mac devices, it can often get tricky. Especially the brand-new MacBook Pro you spent so much money on. 

This article will assist you with the copy-and-paste action and How To Copy And Paste With A MacBook Pro. Proceed to read on to get the full information. 

Copy And Paste With A MacBook Pro

1. Copy-and-Paste Action Through the Keyboard 

The keyboard is among the most obvious features that set a MacBook apart from a Windows machine.

Although it may appear and feel intimidating, the keyboard is similar to the one you would find on a Windows PC. 

The Windows and Alt keys are swapped out for Command (⌘, “cmd”) and Option (⌥) on a MacBook Pro. On a Windows computer, the Alt key would generally be located where Command is currently. And the Option key is now located where the Windows key would typically be.

The key to copying and pasting through the MacBook Pro keyboard is to remember the shortcuts.

Here are the following shortcuts:

• Copy: Command ⌘ + C
• Cut: Command ⌘ + X
• Paste: Command ⌘ + V
• Paste Without Formatting: Option + Shift + ⌘ + V

2. Copy and Paste Without Formatting 

It is a pain to see copied format all over your new document when copied from another. Most of the time, the entire format is put in the new document, such as fonts, highlights, etc. It is annoying if the document you are working on uses different formatting since it makes everything look out of place.

You may prevent this by using a command that ensures the copied text adopts the formatting of the paragraph or document it joins, not the formatting it just left behind.

Here are the following steps to run this action:

Step 1. Press Command + C to copy or Command + X to cut the text or object you wish to copy or cut.

Step 2. Place the mouse where you want the text or object to go, then press Command + Option/Alt + Shift + V to paste.

If you can manage the key combination, the text will be pasted in the format of the target document program.

3. Copy-and-Paste with Mouse

On a MacBook, using a mouse is an additional method of copying and pasting. Since you can complete the entire task with just one hand, it could feel more comfortable.

Follow the steps written below to use a mouse to copy and paste a text, file, or image on your MacBook:

Step 1. To select a file or text on a Mac, left-click it once or hold the left-click while dragging the cursor over the item you select.

Step 2. To reveal a drop-down menu, right-click (or hold down the Control key while clicking the mouse button) on the item or items you’ve chosen.

Step 3. Select the Copy menu item from the contextual menu.

Step 4. To reopen the contextual menu, right-click (or hold down Control while clicking the mouse button) on any location where you want to paste the copied file.

Step 5. Click Find and then Paste Item.

Step 6. Verify that the file was transferred to the new location.

4. Copy-and-Paste with the Control-Click/ Right click

In some cases, such as when copying photographs or photos, it could be simpler to employ a different method than a simple copy and paste.

Step 1. Using the right-click (or control-click) functionality on your MacBook Pro, choose copy or paste from the popup menu to copy and paste the text.

Step 2. For instance, you want to copy and paste an image. When using a trackpad or mouse to click on an image, hold down the Control key while doing so.

Step 3. A menu will appear.  You can scroll down the menu to select the Copy option. 

Step 4. You can either right-click on the image and choose “Paste” from the menu that appears, or you can position the cursor where it needs to be and press Command(⌘) V.

5. Copy-and-Paste with Toolbar

The last way to copy something on a MacBook Pro is to highlight it and then use the choices in the Edit menu at the top of the screen to copy and paste it.

Once you have highlighted the text you wish to copy, select Copy from this menu from the Edit menu at the top of the screen. Place the cursor once more in the desired location, select Edit from the menu, and then select Paste.

Related – Why is my MacBook Pro so slow?

6. Copy-and-Paste Between other Apple Devices

You can quickly copy and paste text and images between devices if your iPhone or iPad is linked to the same iCloud account as your Mac.

Here is how to accomplish it:

Step 1. Click General in System Preferences on your MacBook Pro.

Step 2. Tap on the box next to Allow Handoff between this MacBook Pro and your iCloud devices at the bottom of the General page.

Step 3. Select General in the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Step 4. You can pick AirPlay & Handoff on the General page.

Step 5. Check that the switch is turned on by tapping it to make it go from grey to green.

Step 6. Select the text or image you want to copy on your mobile device, then tap Copy.

Step 7. Use one of the previous techniques to copy and paste the material into your computer. Using this technique, you can copy material from your MacBook Pro and paste it on a mobile device.

7. Copy-and-Paste Images on MacBook Pro

You’ll discover that MacBook Pros are similar to Windows laptops, at least in cutting and pasting photographs. For cutting, copying, and pasting, Macs employ the “Command” button along with the “X,” “C,” and “V” keys in place of the “Control” button. 

Photos can also be copied from one program to another or to the desktop using the dragging feature on Macs.

The partial screenshot is one feature you won’t find in Windows; it allows you to focus on an image that would otherwise be unavailable, like images embedded in PDFs or images inside of other images.

Here’s how you will do things:

Step 1. Choose the image that you wish to copy or cut. For instance, images on websites can be copied but not cut. You can cut and copy images from Word documents and from the Finder’s image list.

Step 2. Keep pressing the keyboard’s “Command” key. To cut or copy the image, hit the “X” or “C” keys, respectively. The picture is taken out and stored in Mac’s memory.

Step 3. Wherever you want to paste the image, click using the trackpad. Hold the “Command” button to paste it, and press the “V” key.

8. Copy-and-Paste into Different Apps

The Cut, Copy, and Paste commands also function between apps. A choice can be made in one program, copied or cut, and then pasted in another. The same clipboard content is accessible throughout your Mac since the clipboard is global.

The sharing of web material is a typical application for this functionality. Copy text, an image, or another component from a web page into a web browser. Then, switch to the app where you want the material to show, position the cursor, and paste the content.

The destination app must support accepting copied content before you may copy and paste text between applications. For instance, nothing will happen if you copy this statement, go to Finder, and then paste it because Finder has no place to store the content.

9. Copying Multiple Items on MacBook Pro

Yes, copying many files from the Finder and pasting them somewhere else. Unfortunately, the answer is no if you’re referring to various text excerpts and some media.

Because the clipboard history function on MacBooks is missing, you can only copy and paste one object at a time. But you may accomplish this with the aid of many clipboard tools and resources; we’ll cover these in a moment.

Even though MacBook doesn’t have a clipboard history option, you may at least access your clipboard to view what you’ve copied.

Fix Copy-and-Paste Action by Clipboard Restart

Pasteboard is referred to as “Pboard.” The Pasteboard server, an essential background function, greatly influences data copying and pasting on your Mac. The temporary repository that stores and transfers copied data from the source to the destination folder or app on Mac OS is called “Pboard.”

It can be done in two different ways: Activity Monitor or Terminal. Either way, the Pboard process will be terminated. 

Pick one of the following to exit from Pboard:

Activity Monitor

When macOS automatically resumes the process, stop the pasteboard server in the Activity Monitor, wait a few seconds, and then try copying and pasting material.

• Choose Finder > Applications > Utilities, then select Activity Monitor by double-clicking.
• Select the search symbol in the top right edge of the screen.
• Double-click the pboard in the Activity Monitor window after typing it into the search box.
• Pick Quit.
• Choose the Force Stop button.

Terminal

In macOS, you can also end system processes via Terminal. Here’s how to use a Terminal command to force the Pboard process to end.

• Double-click Terminal in Finder > Applications > Utilities.
• Press return on the keyboard after pasting or typing the text of the Pboard into the console.
• After entering your Mac’s password, hit return.
• Check to see if you can copy and paste data between all programs after you close the Terminal.

Why is Copy-and-Paste Important in MacBook Pro?

Your MacBook’s copy-and-paste features are helpful and used for many daily tasks. Imagine you wish to paste a website address from an email or other source into your browser. With a few clicks, you may quickly paste a lengthy website address into your browser rather than typing it out yourself.

Copying and pasting also make short work of other situations where you would wish to insert a quote or picture while working on an email.

You can see how crucial the ability to copy and paste is, and unless you are a computer novice, the chances are good that you have utilized these features at some point in the past. There are actually multiple ways to complete the work on your MacBook Pro, even though you may only be aware of one.

Conclusion

The copy-and-paste function is essential for any desktop interface, whether it is Windows or Mac. However, the MacBook Pro interface can be a difficult one to crack. 

Since MacBooks are more high-end than other laptops, making every feature worth the cost is essential. Hopefully, this article has helped with that. 

FAQs

1. How do you Use Right-Click on MacBook Pro?

Control-click is used to do a right-click on a MacBook Pro. On a Mac, this is how shortcut (or contextual) menus are opened.

When you click something, hold down the Control key while doing so. For instance, you can use the Control key to click an icon, window, toolbar, desktop, or another object.

2. Can you Use the Toolbar to Copy and Paste into the MacBook Pro?

Yes, you can use the toolbar to copy and paste into the MacBook Pro. Just use the instructions written above to copy and paste any file, image, or text into your MacBook. 

3. Can the Clipboard Restart Fix the Copy-and-Paste Issue on MacBook Pro?

You can fix the copy-and-paste issue in two different ways. Activity Monitor or Terminal are both options. Either way, the Pboard process will be terminated. 

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