Technology

How Do I Copy and Paste on My Computer?

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Have you ever typed something in a Word document and then had to retype it when someone asked you to email it to them; or been overwhelmed when a website emailed you a complicated password that looks like “12%th8n*g254t!h1#546” to enter into a password field on a website; or received an email with an address that you wanted to copy to your contacts list?

Sure, you can always retype. But retyping is time-consuming and allows plenty of room for error. So what’s the best way to copy text? Your computer has a built-in solution!

Using simple commands on your Mac or PC, you can “copy and paste” one word, a web address, a password, entire paragraphs – even pictures. It’s useful to know how to copy and paste, because the process will work in almost any program on your computer. So let’s get to it! I’ll explain how, step by step, and you can also watch a video at the end of this article.

But first…

Understanding the Difference Between “Copy,” “Cut” and “Paste”

On your Mac or PC, the copy, cut and paste functions each do different things. Before we get started, here’s a quick rundown of what each does:

  • Copy To copy text that’s on your computer or on the Internet is similar to photocopying a document on a Xerox machine. You are making a duplicate of an original. So you still keep the original, and you also have a separate copy. How do you know if the text or image can be copied? If you can highlight it with your cursor, then you can copy it. You can usually copy text that’s in an email, a Microsoft Word document, or the URL in your web browser (Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.). Remember, you can copy just one sentence or entire paragraphs.
  • Cut Using the “cut” function on your computer is like cutting out a paragraph from a piece of paper with scissors. Only one version of that paragraph exists. On your Mac or PC, you can cut the same text allows you to copy – anything that you can highlight with your cursor.
  • Paste The paste function is the “glue.” You can paste text you have recently copied or cut. If you copy or cut text from your computer, an email or a web page, you can paste it just about anywhere.

OK, now we’re ready to get started.

1. Cut or Copy Highlight the Text or Link 

To start the copy and paste process, you need to highlight the text or link that you would like to copy. To do this, move your cursor to the text you would like to copy.

For PC Users Click the left button on your mouse and hold it down. While holding the button down, drag your cursor over the words that you would like to copy.

For Mac Users Click anywhere on your mouse and hold it down. While holding down the mouse button, drag your cursor over the words that you would like to copy.

2. Copy the Text or Link

Once you are finished highlighting, lift your finger off your mouse. But don’t move your mouse. Keep your cursor inside the highlighted text.

For PC Users Lightly click on the right button on your mouse. This time, you will not hold down the button. You’ll see a menu pop up with the options to Copy, Cut, Paste or Delete. Select Copy.

For Mac Users Go to the upper left of your screen to the Edit Menu. Most programs on your computer will have Copy under the Edit Menu alongside other options to Cut, Paste or Delete. Click on Copy.

3. Paste the Text or Link

Now the text is temporarily saved in your computer’s memory, so you can go to wherever you would like to paste it – an email, a form on a web page or a Word document, for example. Place your mouse cursor exactly where you would like to paste the text. If you are copying and pasting a link, you can open a new web page. If you are copying and pasting text into a new document or email, open a new document or email and make sure your cursor is blinking.

For PC Users Lightly click on the right button of your mouse. You’ll see the same pop-up menu as before. This time, click on “Paste.” Voila! Your text should magically appear.

For Mac Users Go back up to the Edit Menu and select the “Paste” option. Voila! Your text should magically appear.

Take a look at this video – it should help to make the process crystal clear.

Ready to practice?

Copy this URL into your browser’s address bar:
https://seniorplanet.org/category/tech-tips/

Got a question? Ask it in the comments box below, or email it to editor@seniorplanet.com 

COMMENTS

111 responses to “How Do I Copy and Paste on My Computer?”

    1. You will start drafting your email first. Then locate the icon that looks like a paper clip for attachments. This icon can be in various places depending on your email provider. You can Google it if you have any issues with finding it. For instance if you have Gmail, search for “attachments Gmail”.
      When you click on the icon, it should give you the option to browse files on your computer. Since the pictures are on the desktop they should be easy to find. Finally click ok and the pictures will be attached.

      Reply to Jessica P.

  4. Your discussion and instructions on copy and paste were very helpful. I am 80 and did NOT grow up with computers. I can barely turn mine on. Everyone I deal with, (Especially GOOGLE) expects me to behave as if I had a MS in Computer Science. I am just an old MD. Thank you.

    Reply to Brent B Birkin

  6. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am glad to express that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most indisputably will make sure to do not overlook this web site and provides it a look on a constant basis.

    Reply to Technology Laptop

  17. Hi, I, too, am computer illiterate. I came here hoping to learn how to copy and paste, The problem came, as it often does, as I was watching the video. I am Deaf and could not follow the instructions, of course. It would be helpful if simple instructions could be printed beside the video, Thanks!

    Reply to Lynda Long

    1. Hi Ian! It sounds like it might be time to update your browser! If your browser is up to date, you can manually click on the Edit menu (after highlighting the text) and manually selecting the Copy/Paste commands to place the text in a Word document.

      Reply to Jill Feigelman

  24. Often when I try to copy part or all of an article on the internet, I will drag my cursor across the copy, but when I release to copy it by command key, the area I’ve just highlighted will ‘unhighlight.’ I’ve been careful to leave the cursor in the heighted copy and other tips you’ve given here, but to no avail. When I hit command A to get all of the article, it copies everything on the internet page. Is it my mouse?? Any other tips?

    Reply to Ben Williams

    1. Hi Ben, after you have highlighted the text you want to copy, are you clicking somewhere on the screen? Doing that would unhighlight the text. Instead, once you’ve highlighted, just right click your mouse or click Control-C (on a PC) or select Apple-command-and-C (on a Mac) to copy your text. I hope this helps – if it doesn’t, perhaps there’s something wrong with your mouse.

      Reply to Senior Planet

  25. I am trying to copy and paste from my picture
    file to a notepad -I am trying to make my own
    flyer for an event. HELP can this be done?
    and how do I get the notepaqd and the picture
    both on the screen

    Reply to Rene

  29. You explained it so well and you have to do it exactly for it to work. I previously spent 1 hr. trying to do it and it was frustrating. “donot remove cursor” out of hi lighted text is crucial.

    Reply to RED

  36. i opened another email account with Gmail, it’s listed as an account but I don’t know where it’s inbox is. I’d like all mail from my new account to go directly to my existing email inbox, how do I do this.

    Reply to TammyConte

  37. Thankyou for explaining how to combat this copy and paste issue that i have been having alot of difficulty with, I feel afraid of all the elements of doing what you have shown as i will surely have a go and complete what you shown and i would like to thankyou for your input.

    Reply to Loz

  38. Thank you so much for the clarity of this article. It is something that I actually do quite a lot. I have recently discovered two useful variations: instead of “paste” choose “past special” which offers a few choices; and I noticed since upgrading my macbook to Yosemite the copied text seems to go into “dropbox”. I don’t know why.

    Reply to londonjo

  40. Hi, For years I have been able to highlight an article, etc., copy & paste it onto the Microsoft Works Word. Some things will not highlight any longer. When I use ctrl + c or ctrl + v I am told it has been moved elsewhere. But why can’t I highlight some things. Will appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks so much!!

    Reply to Lynn

  42. I have been using copy and paste for years, but today when I tried it, instead of copying the text that I highlighted, it would copy the whole screen (much like print-screen used to do). Now I can’t figure out how to get it back to pasting just the text that I highlight.
    Please help. Thanks, Joe

    Reply to Joe

  48. I have done a video and put in on youtube, and I want to put the url on facebook, but I think you have to put it in your files first, don`t you? you would think in this day and age you could just copy and paste everything but you can`t, I put the url in a word document, but it didn`t help, any ideas

    Regards,

    Lou

    Reply to Lou

  49. Your instructions on copying and pasting are very clear. Thanks. I am brand new to wiki pages and in the course I am taking I need to create a wiki page and I need to copy the URL from an internet site onto the wiki page. I know how to navigate to the “create a wiki page” site in my course but I want to understand how to copy URL from website onto wiki page. Thanks for your help.

    Reply to linda

  52. Barbara – hi and thanks for your instructions re cut/copy/paste. I really must be from Mars, cuz I’m lost in a black hole on most of your nudges. CTRL A C V? What planet is that on? Pluto? Anyway, again thanks, but this neophyte is lost in space

    Reply to pistolpete

  58. Wonderful and easy instructions. Don’t know why, but Copy & Paste has always been a BIG stumbling block. I think I have it now. Its not
    rocket science, but I have made it so… in the past.
    A BIG THANK YOU for your help!!!!

    Reply to Noel

  61. Hallo Betsy.Thanks for showing me how to cut
    copy and paste,I seem to get all that pat on
    but I am still in trouble with copy and paste
    media (pictures) on to my website I would be thankful if you could help me with that,I have been looking everywhere for an understandable tutorial.Thank you keep up the good work for us oldies.Kind regards
    Flemming.

    Reply to Flemming

    1. Hi Flemming, I’m happy we were able to help with cut & paste. Since websites are created on different platforms and they each have their own system for adding images, we can’t offer a tutorial on SeniorPlanet.org – but if you would like to let us know which platform your site is created on, we might be able to link you to a good online tutorial.

      Reply to Barbara, Senior Planet editor

      1. Hallo Babara.Thanks for your quick reply re.
        copy and paste.Where do I find out which platform my PC is on? it is a Samsung and I
        run WINDOWS XP BUT i WILL SOON CHANGE TO Windows 7.Thanks again.Flemming.Have a
        good Day.

      2. Hi Flemming, you mentioned you are trying to add images to your website. We would need to know which platform your website is built on.

  63. Thank you.Your copy and paste article is very
    clear and I understand it clearly,but when I try
    to use the same principle with a picture(media)
    I get nothing,can you please tell me how I copy and paste a media into my website.
    Thank you very much.Flemming

    Reply to Flemming

  64. ok I understand everything on how to copy and paste but after you paste it onto the browser adress bar where do you go to retrieve it for example if I copy and paste a video from an email onto the web adress bar what do I do to actually see the video-as in what do I click on where did it “go”?

    Reply to neil

  69. I have a Mac and have used the cut and paste, but now when I go to EDIT the cut does not get highlighted when I put the mouse there.

    If I go to the new location and hit paste it just keeps on pasting something that I cut last time I used this feature

    Reply to Theo

  74. Thank you so much I hope this works with PDF files also I have a new job and I have to forward plans to all kinds of subs Contractors and when I do it on the email the other people never get the plans just the message so I hope I can apply this in the same manner as cut and paste Thank you so much

    Reply to Cyndie

  75. I need to know how to copy certain parts of my statements without showing the balances. when I highlight it highlites all the statement and would like how to jus copy and pst what I want.
    Thank you,
    LaVonne

    Reply to LaVonne

  77. I recently bought a new computer with Windows 8. I’m trying to copy something on the internet to save as a document. I can’t get it to copy. This is so different from Vista & I’m still learning how to use this. Don’t like it. Thanks for your help.

    Reply to gredwine

  79. Hello,
    As stated in your article instrucitons,
    “Now the text is temporarily saved in your computer’s memory, so you can go to wherever you would like to paste it”.
    But how can I keep that text (a website address) permanently saved in my computer’s memory after turning the computer off so I don’t have to go through the whole procedure of bringing up the website, copying and pasting the address etc. every time I want to add that URL to an email? Is it possible?
    Thanks!
    Jake

    Reply to jake

    1. Hi Jake,

      Good question! If you plan to use a URL over and over, you could save it somewhere on your computer that you could reference each time you would like to copy and paste it into an email. You could save it in a Word document or another word processor, save the file to your desktop, and open that file whenever you need to copy and paste the link.

      Reply to betsym

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