Nov 02, 2020 Highlight and paste math symbols or accents into new documents. If you need to add an equation or a letter that has an accent mark, you can copy and paste it into your document using the keyboard. Simply find the text that you'd like to highlight, copy it, then paste it in its new destination. The Mac keyboard shortcut command V will perform the Paste action. Paste is a global Mac keyboard shortcut that is usually located in the Edit menu. This keyboard shortcut for Paste is available in Mac OS X and may also be available with other versions of Mac OS.
- To paste just formatting, press the T key (T is underlined for Forma t s). It pastes the formatting of the copied range to the selected range. On Mac, use the command+T key to select Value. Similarly, we can do all of the tasks in using just the keyboard with the paste special shortcuts options. Paste Special from non-Excel source.
- Quit any Mac program. Command-Q: If you're coming from a Windows computer, you might.
This is the ultimate guide for working with MacBook keyboards, including accessing special functions, characters, accents, and using keyboard shortcuts in Mac OS system. Click on the list below to jump to an appropriate section.
MacBook Keyboard Diagram / Map
MacBook keyboard has few distinctive sections: Function keys (in light blue), which provides access to various functions in MacBook itself or Mac OS system. By combining them with the FN key, you'll get access to F1 - F12 keys, which can be associated with particular application features (useful in Photoshop for example).
The second section is the modifier keys (in light yellow). Shift allows to type uppercase letters and other additional characters. Command and Alt/Option are used in keyboard shortcuts, as well as the Control key, which is used almost exclusively by Mac OS X and Apple programs.
Return and left Shift has two variants, one used in the US and Eastern Asia (horizontal Return and long Shift), and second, used in Europe, Middle East and Africa (vertical Return and short left Shift). On the diagram, this is shown by dashed lines. Of course, MacBook keyboards have lots of localizations, the most common - US English - is shown above. If you're unsure about the localization you have, go and check it with this guide.
MacBook Air 11' has slightly different keyboard, with smaller top and bottom row keys to accommodate smaller laptop size. Newest MacBooks Pro with TouchBar don't have upper F keys row, instead, they have a touchscreen which changes displayed options based on context.
MacBook Keyboard Symbols Chart
Symbol | Meaning | Notes |
Screen brightness down | ||
Screen brightness up | ||
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Keyboard backlight down | ||
Keyboard backlight up | ||
Rewind | ||
Play / Pause | ||
Fast Forward | ||
Sound: mute | ||
Sound: volume down | ||
Sound: volume up | ||
Eject | Available on MacBooks with CD/DVD drive | |
Power | Available on MacBooks without CD/DVD drive | |
Command | On MacBooks 1st generation this is replaced by Apple logo | |
Alt / Option | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Tab | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Backspace | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Shift | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Caps Lock | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Return | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Enter | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts, accessed with FN key | |
Delete | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Clear | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Home | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + up arrow shortcut. | |
End | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + down arrow shortcut. | |
Page Up | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Page Down | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Arrows | Used to move things or pointer |
MacBook Keyboard Special Characters and Accents Map
If you want to type special characters or accents, change your keyboard language to US International PC (thanks, Steve!) and use the map below to get them. You can also check out our solution to the two languages on one keyboard problem.
Where is the Print Screen Button?
Unlike PC keyboard, there is no Print Screen key on MacBook keyboard. This functionality is accessed by keyboard shortcuts and - on Mac - you have greater flexibility:
- Command + Shift + 3 - captures entire screen;
- Command + Shift + 4 - captures selected region. Your cursor turns to crosshair and by clicking and dragging you can specify which area you want to capture;
- Command + Shift + 4 + Space - captures selected window. First press the shortcut from above, then - when you have crosshair - hit Space. The cursor will turn to the camera and the active window will have a blue overlay. Click on it to get it captured.
Office 2016 mac 32 or 64 bit. In some apps, like Photoshop, you need to add Control into the mix, to paste the screenshot into the app.
MacBook Keyboard Tricks
There's a lot you can do in Mac OS by using the keyboard only. Here's a list of highly useful and not-so-useful keyboard shortcuts:
Shortcut | Action |
Command + W | Quickly closes the active window in Safari or any other browser. Works also with many applications, like Pages, Numbers, Photoshop. Great way to quickly close something when your boss is coming around :) |
Command + H | Hides the active application. Useful for hiding something quickly ;) |
Option + Shift + F11/F12 | Makes tiny changes in volume level instead of standard jumps. |
Control + Option + Command + 8 | Reverses colors on the screen. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | When watching YouTube video, this will advance you to 10%, 20%, 30%.. of movie completion. |
Option + Delete | Deletes whole word in text editors |
Control + Command + V | Pastes copied text without formatting. Useful when copying something from Pages and pasting into eg. Wordpress :) |
Control + Command + Option + Eject/Shutdown | Shuts down the MacBook without the need to provide username and password. |
Command + Shift + A | Opens the Applications folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + U | Opens the Utilities folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + D | Opens the Desktop folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + I | When in Safari, this shortcut copies the URL, opens Mail app and creates a new email with the copied URL pasted as a link in a message. |
Command + Option + M | Minimizes all open windows, showing Desktop. |
Command + Option + Shift + Esc | Hold for 3 seconds to force quit any app. |
Command + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from left to right. |
Command + Shift + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from right to left. |
Command + ` | Cycles through active app windows. |
Command + Q | Quit active app. |
Command + T | Opens a new tab in Finder. Opens a new tab in a web browser. |
Command + N | Creates new Finder window. |
Command + Shift + N | Creates new folder in Finder. |
Command + Space | Launches Spotlight. |
Command + Option + Space | Switches to next keyboard language (if you have more than one). |
Command + Control + Space | In some websites and apps this will give you the emoji keyboard. |
Command + Delete | Sends selected files/folders to trash. |
Fn + Delete | Deletes text from left to right. |
F10 + Shutdown | Hold while launching MacBook to get a silent start. |
Command + up arrow/down arrow | Jump to the beginning or end of a page. This is equivalent to PC's Home and End keys. |
Command + up arrow + L | Highlights the address bar in a web browser. |
Mac Paste Keyboard Shortcut
If this article was helpful or you simply like what we do, please use buttons below to share this article with the world :-) Thanks!
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Paste Keyboard Shortcut Mac
You may also be interested in..
I Hated MacBook Cases, Here's Why I Changed my Mind..
If you asked me about MacBook cases or iPhone silicone covers 5 years ago, I would probably cry and then say one big fat 'noooo'! Why? I had my reasons, mostly because I got my MacBook almost killed by using them, not even counting how many times its life was in serious danger. If you're thinking about getting a MacBook case, make sure to read this article first.Read more
16 Questions About Keyboard Stickers You Always Wanted to Ask and One Extra Surprise at the End
You probably heard of multiple advantages of having your keyboard covered with decorative or specialized keyboard decals. Want to get your first keyboard stickers but still not sure how these work? Then check out these 16 questions (and answers of course) we prepared for you to clear up all doubts!Read more
9 Reasons to Get Keyboard Stickers Instead of Silicone Cover
Symbol | Meaning | Notes |
Screen brightness down | ||
Screen brightness up | ||
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Mission Control | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks Unibody | |
Launches Dashboard | Icon available on MacBooks pre-unibody | |
Keyboard backlight down | ||
Keyboard backlight up | ||
Rewind | ||
Play / Pause | ||
Fast Forward | ||
Sound: mute | ||
Sound: volume down | ||
Sound: volume up | ||
Eject | Available on MacBooks with CD/DVD drive | |
Power | Available on MacBooks without CD/DVD drive | |
Command | On MacBooks 1st generation this is replaced by Apple logo | |
Alt / Option | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Tab | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Backspace | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Shift | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Caps Lock | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Return | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts | |
Enter | Available on European/ISO keyboard layouts, accessed with FN key | |
Delete | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Clear | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Home | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + up arrow shortcut. | |
End | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing. Can be substituted by CMD + down arrow shortcut. | |
Page Up | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Page Down | Not on MacBooks, but worth knowing | |
Arrows | Used to move things or pointer |
MacBook Keyboard Special Characters and Accents Map
If you want to type special characters or accents, change your keyboard language to US International PC (thanks, Steve!) and use the map below to get them. You can also check out our solution to the two languages on one keyboard problem.
Where is the Print Screen Button?
Unlike PC keyboard, there is no Print Screen key on MacBook keyboard. This functionality is accessed by keyboard shortcuts and - on Mac - you have greater flexibility:
- Command + Shift + 3 - captures entire screen;
- Command + Shift + 4 - captures selected region. Your cursor turns to crosshair and by clicking and dragging you can specify which area you want to capture;
- Command + Shift + 4 + Space - captures selected window. First press the shortcut from above, then - when you have crosshair - hit Space. The cursor will turn to the camera and the active window will have a blue overlay. Click on it to get it captured.
Office 2016 mac 32 or 64 bit. In some apps, like Photoshop, you need to add Control into the mix, to paste the screenshot into the app.
MacBook Keyboard Tricks
There's a lot you can do in Mac OS by using the keyboard only. Here's a list of highly useful and not-so-useful keyboard shortcuts:
Shortcut | Action |
Command + W | Quickly closes the active window in Safari or any other browser. Works also with many applications, like Pages, Numbers, Photoshop. Great way to quickly close something when your boss is coming around :) |
Command + H | Hides the active application. Useful for hiding something quickly ;) |
Option + Shift + F11/F12 | Makes tiny changes in volume level instead of standard jumps. |
Control + Option + Command + 8 | Reverses colors on the screen. |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | When watching YouTube video, this will advance you to 10%, 20%, 30%.. of movie completion. |
Option + Delete | Deletes whole word in text editors |
Control + Command + V | Pastes copied text without formatting. Useful when copying something from Pages and pasting into eg. Wordpress :) |
Control + Command + Option + Eject/Shutdown | Shuts down the MacBook without the need to provide username and password. |
Command + Shift + A | Opens the Applications folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + U | Opens the Utilities folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + D | Opens the Desktop folder in Finder. |
Command + Shift + I | When in Safari, this shortcut copies the URL, opens Mail app and creates a new email with the copied URL pasted as a link in a message. |
Command + Option + M | Minimizes all open windows, showing Desktop. |
Command + Option + Shift + Esc | Hold for 3 seconds to force quit any app. |
Command + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from left to right. |
Command + Shift + Tab | Cycle through opened apps from right to left. |
Command + ` | Cycles through active app windows. |
Command + Q | Quit active app. |
Command + T | Opens a new tab in Finder. Opens a new tab in a web browser. |
Command + N | Creates new Finder window. |
Command + Shift + N | Creates new folder in Finder. |
Command + Space | Launches Spotlight. |
Command + Option + Space | Switches to next keyboard language (if you have more than one). |
Command + Control + Space | In some websites and apps this will give you the emoji keyboard. |
Command + Delete | Sends selected files/folders to trash. |
Fn + Delete | Deletes text from left to right. |
F10 + Shutdown | Hold while launching MacBook to get a silent start. |
Command + up arrow/down arrow | Jump to the beginning or end of a page. This is equivalent to PC's Home and End keys. |
Command + up arrow + L | Highlights the address bar in a web browser. |
Mac Paste Keyboard Shortcut
If this article was helpful or you simply like what we do, please use buttons below to share this article with the world :-) Thanks!
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Paste Keyboard Shortcut Mac
You may also be interested in..
I Hated MacBook Cases, Here's Why I Changed my Mind..
If you asked me about MacBook cases or iPhone silicone covers 5 years ago, I would probably cry and then say one big fat 'noooo'! Why? I had my reasons, mostly because I got my MacBook almost killed by using them, not even counting how many times its life was in serious danger. If you're thinking about getting a MacBook case, make sure to read this article first.Read more
16 Questions About Keyboard Stickers You Always Wanted to Ask and One Extra Surprise at the End
You probably heard of multiple advantages of having your keyboard covered with decorative or specialized keyboard decals. Want to get your first keyboard stickers but still not sure how these work? Then check out these 16 questions (and answers of course) we prepared for you to clear up all doubts!Read more
9 Reasons to Get Keyboard Stickers Instead of Silicone Cover
Ahhh.. keyboard stickers versus silicone covers - it's like Mac vs Windows, each side has its own believers and haters. By the headline you already know where we stand - and we do it with a reason.Read more
- Most recent
Website and copywriting tasks are much quicker if you know how to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts.
You can save yourself a huge amount of time if you know how to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts.
In this blog post you will find step-by-step instructions, as well as a video to show you how to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts.
Common things you might want to copy and paste include:
- Sending a website address (URL) in an email, or putting it in a document.
- Someone's contact details, such as their website address or phone number, from their email signature.
- Information from an old document (e.g. a proposal, letter, or fact sheet) into a new document.
- Keywords you've brainstormed into a keyword research tool.
… There are limitless ways in which copying and pasting is useful!
And if you know how to do it quickly and efficiently, it can save you a lot of time.
Note: Giving instructions on how to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts might seem quite basic to some readers here… If that's the case, give yourself a pat on the back from being so smart. I know for a fact that there are a lot of people out there who don't know how to copy and paste at all – let alone with keyboard shortcuts!
We all have to begin somewhere, and this video and article will make it nice and easy for you to learn…
Why use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste?
You don't have to use the keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste… you can use your mouse and go to Edit > Copy and then Edit > Paste. But this method is very time-consuming. If you do a lot of copying and pasting in your day (like I do), then using the keyboard is far more efficient, and it will save you time for more important things.
You'll still need your mouse to highlight the text and position the cursor, but by using keyboard commands for copying and pasting (instead of navigating to the Edit menu), it'll be quicker for you.
First things first: how to select the text you want to copy
You use your mouse to control the cursor on screen to select the text you want to copy. There are a number of different ways to select the text:
- Click the left mouse button and drag the mouse to select the text you want to copy.
- To select a whole word, double-click on it with the left mouse button.
- If you want to select a whole paragraph or website address (URL), triple-click on it with the left mouse button.
You can tell which text you have selected, as it will be higlighted, as per this example:
How to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts: on a PC
To copy and paste using the keyboard on a PC you need to locate the following 3 keys on the keyboard:
- Control (often labelled as ‘Ctrl')
- The letter ‘C'
- The letter ‘V'
Step-by-step instructions for PC:
- Select the text you want to copy (as per the instructions above).
- Press down the ‘Control' and letter ‘C' buttons together at the same time: this is the ‘Copy' command, which puts the data on your computer's clipboard.
- Then navigate to where you want to paste the information: place your cursor with the mouse.
- Press down the ‘Control' and letter ‘V' buttons together at the same time. This is the ‘Paste' command, and the text you selected should now be inserted.
How to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts: on a Mac
To copy and paste using the keyboard on a Mac you need to locate the following 3 keys on the keyboard:
- Command key (the one with the squirly pattern on it)
- The letter ‘C'
- The letter ‘V'
Step-by-step instructions for Mac:
- Select the text you want to copy (as per the instructions above).
- Press down the ‘Command' button and letter ‘C' buttons together at the same time: this is the ‘Copy' command, which puts the data on your computer's clipboard.
- Then navigate to where you want to paste the information: place your cursor with the mouse.
- Press the ‘Command' button and letter ‘V' buttons together at the same time. This is the ‘Paste' command, and the text you selected should now be inserted.
Video tutorial on how to copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts:
Voila! It's that easy!
There are many more keyboard shortcuts, and many are universal between apps.
But copying and pasting is the one keyboard shortcut I use the most – and it's likely to be the shortcut you'll use the most too.