Select the text, picture, or file, press Ctrl + C to copy it, then click where you want it and press Ctrl + V to paste. To move something instead of copying it, press Ctrl + X (cut) and then Ctrl + V. You can also right-click and use Copy and Paste.
Applies to: Windows 11.
Use the keyboard
- Select what you want to copy. Drag across text, or click a file once.
- Press Ctrl + C to copy, or Ctrl + X to cut.
- Click where you want it to go, such as a document, an email, or another folder.
- Press Ctrl + V to paste.
To select all the text in a document, or all the files in a folder, press Ctrl + A first.
- Right-click the selected text or file.
- Select Copy (or Cut). In File Explorer, these are the icons at the top of the menu.
- Right-click where you want it and select Paste. In File Explorer, you can also select the Paste icon on the toolbar.
On a touchscreen, press and hold instead of right-clicking.
Paste something you copied earlier
Windows can keep a list of the things you copy.
- Press Windows logo key + V.
- The first time, select Turn on.
- Copy a few things. Then press Windows logo key + V again and select the item you want to paste.
The list clears when you restart the PC, except for pinned items. Pinning, clearing and syncing are covered in using the clipboard in Windows 11.
More copy tricks in Windows 11
- Copy a file’s location: select a file in File Explorer and press Ctrl + Shift + C to copy its full path, ready to paste into an email or a command.
- Copy by dragging: hold Ctrl while you drag a file to another folder to copy it, or hold Shift to move it.
- Copy text from a picture: take a snip with Windows logo key + Shift + S, open it in Snipping Tool, and select Text actions > Copy all text.
Copy between your PC and phone
Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and turn on Clipboard history across your devices. On an Android phone, install Microsoft SwiftKey and sign in with the same Microsoft account. Text you copy on one device can then be pasted on the other.
If copy and paste stops working
- Try another app: paste into Notepad. If that works, the first app is the problem; restart it.
- Restart Windows Explorer: open Task Manager, select Windows Explorer, and select Restart task.
- Clear the clipboard: in Settings > System > Clipboard, select Clear.
- Using Remote Desktop: on the remote PC, end rdpclip.exe in Task Manager, then run rdpclip from the Run box.
Frequently asked questions
How do I paste text without its formatting?
In many apps, press Ctrl + Shift + V to paste plain text. In Word, right-click and choose Keep Text Only.
How do I copy several files at once?
Hold Ctrl and click each file, then press Ctrl + C. There are faster ways for long lists in selecting multiple files in Windows 11.
Why doesn’t Ctrl + V work?
Make sure you copied something first, and click inside the place you want to paste. Some web pages and apps block copying. If the keys still don’t work, try the right-click Paste option.
Where does copied content go?
It’s held in the clipboard, a temporary space in memory. Without clipboard history, it keeps only the last thing you copied, and it’s cleared when you restart.
Does clipboard history keep pictures?
Yes. It keeps text, HTML and pictures smaller than 4 MB each. Larger items are copied normally but don’t appear in the history.
Can I copy text from a PDF?
Yes, if the PDF has real text. Open it in Microsoft Edge, select the text, and press Ctrl + C. For a scanned PDF, use Snipping Tool’s Text actions instead.
Microsoft’s own help page is Using the clipboard.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.