You Can’t Cut and Paste Files on a Mac: Here’s What to Do Instead
Are you a former Windows user who’s trying to figure out how to cut and paste files on a Mac? Well, the truth is that macOS doesn’t have a “cut and paste” feature.
Instead, Apple uses “move” to permanently change the location of files. And while most shortcuts on Windows are similar in macOS, usingCommand + Xwill not move files for you in Finder; that shortcut only works with text.
We’ll show you how to “cut and paste” those files by moving them.
Use a Keyboard Shortcut to Move the File
There is a keyboard shortcut it’s possible to use instead ofCommand + Xto “cut and paste” files inFinder on macOS. Follow the steps below to use it properly:
Now, when you visit the original folder, you’ll see that the files are no longer there; they’ve been “cut and pasted.” Check out our list ofuseful Mac shortcutsif you want more of these.
Move Your Files With the Edit and Context Menus
you’re able to also “cut and paste” files in Finder using the edit and context menus. Here’s how to do so:
Once again, clickingPastewill not move the items but create a new copy in the destination folder.
Learn Your Ways Around macOS
macOS might initially be a little confusing for a Windows user, but it’s intuitive once you get the hang of it. If there’s something vital you can do on a Windows computer, the odds are you can also do it on a Mac if you look hard enough.
For those switching from a Windows PC to a Mac, it might be better to check out some guides on how to transition to macOS. Doing that could save you some time and a lot of stumbling about.
Every Windows user should know the basics of working on a Mac. Here’s a quick guide to help Mac newcomers find their way around.
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