Quick answer: select text, an image, a file, or a folder, press Ctrl + C, click the destination, then press Ctrl + V. Right-click and choose Copy or Paste if you prefer the mouse.
Copy and paste on Windows 11
Copy makes a duplicate on the Windows clipboard; paste puts that duplicate in a new location. These steps work in most Windows 11 apps.
1. Select the item
Drag across text. In File Explorer, click a file or folder once. Hold Ctrl while clicking to select separate files.
2. Copy it
Press Ctrl + C, or right-click and choose Copy. Windows holds the item on the clipboard.
3. Open the destination and paste
Click where the item should go, or open the destination folder. Press Ctrl + V, or right-click and choose Paste.
Copy, cut, and paste options
- Copy: Ctrl + C leaves the original in place.
- Cut: Ctrl + X moves an item when you paste it elsewhere.
- Paste without formatting: use the app’s Keep Text Only or plain-text paste option when you do not want fonts, links, or styling.
- Several copied items: turn on Clipboard history in Settings > System > Clipboard, then press the Windows logo key + V to choose a recent item.
If paste is not working
- Copy the item again and confirm the destination accepts that type of content.
- Use the right-click menu; a disabled Paste command means there is no compatible clipboard content.
- For files, check permission and free space in the destination folder.
- Restart the affected app, or Windows if the problem occurs everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can I copy several files at once?
Yes. Select the files in File Explorer, copy them, and paste them into the destination folder.
Why does pasted text look different?
Rich text can keep its original formatting. Choose the receiving app’s plain-text paste option when needed.
Summary
Select the item, press Ctrl + C, choose the destination, and press Ctrl + V. Clipboard history and app-specific paste choices cover the most common exceptions.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.