Cut and Paste on a Mac: Every Method for Text, Files and Folders
Quick answer: In text and most apps, cut and paste on a Mac is ⌘X then ⌘V. In Finder, files have no Cut command: copy with ⌘C, then press Option+⌘V in the destination folder to move the file instead of copying it. Or install FileCutPaste to get a real ⌘X for files.
Cut and paste works everywhere on a Mac except one place, the Finder file list. This guide covers each situation and links to the detailed walkthrough.
Which method for which situation
| Situation | What to press | Moves or copies? |
|---|---|---|
| Text, cells, objects in an app | ⌘X then ⌘V | Moves |
| Files or folders in Finder | ⌘C then Option+⌘V | Moves |
| Files or folders in Finder | ⌘C then ⌘V | Copies |
| Files in Finder, Windows-style | ⌘X then ⌘V with FileCutPaste | Moves |
| Files between two windows | Drag and drop | Moves on one disk, copies across disks |
Text and content inside apps
Select text, an image in a document, or cells in a spreadsheet, press ⌘X to cut and ⌘V to paste where you want it. This works the same in Pages, Notes, Mail, Excel, Word and web forms. If it does not, see Cmd+X Not Working in Finder? Here’s Why (and the Fix).
Files and folders in Finder
Finder has no Cut for files. Apple's way to move files with the keyboard is:
Select the file or folder and press ⌘C.
Open the destination folder.
Press Option+⌘V. The menu item Paste Item becomes Move Item Here.
The full walkthrough is How to Cut and Paste a File on a MacBook?, and the reason Apple designed it this way is in Why Doesn’t Cut and Paste (Cmd+X) Work on Mac?.
Other ways to move files
Drag and drop, Cmd-drag across drives, and the Terminal command mv are covered in How to Move Files on a Mac Without Cut and Paste?.
Getting a real Cmd+X for files
FileCutPaste adds ⌘X and ⌘V for files in Finder, exactly like Windows Explorer. Select files, press ⌘X, open the destination, press ⌘V; Finder performs the move. See How to Use FileCutPaste app to Cut and Paste Files, Folders and Images on Mac for setup and The Best Way to Get Real Cut and Paste Back on a Mac? for a comparison of options.
Coming from Windows? Windows vs Mac: How Cut and Paste Files Actually Differs? explains what is different, and the Windows keyboard on Mac map shows where each key went.
FAQs
What is the shortcut for cut and paste on a Mac?
⌘X and ⌘V in apps. For files in Finder, ⌘C and then Option+⌘V.
Why can I not cut a file on a Mac?
Finder does not offer Cut for files. It is by design.
Does cut and paste delete the original?
Only after you paste. Until then, the original stays where it is.