Copying text, photos and files on a MacBook
The mac OS operating system based on Apple computers is stable and has an intuitive interface. Most users adapt to working with it in a matter of days. However, at the first stage, even some everyday operations can cause difficulties.
In fact, it can be a real pain if something doesn’t work properly and the message ”clipboard error” appears. And then the documents you are working on may freeze or the Mac’s universal clipboard may become unusable.
How to copy and paste text on a Macbook without a keyboard
Most users, especially those who have had experience using Windows OS, cannot imagine working with a computer without a mouse. It greatly simplifies the interaction with the graphical interface. Simply select the desired text fragment and open the context menu by pressing the right button. In macOS, when using a mouse, these actions are no different. Only the view of the context menu can change.
It depends on the functionality of the program that the user is working with. Operations that are supported but currently unavailable appear darkened in the menu.
How to copy and paste text on a Macbook without a mouse
All MacBook models are equipped with a trackpad, a touch surface that allows you to work with a laptop without a mouse. In terms of its capabilities, it significantly surpasses the touchpads installed on Windows laptops, since it is designed for gesture control. The absence of buttons on the trackpad that simulate mouse operation looks unusual. By default, the context menu is called by clicking in the lower right corner of the touchpad. In the trackpad settings, this action can be replaced with a double touch in any area.
Having mastered the gesture control and set up convenient combinations, the user can copy and paste text fragments without a keyboard and even without a mouse.
Copying by keyboard shortcut
Users who often have to work with a large amount of information, master keyboard shortcuts for copying. macOS also has such combinations, although they differ from those used in other operating systems. Here they are tied to the Command modifier key, and look like this:
- Command + C – copy a text fragment to the clipboard.
- Command + V – paste a fragment from the clipboard into the document.
As you can see in the screenshot, the buttons are located somewhat closer than in combinations with the Ctrl key on the PC keyboard. Users who previously often had to use keyboard shortcuts in Windows, it will take some time for their fingers to get used to a different arrangement of buttons.
How to copy images on a Macbook
In addition to the text, sometimes you need to copy an image found on the Internet into the document. To do this, you can use the context menu or simply drag and drop. Let’s consider both options in more detail.
Copy the image by dragging
macOS versions, starting with El Capitan released in 2015, support Split View mode. Using it, you can place the windows of two programs side by side on the same screen. After that, it remains only to capture the desired image with the mouse in the browser window and transfer it to a text document. At the time of transfer, the picture will look like a translucent thumbnail. The green “+” sign on it shows that the image can be copied and attached to documents. Releasing the held mouse button, we get a copy of it in the text editor window.
Copy the image using the context menu
The second option allows you to do without using the Split View mode, which is not always convenient on monitors with a small diagonal. In this case, we click on the selected image by calling the context menu. We find the item marked in the screenshot in it. We insert it into the document using a keyboard shortcut or by calling a similar context menu.
How to copy a photo from an iPhone to a Macbook
The advantage of the ecosystem created by Apple is the interaction between the company’s products. If you have a MacBook and an iPhone with an activated Library or Photo Stream, you don’t have to think about transferring photos between them at all. As soon as the smartphone and laptop are in range of the same Wi-Fi network, the pictures are synchronized automatically. All you need to do is open the Photo program on your Mac and copy the images to the right place. In case there is no wireless network or the photo needs to be transferred to someone else’s Mac, you can use the AirDrop function:
- Turn on Bluetooth on both devices.
- Open the Photos app on the iPhone and select the pictures that we want to copy.
- By clicking the “Share” menu, under the reduced images with selection indicators, we see a Mac computer available in the Bluetooth coverage area. Click on the laptop icon and send photos to it.
For older iPhone and MacBook models that do not support direct Bluetooth transmission, you can use a cable connection. In this case, you need to confirm your desire to connect to the computer on your smartphone and trust it by allowing access to the media library. After successfully completing the device linking procedure, the Photo program will automatically start, offering to import images from the iPhone.
How to copy files and folders in macOS
When working with your own hard drive, macOS always moves files from one folder to another. It is assumed that the user sorts the data in this way and does not need to create copies. We observe a different picture when connecting a USB flash drive or other external drive. By identifying the connected device as intended for data storage, the system automatically creates a copy of the transferred file. Given this feature of the OS, let’s figure out how to create a copy on the MacBook hard drive:
The context menu of actions with files on macOS does not contain the “Copy” item familiar to Windows users. Here we are offered a choice of two options: use the “Duplicate” or “Copy” commands.
Context menu of actions with files in macOS
With the first step, you can create a duplicate file, an exact copy of it. It is placed in the same folder where the original is located and has the name “Copy File”. The next step is to drag the duplicate to the desired location on the hard disk. This method works the same way with folders. Using duplication, you can create copies of folders with all the contents.
The result of duplicating files and folders
The second action, “Copy”, activates the clipboard of the operating system. After executing it, you need to go to the destination folder and open the context menu again. Select the “Insert object” item to place a copy of the file in its new location.
How to copy files with a keyboard shortcut
The described method of copying using the context menu is not the only one for macOS. The same operation can be performed using keyboard combinations that we learned when working with text. They are standard for all versions of Apple operating systems and require the use of the “Command” button:
- Having marked the file in the Finder, hold down the modifier key and press “C”.
- Go to the destination folder and hold down the modifier again, use the “V” button to insert the copied object from the buffer.
Useful keyboard shortcuts
As a UNIX-like system, macOS supports a large number of keyboard shortcuts. As you master the Macbook, many users get used to using them to speed up constant operations. Below is a list and description of combinations that may be useful when working with text or files.
- Command + X. Analog of the “Cut” function. Works in all text editors used in macOS. A word or text block is cut from the current fragment and can be moved to any other place in the document with the original formatting.
- Command + A. Highlighting the contents of an open window. It works both in text editors and in Finder. You can use it to select all objects in an open folder for later copying to a new destination.
- Command + D. Duplicate a file in the current folder without using the context menu.
- Command + Z. Canceling the last action performed. Works in text editors and file manager. For example, with its help, you can cancel the creation of a copy in the current folder or return a cut text fragment to its place.
In conclusion
In this article, we have collected and described various copying methods available to macOS users. Using them, you will be able to discover the unknown capabilities of your MacBook and reach a new, advanced level of interaction with this surprisingly convenient operating system.
