Skip to main content

How to use cut, copy, and paste keyboard shortcuts in Windows

Are you tired of all the right-clicking just to access simple commands like cut, copy, and paste? Sure, it’s not super labor-intensive, but it can get really annoying after a while when you’re constantly summoning one of these actions using a mechanical rodent.

If you’re not utilizing shortcut commands, you’re missing out on an easy way to save time and effort. Read on to learn simple commands that combine Control (Ctrl) and other keys to cut, copy, paste, and even undo actions across Windows apps.

Cut (Ctrl + X)

Cut Shortcut
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When cutting text using the shortcut, you remove it from the target location while sending it to your clipboard in the system memory. Ctrl + X  lets you remove text in one area and paste that same text multiple times in other areas.

Originally, Windows didn’t automatically keep a history of items on your clipboard, meaning text was rewritten in memory each time you typed the keyboard shortcut. That changed with the October 2018 Update, which introduced an extended clipboard with history.

To access this history, you can type the Windows Key + V combination. A pop-up window appears listing a backlog of text you previously cut along with text you copied using a different keyboard shortcut (see the next section). Just select one of the recorded entries, and it will paste to your target document. However, you’ll need to manually enable it the first time you type the Windows Key + V combination.

Overall, this is a great way to rearrange text in a report or take a piece of information from one area and populate multiple forms with that same data. It has no alternative inputs, however. Yes, Shift + Delete was once a thing, but that combo is now used for other commands.

Copy (Ctrl + C)

Copy Shortcut
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This keyboard shortcut for copying text is similar to Cut in that text is sent to the clipboard in the system memory. However, unlike Cut, the source text you copied isn’t deleted from the parent document.

If you are using a version of Windows 10 before the October 2018 Update (shame on you), all text copied to the clipboard will be overwritten the next time you use the Ctrl + C keyboard shortcut, just like Cut.

Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl + Ins shortcut. The Insert key is found on full-size keyboards with number pads. It may reside on the Zero key or as a dedicated key near the Home key. This may be a more useful option if you are dealing with a lot of numeric data and your fingers rarely leave the number pad.

Paste (Ctrl + V)

Paste Shortcut
Image used with permission by copyright holder

As a recap, both Ctrl + X and Ctrl + C copy text to the clipboard, only the former shortcut removes the copied text from the document; the latter doesn’t. The Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut is the exact opposite: It pastes text from the clipboard into your document wherever your cursor resides.

Remember that formatting and spacing frequently carry over with the text, which may lead to issues when pasting into a new field or form. You can usually copy and paste an unformatted version of the text to help avoid these problems.

Alternatively, you can use the Shift + Ins shortcut, which may be more useful if you spend a lot of time on the numeric keypad. The pasted text will appear wherever your cursor is, so make sure you’ve picked the right spot.

Undo (Ctrl + Z)

Undo Shortcut
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whoops! Didn’t mean to overwrite that sentence, did you? This handy keyboard shortcut will undo the last action you made. If you were typing, for example, it will remove the last section of text you typed before pausing, which could be fairly long.

Most Windows applications support repeated undo commands, which means you can delete your last action, the one before that, and the one before that, and so on, so long as Windows kept a history of your actions. Adobe Photoshop, for example, lets you do so by pressing Ctrl + Z.

Unfortunately, the functionality isn’t universal with every app. Before trusting it in a higher-stakes scenario, you should confirm that the commands are supported by your app. 

An extra tip on working between apps

Every Windows program supports cut, copy, paste, and undo commands. They’re a part of the Windows foundation. 

The shortcuts do the same thing every day. The standard Ctrl plus a letter executes a specific task. It works the same while writing spreadsheets, drafting emails, or creating documents. 

Online forms and apps aren’t as reliable. Many support the same shortcuts, but there’s no guarantee. Before trusting it, try out the new app. Execute a few commands to make sure it runs reliably.

Editors' Recommendations

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is the Evergreen Coordinator for Computing, overseeing a team of writers addressing all the latest how to…
Need to work from the road? Here are the 5 best laptops with LTE
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (2018) review

Ever wish your laptop acted — well, more like your phone, especially when it comes to data connections? The answer is LTE, the widely used wireless data transmission standard/broad term for mobile data connections starting with 4G. Laptops that have LTE tech can connect with cellular data signals just like your phone, allowing them to use your carrier plan for more reliable internet, especially in areas where Wi-Fi may not be an option or smart security choice.

The key is that LTE is always evolving (the name literally means Long-Term Evolution). The latest laptops to hit the market are carrying what's now simply called 5G, the latest high-speed, high-security connection, if your carrier currently offers it. Since the 5G rollout has begun, you will probably want to look for a laptop with technology that will support the 5G standard, which uses a different radio spectrum and requires new components. Here are your best options, plus some choices for saving money with an older version of LTE.

Read more
A fix for slow NVMe SSD speeds in Windows 11 is out — here’s how to get it
sandisk internal ssd black friday deal amazon ultra 3d nand

An issue has been plaguing some Windows 11 users where NVMe drives might be running slower than expected, but Microsoft has now acknowledged the problem and issued a fix. As part of the latest Windows 11 monthly preview update, Microsoft is now testing a bug patch that should get rid of the issue.

Initially released on November 22, Microsoft mentions that the KB5007262 (OS Build 22000.348) preview has a fix related to write operations. The company also mentions that Windows 11 was performing unnecessary actions each time a write operation occurs. However, the issue only occurs when the NTFS USN journal is enabled. In most cases, this is always enabled on the C: drive, which is the primary system disk for most NVMe SSDs installed on a PC.

Read more
Is Windows 11 a success so far? New report reveals how many PCs have upgraded
Windows 11 Woman on Laptop Lifestyle

Nearly two months since its launch in early October, Microsoft’s Windows 11 has now been installed on nearly 10% of PCs.

According to a report from AdDuplex, Microsoft’s latest operating system has reached 8.6% of “modern PCs.” The figure is boosted by those currently running the Insider build of Windows 11, adding another 0.3% of OS market share for Windows 11.

Read more