How to Cut and Paste Files on a Mac/MacBook Air [Keyboard Shortcuts or Mouse Gestures]

Cutting and pasting is a common function in the workplace, and learning more about it can significantly boost your productivity. In this article, we'll show you how to cut and paste files on a Mac, both with and without a mouse.

Cutting a file on a Mac moves a file or folder from one location to another. Unlike copying a file, cutting a file removes it from its original location. In this case, if you forget to paste the cut file, or cut a new file, the un-pasted file in your clipboard could be lost.

If it's not been a long time, you can press “Command + Z” to undo the new cut operation and get back the files you cut. But if you can't undo and have lost the cut files as you forgot to paste, don't worry; you can easily get back your lost files with the help of a Mac Data Recovery tool like the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

Read on to learn how to < strong>cut and paste files</strong> on a Mac without a mouse.

How to Cut and Paste Files on a Mac Using Keyboard Shortcuts On a Mac, you can use keyboard shortcuts to quickly cut (move) and copy files. Here's how: **Cutting a File (equivalent to moving it):** 1. Open Finder and locate the file or folder you want to move. 2. Select the file you wish to cut by clicking on it or holding down the `Command` key to select multiple items. 3. Use the shortcut `Command + X` to cut (move) the selected files. **Copying a File:** 1. In Finder, choose the file or folder you want to copy. 2. Press `Command + C` to copy the file. **Pasting a File:** 1. Navigate to the location where you want to paste the file. 2. Press `Command + V` to paste the file. This will place the previously cut or copied file at the new location. Unlike Windows, macOS does not have a direct "cut" feature. The `Command + X` shortcut actually moves the file without leaving a copy in its original location. If you want to keep the original file, use `Command + C` to copy it and then `Command + V` to paste it at the desired location.

To quickly cut and paste files without using a mouse on a Mac, you can use keyboard shortcuts, which work for single or multiple files. Here's how to cut and paste files using shortcuts on a Mac:

1. Navigate to the folder containing the file you want to hide.

Step 2: Tap the trackpad to select a file.

Step 3: Press "Command + X" on your Mac keyboard to cut the selected file.

Step 4. Go to the destination folder, and press "Command + V" to paste the file.

In this case, the selected file is removed from its original location and moved to the current location.

Can't find a file on your Mac using Finder or Spotlight? Don't worry! This article will help you effectively recover your lost files.

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Cut and Paste Files on a Mac Using the Finder Menu

If you're uncomfortable using keyboard shortcuts, or your Mac keyboard isn't working, you can use options provided through the Mac Finder to cut and paste. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the Finder by clicking on its icon in the Dock.

Step 2: Open the folder containing the file that you want to cut and paste.

Step 3: Select the file, click “Edit” in the Finder menu bar, and then choose “Copy Item” or “Cut.”

Note: The Cut option appears in the menu only if you have enabled it in Finder Preferences > Tags > Options.

4. Navigate to where you want it, then choose Edit > Move to Here from the Finder's menu bar.

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# How to Cut and Paste Files Using Your Mouse on a Mac

With a mouse, cutting and pasting files is easy. Here are two common methods:

Method 1: Cut Files by Dragging

The easiest way to cut files is to drag them from one folder to the destination folder. Check out the steps below.

Step 1: Drag the file you want to cut into the program.

Step 2: Move it to the destination folder.

Note: If the destination folder is a subfolder, you'll need to hover your mouse over the parent folder for a few seconds to open it. You can then drag the file into the destination folder. This hovering method may take a long time if you're trying to select multiple files on a Mac, such as thousands of files.

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Method 2: Right-click the file and cut it.

To cut files you want from the original folder and paste them into a new folder, follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the selected file and choose "Copy."

Step 2. In the new folder, hold down "Option," then right-click to bring up a menu.

Step 3: Choose "Move Here" to paste the cut file.

Recover Lost Files from Cut and Paste on Mac

If you can't paste the files you cut, and the action can't be undone, the files may be lost forever. In this case, you won't be able to recover the files from the Trash.

With the Mac Data Recovery Wizard, you can easily recover lost files after cut and paste operation on both Windows and Mac. Thanks to its user-friendly interface, even a person without any computer skills can recover permanently deleted files from Mac Trash. Follow the steps below to restore files lost after a cut and paste action:

Step 1: Search for the Lost File

Select the disk location on your macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, or latest Sonoma where you lost the files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device). Then, click on the “Search Lost Files” button.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it is recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. The software can then recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will scan the volume you select immediately and display the scanning results.

Step 3: Select the files and recover them.

From the scan results, select the files you want to preview and then click the “Recover” button to get them back.

Conclusion

You can perform cut and paste on your Mac using keyboard shortcuts, Finder menu, or the mouse. But if you forget to paste the files you cut, they will be lost in the process. In this case, you can use professional and trustworthy data recovery software – tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to get back the lost cut files.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Cut and Paste Files on a Mac

Here are some common questions people ask when searching how to cut and paste files on a Mac:

1. How do I enable Cut and Paste on my Mac?

To perform cut and paste on a Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Finder and click on Preferences.

< strong > Step 2: Select the "Cut and Paste" option from the "Features" tab.

2. Why can't I copy files on my Mac?

If you can't move or copy an item on your Mac, check the item's permissions. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Choose your project, then choose File > Get Info.

Step 2: Click the arrow icon next to "Sharing & Permissions."

Step 3. Check the file permissions and change them to “Read & Write.”

**How do I cut and paste files on a Mac?** The steps to cut (move) and paste files on a Mac are as follows: 1. **Cutting a file:** - Select the file or folder you want to move. You can click on a file once, or press and hold the `Command` key while clicking to select multiple files. - Press `Command` + `X`. This will cut the selected file. 2. **Pasting a file:** - Navigate to where you want to paste the file. - Press `Command` + `V`. This will paste the file at the new location. Alternatively, you can use the mouse: - Select the file, click and drag it to the destination, then release the mouse. While dragging, holding down the `Option` key will move (cut) the file instead of copying it. - To paste, simply drag the content from the clipboard (usually from Finder) to the desired location. Note that cut and paste functionality is generally universal across most applications, not just in Finder.

On a Mac, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Command + X" to cut a file, and "Command + V" to paste it. You can also drag the file to the desired folder with your mouse. Additionally, right-clicking can facilitate cutting and pasting files on a Mac as well.