Copy and Paste not Working on Mac? Here’s How to Fix

If you are a writer and copy and paste not working on Mac, it becomes an exasperating problem for you. Don’t worry; we will provide various troubleshooting to fix your problem.

Make sure you use the correct combination of keys for copy and paste on Mac. Further, as a reminder, “Command + C” Copies data, “Command + X” cut data, while “Command + V” paste copied data. However, sometimes due to a faulty keyboard, the key won’t work. Hence ensure that your keyboard is in working condition.

If your Hotkey is not working correctly, try copying and pasting using the Menu bar. First, select Edit from the menu bar; choose any option of Cut, Copy, Paste, or Paste and Match style. After following the above method to copy and paste, yet it is not working, follow the below fixes.

FIX #1 Force Quite Current App and Relaunch it

Sometimes the issue is with the particular App on Mac. Therefore, forcing quitting a specific app and relaunching it may restore the copy-paste function. Here are the steps to the Force quit App on mac.

Here’s, What is an activity Monitor on Mac?

1. Press the Command + Space bar on the keyboard to Open Spotlight Search.

2. Type Activity Monitor in the Search box and hit return.

3. Select Activity Monitor. Now, Click on the X icon(Stop icon) at the top of the Activity Monitor toolbar.

4. Select Force Quit for the Confirmation From the Prompted Menu.

OR

1. Click on Finder on your Mac and Select Applications From the Left Pane. Next, Scroll the Screen to Select Utilities at the Right Pane.

2. Click on Activity Monitor to Open it.

3. Next, Select Activity Monitor from the Activity Monitor window. Now Click on the X icon (Stop icon) at the top of the Activity Monitor toolbar.

4. A confirmation prompt appears. Select Force Quit.

Now after Force quitting, the app is facing an issue with the copy-paste relaunch app. Again, try Copy-paste to check whether it is working or not. However, if the problem persists, try the following troubleshooting.

FIX# 2 Force Quit the Pboard Server

Pboard is the abbreviation of “Pasteboard.” In macOS, Pboard functions as a Clipboard daemon or background service. Therefore, it is the temporary storage and conveys copied data from the source folder/App to the destination.

The Pboard is a tiny Clipboard background service that plays a vital role in the copy-paste function on Mac. Hence if copy-paste is not working, there may be a glitch in the Pboard server. Therefore, Force quitting the Pboard will clear the Mac clipboard, and as a result, copy-paste functionality may be restored.

There are two ways to force quit Pboard on Mac first via Activity Monitor and second via the Terminal.

A) Force Quit Pboard Via Activity Monitor

Try following the steps to force close Pboard via Activity monitor on Mac.

1. Press the Command + Space bar on the keyboard to Open Spotlight Search. Type Activity Monitor in the Search box and hit return.

2. Next, Type pboard in the Search Box.

3. Select pboard From the Activity Monitor Window. Now, Click on the X icon(Stop icon) at the top of the Activity Monitor toolbar.

4. From the Prompted Menu, Select Force Quit for the Confirmation.

OR

1. Click Finder on your Mac > Select Applications at the Left Pane > Scroll the Screen to Select Utilities from the Right Pane.

2. Click on Activity Monitor to Open it.

3. Next, Type pboard in the Search Box.

4. Select pboard From the Activity Monitor Window. Now, Click on the X icon (Stop icon) at the top of the Activity Monitor toolbar.

5. From the Prompted Menu, Choose Force Quit for the Confirmation.

The above steps will terminate the pboard via Activity Monitor. Then, after a few seconds, try copy-pasting again.

B) Force Quit Pboard Via Terminal

Here are the steps to close the pboard using Terminal.

1. Click Finder on your Mac > Select Applications at the Left Pane > Scroll the Screen to Select Utilities from the Right Pane.

2. Under Utilities, Select Terminal.

3. Type Sudo Killall pboard in the Terminal console and Press Return on the keyboard.

4. Next, Enter your Mac Password and hit Return.

Alternatively,

1. Press the Command + Space bar on the keyboard to Open Spotlight Search. Now, Type Terminal in the Search box and hit return.

2. Type Sudo Killall pboard in the Terminal console and Press Return on the keyboard.

3. Next, Enter your Mac Password and hit Return.

4. Terminated the Command on your Mac.

After following the above steps, check whether copy – paste on Mac is working.

FIX #3 Force close WindowServer Process

Window server is a necessary Process in macOS as it facilitates communication between visual interface and Application. Hence Force quitting WindowServer can help remove any system-level issue causing copy-paste not working on Mac.

Before Force Close, “WindowServer,” make sure to save and close all other running applications. Here are the steps to force quit Windowserver on Mac.

1. Press the Command + Space bar on the keyboard to Open Spotlight Search. Next, Type Activity Monitor in the Search box and hit return.

2. Next, Type WindowServer in the Search Box.

3. Now, Select WindowServer From the Activity Monitor Window. Then, Click on the X icon (Stop icon) at the top of the Activity Monitor toolbar.

4. From the Prompted menu, Select Force Quit.

The above process will log you out and close all current Active App. However, all closed Applications will launch once you sign in, but as a precautionary measure, you need to save data.

FIX #4 Reboot Mac

If you have tried all the above troubleshooting and still facing the issue of copy-paste not working on your Mac, then try to reboot your Mac. Rebooting your Mac will refresh your macOS. Therefore, sometimes complex fixes won’t work, but a simple reboot can resolve the problem. But before rebooting, ensure to save all your data as it may get lost.

To reboot your Mac, Click on Apple logo From the Mac Menu and Select the Restart Option.

FIX #5 Update Mac

The initial versions of any macOS come with bugs and issues. Hence you must require updating Mac as soon as possible.

1. Click on Apple Logo On your Mac Menu and Select System Settings.

2. Click on General from the Left Pane. Next, Select Software Update at the Right Pane.

3. If not update, then update it to Click on Update Now.

We often ignore basic troubleshooting, but it works wonderfully in some cases. Hence, we must try it.

FIX #6 Restart in Safe Mode

Safe Mode in mac will help you determine if the problem is caused due to corrupt any third-party software or apps.

Try to Restart your Mac in Safe Mode, then test Copy Paste in Safe Mode. Now exit safe Mode and try again Copy and paste into Normal Mode.

FIX #7 Delete and Reinstall App.

If you are facing trouble in copy paste in particular App, then delete that App. Now reinstall it again and check whether copy and paste are working. In addition, ensure that the App is up to date.

FIX #8 Disable any Conflicting App

Sometimes third-party apps like security/cleaner apps may conflict with another app on mac. Hence it won’t allow other apps to work correctly. Therefore, if there is an option to disable conflicting apps, disable it. Now try again; copy and paste.

FIX #9 Chang Modifier Key Behavior on Mac

If none of the above fixes worked for you, try changing the modifier key behavior on mac.

Here are the steps to do so.

1. Click on Apple Logo on your Mac Menu and Select System Settings.

2. Select Keyboard From the Left Pane. Next, Under Press fn key to, Click on the Keyboard Shortcuts button at the Right Pane.

3. Select Modifier Keys from the left Pane. Now, Select the drop-down menu next to Option Key.

4. Change the Option Key to CMD, Choose Command From the Pop-Up Menu.

5. Changed the Option Key to CMD. Now, Click on the drop-down menu next to the Command Key.

6. Change Command Key to Option, Choose Option from the Pop-Up Menu.

Then, again, try Copy paste if it works or not on your Mac computer.