How to cut and paste files on a Mac
Short answer: select the file and press Command-C. Go to the folder where it should go and press Command-Option-V. The file moves rather than copies. Command-X only works on text, not files, in Finder.
With the keyboard
- Select one or more files in Finder.
- Press Command-C.
- Open the destination folder.
- Press Command-Option-V. The files move, and disappear from where they were.
On a Mac you decide at the paste, not the cut: Command-V pastes a copy, Command-Option-V moves.
With the Edit menu
After copying, open the Edit menu in the destination folder and hold Option. Paste Item changes to Move Item Here. The same works in the right-click menu.
By dragging
- Dragging within the same drive moves the file.
- Dragging to a different drive copies it. Hold Command while dragging to move it instead.
- Hold Option while dragging to copy within the same drive.
If Command-Option-V does nothing
- Click inside the destination Finder window first, so it is the window in front.
- You may not have permission to change the original folder or the destination — for example a shared or read-only drive. Finder copies nothing in that case; check Get Info → Sharing & Permissions.
- Copy again: anything copied after the file replaces it on the clipboard.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you cut and paste a file on a Mac?
Copy it with Command-C, then press Command-Option-V in the destination to move it.
Why does Command-X not work on files in Finder?
Finder only cuts text. For files, you choose to move when pasting, with Command-Option-V.
How do I move a file to another drive instead of copying it?
Hold Command while dragging it, or use Command-C and Command-Option-V.
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