10 Clipboard Shortcuts Every Mac User Should Know

You probably use Cmd+C and Cmd+V dozens of times a day. But macOS has more clipboard power than most people realize — especially if you pair it with the right tools.

Here are 10 clipboard shortcuts and techniques that will make you faster.

1. Copy and paste (the basics)

Let's start with what everyone knows:

• Cmd+C — Copy
• Cmd+V — Paste
• Cmd+X — Cut (works in text, and in Finder for files with Cmd+Option+V to move)

If this is all you're using, you're leaving a lot on the table.

2. Paste without formatting

One of the most underrated shortcuts in macOS:

Cmd+Shift+V — Paste and Match Style

This strips all formatting from whatever you copied and pastes it as plain text matching the destination's style. No more pasting bold, colored, 24pt text from a website into your document.

Some apps use Cmd+Option+Shift+V instead. Superclip normalizes this — you can always paste as plain text from the context menu.

3. Undo and redo

You probably know Cmd+Z for undo, but:

• Cmd+Z — Undo
• Cmd+Shift+Z — Redo

This works everywhere, including after a paste. Pasted the wrong thing? Cmd+Z to undo it immediately.

4. Select all before copying

• Cmd+A — Select All

Simple, but people forget it. In a text field, document, or code editor, Cmd+A selects everything so you can copy the full content in one shot.

5. Clipboard history with Superclip

Here's where it gets interesting. macOS only keeps the last thing you copied. With Superclip:

Cmd+Shift+A — Open clipboard history

This brings up your last 100 copied items. Search through them, click to copy, or use arrow keys to navigate and Enter to select. You'll never lose a clip again.

6. Copy from screenshots with OCR

Copied a screenshot that has text in it? With Superclip's built-in OCR:

1. Take a screenshot (Cmd+Shift+4)
2. Open Superclip (Cmd+Shift+A)
3. Select the screenshot
4. Click the OCR button to extract the text

No need for a separate OCR app. The text is extracted using Apple's Vision framework, so it's fast and accurate.

7. Paste stack for sequential pasting

This is one of Superclip's most powerful features:

Cmd+Shift+C — Copy and add to paste stack

Copy multiple items into a stack, then paste them in order with Cmd+V. The stack auto-advances after each paste. Perfect for:

• Filling out forms with multiple fields
• Migrating data between apps
• Pasting a series of code snippets

8. Pin frequently-used clips

Stop re-copying the same things. In Superclip, pin any clip to a pinboard:

• Your email address
• Shipping address
• Code snippets you use daily
• Canned responses

Pinned clips persist across app restarts and are always one shortcut away.

9. Delete sensitive clips

If you copied a password or sensitive info:

• In Superclip, select the item and press Delete or Backspace to remove it from history
• Cmd+Z within 30 seconds to undo the deletion if it was accidental
• You can also exclude specific apps (like 1Password) from clipboard monitoring entirely

10. Keyboard-first navigation

Superclip is built for keyboard power users:

• Arrow keys — Navigate through history
• Enter — Copy selected item
• Space — Preview the item
• Esc — Close or clear search
• Type anything — Instantly search your history
• Cmd+Arrow keys — Switch between pinboards

You never need to touch the mouse.

Level up your clipboard

The built-in macOS clipboard is a single slot. With Superclip, it becomes a searchable, navigable history with paste stack, OCR, and pinboards.

Download Superclip free — the first 1,000 users get it forever.