I'm really surprised that I can't cut and paste on my macbook! Do I need a third-party app for it?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Do I need an app for "cut and paste"?
- Thread starter stanleystf
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
bogdanw
macrumors G3
Mac keyboard shortcuts
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts
- Command-X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
- Command-C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
- Command-V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
- Option-Command-V: Move the files in the Clipboard from their original location to the current location.
I'm really surprised too! What is your background? Did you come from Windows? On Mac, cut and paste live in the Edit menu and have different keyboard shortcuts than on Windows. Or more likely...you could just be joshing us.
Yes I do come from Windows. Why is there no "cut" option when I right-click on a file? Can I add it manually?
curnalpanic
macrumors 6502a
I think it is a lot easier to learn the Mac way of thing than trying to shoehorn Windows behaviour in.
solq
Suspended
Apple expects you to copy and delete. Or use the command line in the terminal.
Yes unfortunately Finder is very clunky and awkward compared to Explorer. I personally find it terrible. But that's part of the price you pay for having a Unix-based OS.
If you want to move a file/folder, drag and drop it into another Finder window. If you want to do a copy, hold down the Option key while dragging. Utilising multiple windows is the Mac way of doing things.
BrianBaughn
macrumors G4
"Cut" shows up in the right-click (contextual) menu when working with text.
The Finder can do what you want, also. See this:
The Finder can do what you want, also. See this:
bogdanw
macrumors G3
The "Mac way" is drag and drop 🙂
"You can drag and drop items to do things like move or copy files and folders, add an image to an email, or move text around in a document.
- Command key while dragging to another volume: Move the dragged item to the other volume, instead of copying it.
- Option key while dragging: Copy the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item.
- Option-Command while dragging: Make an alias of the dragged item. The pointer changes while you drag the item."
"You can drag and drop items to do things like move or copy files and folders, add an image to an email, or move text around in a document.
- On your Mac, select an item you want to drag—such as an image or block of text.
- Press and hold the trackpad or mouse while you drag the item to a new location.
To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold the Option key while you drag. - Release the trackpad or mouse to drop the item in the new location."
If you are moving a file it is just simpler to drag it to the new folder using the command key if it is on a different volume.
It is likely a protection feature so you have to do a copy, then a delete. Cuts can sometimes result in lost content.
I think the issue that Apple couldn’t figure how to gracefully handle was, “What should happen when a user cuts a file?” Should it disappear immediately? That could lead to problems and data loss if the user doesn’t subsequently paste. But if the selected file doesn’t disappear immediately upon cutting, that breaks the graphic metaphor. So they chose not to implement “cut” for file manipulation.
Everything was designed to protect data as much as possible. On DOS machines, users could close documents without saving, and lose all of their edits. Regular saving had to be learned. Mac was the first computer to prompt for saving after making changes to files.
Everything was designed to protect data as much as possible. On DOS machines, users could close documents without saving, and lose all of their edits. Regular saving had to be learned. Mac was the first computer to prompt for saving after making changes to files.
Last edited:
Cutting and Pasting doesn't make any sense when dealing with files, why would you Cut a file out of a folder?
Copying a file to another destination or Moving it is far more logical.
Copying a file to another destination or Moving it is far more logical.
Nothing to do with the Unix heritage of macOS. Finder and the Aqua interface in general are a layer well above the kernel.
Pakaku
macrumors 68040
I guess you want to cut and paste a file somewhere? Keyboard shortcuts are faster, but if you want to do it from the right-click menu, you could copy the file, right-click where you want to put it, and hold option/alt to change "paste item" to "move item here" and click that.
solq
Suspended
I didn’t say it had something to do with it, I said putting up with Finder is the price to pay.
Let me give you an unrelated, hypothetical example: “Q: Why doesn’t the Porsche Boxster have auto-sensing wipers? A: Well Porsche doesn’t want you to have this feature. It’s the price you pay for wanting a mid-engined car”.
Last edited by a moderator:
That's a matter of opinion. I certainly don't see it that way and am very glad that it doesn't exist.
solq
Suspended
No, it’s a matter of fact.
Liking this feature or finding it useful is a matter of opinion. It’s existence or lack thereof is not.
bogdanw
macrumors G3
To answer to original question, there is a third-party app that offers Cut&Paste:
XtraFinder https://www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/ It says “Unlimited Trial”
Other way https://wzije.wordpress.com/2019/03...e-servicesin-finder-macsos-use-automator-app/
Edit: response regarding the right-click question
XtraFinder https://www.trankynam.com/xtrafinder/ It says “Unlimited Trial”
Other way https://wzije.wordpress.com/2019/03...e-servicesin-finder-macsos-use-automator-app/
Edit: response regarding the right-click question
Last edited:
you don't need an app, as it's still exactly just two commands, just used slightly differently.
the process has been described before, but anyways:
Windows: ctrl+x -> ctrl+v
=
Mac: cmd+c -> option+cmd+v
this is of course for Finder only, as cmd+x -> cmd+v is working just like in Windows inside most apps, when it comes to text, images, spreadsheets, etc.
the process has been described before, but anyways:
Windows: ctrl+x -> ctrl+v
=
Mac: cmd+c -> option+cmd+v
this is of course for Finder only, as cmd+x -> cmd+v is working just like in Windows inside most apps, when it comes to text, images, spreadsheets, etc.
Yes. command+x only works inside apps. It doesn't work for files on my Macbook.
And I'd like to right click on a file and have an order sent to Instacart. It's a fact that it doesn't exist. I could say that it is a missing feature, but it clearly isn't. Same for cut. "missing feature" implies that it is expected to be there, but that is just your expectation (opinion) that it should be there.
yeknommonkey
macrumors member
This thread wouldnt exisit if it wasn't expected. it is present in the worlds most popular and widely used operating system, so that alone suggests people might expect it. Also in finder when selecting a file the option to 'Cut' is right there in the edit menu, but greyed out precisly because they know it's expected and don't want to allow it. Otherwise it would just not be present at all in the same way there is no greyed out option to 'send order to instacart' etc. There is no sensible reason not to include it, (or at least allowing it with a checkbox like TotalFinder does) when cutting a file in windows nothing happens to it until you choose to paste it somewhere else. it doesnt just dissapear if you forget to complete your task or if you subsequently perform some other action like copy another file, that overides it and becomes the item that will be pasted.