How to copy on one Mac and paste on another

Screenshots Published 4 November 2026

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To copy on one Mac and paste on another, use Universal Clipboard. Sign in with the same Apple Account on both, turn on WiFi, Bluetooth and Handoff, keep the devices near each other, copy on one and paste on the other as you normally would. Apple’s support article is the source, checked on 4 November 2026.

Steps

On both Macs, sign in with the same Apple Account.
Turn on WiFi and Bluetooth on both.
Check that Handoff is on. Apple says it is on by default. On macOS Ventura 13 or later, open Apple menu, System Settings, General, then AirDrop & Handoff (Apple’s page also calls it AirDrop & Continuity) and look for “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices”. On earlier macOS versions the setting is in System Preferences, General.
Put the Macs near each other.
Copy on the first Mac: select the text or item and press Command-C.
On the second Mac, press Command-V where you want it.

Apple says this works across Macs, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro that meet the requirements. The same steps cover copying from a Mac to an iPhone.

How long the copy lasts

Apple says the content “remains there briefly, or until you replace it by copying something else on either device”. Paste soon after you copy. If you copy something else on either device first, the earlier item is replaced.

What Apple does not say

Apple’s article does not list which kinds of content are supported, a size limit, or the minimum macOS versions. It says older devices must meet the Handoff system requirements and links to them. For a big file, a folder or something you need to keep, send it in another way instead of relying on the clipboard. AirDrop is built for that.

When it does not work

Go through the requirements and then the troubleshooting steps. Apple’s advice is to install updates, restart both devices and recheck setup and distance.

The shortcut keys

If you are new to the Mac, the copy and paste keys are in Mac copy and paste keyboard shortcuts.

NotchStar’s Clipboard keeps the 50 most recent copies in memory, so you can click an earlier one to copy it again. That list is per Mac and is not synced to another one, so use Universal Clipboard for crossing devices.

Quick answers.

Do both Macs need to be near each other?

Yes. Apple lists nearby devices, the same Apple Account, Bluetooth, WiFi and Handoff as requirements.

Link to this answer

Keep reading.

Clipboard history that lives in your notch: Searchable clipboard history in the Mac notch: text, links, images and files. Skips password manager copies. Click any item to copy it again.
What Universal Clipboard needs: WiFi, Bluetooth and Handoff: Universal Clipboard needs nearby devices, one Apple Account, WiFi and Bluetooth on, and Handoff on. What Apple does and does not say.
Universal Clipboard not working on a Mac: what to check: If copy and paste between Apple devices fails, check the Apple Account, WiFi, Bluetooth, Handoff and distance, then update and restart both devices.
Mac copy and paste keyboard shortcuts: Command and C copies, Command and X cuts, Command and V pastes. Apple's list also covers paste and match style, copy style and moving files in Finder.

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