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Keyboard shortcuts for fast pasting

The handful of shortcuts that turn copy-paste from a chore into muscle memory — including paste-by-number.

The core copy-paste shortcuts

Everything builds on the basics, so here they are in one place:

ShortcutAction
+ CCopy
+ VPaste
+ XCut
+ + + VPaste and match style (paste without formatting)

Maccy's shortcuts for speed

This is where you save real time:

ShortcutAction
+ + COpen Maccy's clipboard history
+ 1 + 9Paste the Nth most recent item
Type to filterSearch history as you type
ReturnPaste the highlighted item

Paste-by-number is the habit that changes everything: open Maccy, see your recents, and fire the one you want with + 2.

Paste without formatting

Pasting text that drags along fonts and colours is a daily annoyance. The system shortcut is + + + V (Paste and Match Style). Maccy can also be set to always paste as plain text, so you never think about it again.

Frequently asked questions

What's the Mac shortcut to paste without formatting?

Option-Shift-Command-V (Paste and Match Style). You can also set Maccy to paste as plain text by default.

How do I paste a previous item, not the last one?

With Maccy: open it with ⇧⌘C and pick the item, or paste recent items by number with ⌘1–⌘9.

Can I change Maccy's shortcut?

Yes — set any popup hotkey in Maccy's preferences if ⇧⌘C clashes with another app.

Is there a Windows-style Win+V on Mac?

On macOS Tahoe, ⌘-Space then ⌘-4 opens Spotlight's clipboard history. A dedicated app like Maccy gives a faster single shortcut.