Here is a recurring problem that you may have already encountered while using your Mac. I’m referring to Mac’s malfunctioning copy-and-paste feature. If you haven’t experienced this yet, great.
However, if it happened and you’re not sure what to do, read on for a quick lesson on how to resolve the issue of being unable to copy and paste text or other items on your Mac.
How to Copy and Paste on Mac: A Review
You can copy text or other items by using the Command + C keys, in case you haven’t used it in a very long time and have forgotten how to do it. Then, all you have to do is hit Command + Vkeys to paste it elsewhere on your Mac, perhaps in another app. Just that easy.
By pressing Command + X, you can use the cut command as an alternative to the copy command.
You can always copy and paste the long way if you don’t like Mac shortcut keys. To copy something, simply select it or highlight it, then right-click to display the context menu. Right-click again where you wish to paste the text or item and choose Paste after selecting Copy.
The Mac menu bar also allows you to copy and paste. Choose a text or file, then choose Edit from the menu bar, followed by Cut, Copy, Paste, or Paste and Match Style.
Some apps might let you choose “Paste Special” in its place.
How to Fix When Copy and Paste Is Not Working on Mac
No matter how good a Mac is, the copy-and-paste capability could eventually break down.
It’s fortunate that there are certain troubleshooting procedures you can use to address this issue if it arises for you.
Force Close the Pboard Server
Using any app, copy and paste on your Mac suddenly stopped working. If this happened, there may be a problem with the Pboard (or Pasteboard) server.
The copy and paste capability is executed by the Pboard server, a background Mac process, which is essential. By acting as a temporary storage location for copied data going from the source to the destination, the Pasteboard functions as the macOS clipboard daemon.
Your Mac won’t be able to use the copy-and-paste feature if there is a problem with the Pboard server.
You must shut down the Pboard server forcibly in order to correct that, either through Activity Monitor or Terminal.
How to Force Close Pboard Server via Activity Monitor?
One minute is required.
Use Activity Monitor on your Mac to force-quit the Pboard Server process by following the procedures listed below.
- Open the Finder app, then click Applications > Utilities.
- Double-click Activity Monitor.
- Click the search icon in the top-right corner.
- Type pboard in the search bar.
- Double-click pboard in the Activity Monitor window.
- Click Quit > Force Quit.
How to Force Close Pboard Via Terminal Command?
- Open the Finder app, then click Applications.
- Double-click Terminal.
- Type sudo killall board, then press Return.
- Enter your Mac admin password, then press Return.
Close Terminal now, then see if copy and paste functions well.
Force Close WindowServer
WindowServer is another background process that could prevent copy and paste from functioning on your Mac. You may force close this process, much like Pboard.
But first, I advise you to close any open programs and save any incomplete work to your Mac. This is due to the possibility of losing all unsaved data on your Mac if you force WindowServer to close.
- Open the Finder app, then click Applications.
- Click Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Click the search icon in the top-right corner of your Mac s screen.
- Enter WindowServer, then double-click on it.
- Click Quit > Force Quit.
- Enter your Admin password, then press Return.
Final Words: Other Ways of Fixing the Copy-Paste Not Working Issue on Mac
There are additional ways to resolve the issue with copying and pasting on your Mac in addition to the troubleshooting techniques indicated above.
For instance, you might try forcing the app to close and then relaunching it if the copy-and-paste capability is not working while using it. This might resolve the copy-and-paste problem with that specific program.
You can also restart your Mac to check whether doing so resolves the Pboard server issue and enables you to once more use copy and paste.
You can isolate the issue and figure out what is causing your Mac’s copy-and-paste feature to stop working by restarting in Safe Mode, which may also fix the problem.