Chromebooks are becoming popular due to the lightweight operating system they have installed on them and the fact that you can run all your Android apps without too much trouble. The people who use the laptop have been divided into those who use it for rather minor tasks such as watching movies, playing games, e-mailing and reading / writing, and others who perform heavy professional tasks. While a Windows laptop is recommended for heavy tasks, a Chromebook is the best option for light tasks until Windows Core OS laptops arrive.
But since most of us are used to using a Windows laptop, it can be quite difficult to use your Chromebook with its own set of commands and functions.
Here are a few steps on how to copy and paste on a Chromebook.
Steps on how to copy and paste on a Chromebook
How to copy and paste on a Chromebook using traditional methods.
The basic copy, paste, and cut commands for a Chromebook are the same as those for a Windows laptop
To copy text, files, and folders on your Chromebook, press the CTRL and C keys on your keyboard. Right-clicking when you select text or a file also works on your Chromebook.
Shortcut Keys: CTRL + C
To paste any text, file, and folder that has been copied, you’ll need to press the CTRL and V keys on your Chromebook’s keyboard. You can also use the context menu by right-clicking where you want to move the copied items.
Shortcut Keys: CTRL + V
The Chromebook allows users to paste text only without preserving the original formatting, which is not found on a Windows laptop. This is a handy feature that can be achieved on a Windows laptop by copying the original text and then pasting it into Notepad, where it loses all its formatting. And then copy it back to where you intended to copy it. This long process can be shortened by pressing three keys on your Chromebook simultaneously – CTRL and Shift and V.
Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + V
The last method is to cut files, i.e. delete them rather than copy and paste elsewhere. The paste command always remains the same whether you want to copy or cut. The Cut command can be accessed by pressing the CTRL and X keys on the keyboard along with the right-click context menu.
Shortcut: Ctrl + X
How to copy and paste on a Chromebook after taking a screenshot
If you want to copy and paste an image into a text document or insert an image in a photo editor, the Chromebook provides a special option for its users. When you take a screenshot on a Chromebook, a “Copy to Clipboard” option will appear in the small notification window that appears with the image thumbnail. Click on this option and you can insert the image anywhere, including the compose box of Gmail or any other supported Android app. The image is copied when you click on the option and you need to press CTRL & V to paste it.
Shortcut: Ctrl + V
How to copy and paste on a Chromebook using the Linux terminal.
Another way to copy and paste on a Chromebook is to use the Linux terminal. If you’ve started using a Chromebook, you probably know what a Linux terminal is and how to use it. If the keyboard shortcut does not work in your Terminal, select the command with the mouse or touchpad. Nevertheless, here are the steps on how to copy and paste on a Chromebook using the Linux Terminal.
To copy, the command is: CTRL + Shift + C
To paste the command is: CTRL + Shift + V
To cut, the command is: CTRL + Shift + X
Note: Don’t use CTRL + C as this is a cancel command and not a copy command in the Linux terminal.
How to copy and paste on a Chromebook with clipboard managers.
As mentioned, the earlier Chromebook offers features not available on a Windows laptop and is gaining ground as a result. Another example of a unique feature is the availability of Chrome OS extensions that record everything you’ve copied and allow the user to choose what to paste, when and where. You can take advantage of this feature by installing any of the following extensions:
Clipboard History Pro
Clipboard History Pro is one of the best Chromebook copy and paste resources. It allows users to copy and paste whatever they want by selecting from the list of options displayed in the context menu that appears when right-clicking. I have personally used it on my Chromebook and can say no problems and it works fine on Chrome OS. The only feature I didn’t like is that I had to pay for the premium version which has a few extra widgets.
Image Source: Google
Clipboard manager
The clipboard manager is another app that is an important mention of the copy and paste steps on a Chromebook. It only supports copying and pasting text instead of files and folders. The clipboard manager is a tiny app, not an extension, so you can pin it to a shelf and use keyboard shortcuts to copy, select, and paste any text you want.
Image Source: Google
Chromebook’s Quick and Easy Steps to Copy and Paste: Which One Do You Like?
Now you know how to copy and paste on a Chromebook in more than one method. The Chromebook offers special features such as copying and pasting after taking a screenshot, pasting text without preserving the original formatting, and using clipboard managers to select from a list of copied items. Whether you use traditional methods, terminal managers or Linux clipboards is up to you, but I suggest using clipboard managers to be one of the best experiences I have had.
If you run into any problem or don’t know how to get a task done on your new Chromebook, feel free to send us a message in the comments section below and we’ll be happy to help.
