How do you copy and paste between computers?
To copy on one computer and paste on another, connect their clipboards with a sync app that supports both operating systems. For macOS and Windows, Cachy can sync copied content between devices signed in to the same account. Copy on your Mac with Command + C, let the item sync, then paste on Windows with Ctrl + V.
Think of a link you found on your MacBook but need on your work PC. The keyboard shortcuts only copy and paste on each computer; the sync app carries the content between them. Joining the same Wi-Fi network does not create a shared clipboard by itself.
The right method depends on what you want to move. A shared clipboard helps with the text, links, and screenshots you copy during the day. A shared folder or external drive makes more sense for a folder full of documents.
Mac to Windows, or Windows to Mac
Use a clipboard sync app with clients for both systems, such as Cachy.
Mac to Mac
Use Apple’s Universal Clipboard for nearby Macs signed in to the same Apple Account.
Windows PC to Windows PC
Use Windows clipboard sync for text, with the same supported account on both PCs.
Files and folders
Use network file sharing, a cloud folder you already use, or an external drive readable by both computers.
How to copy from macOS to Windows with Cachy
Cachy saves clipboard history and syncs it across signed-in devices. Start with a short piece of text so you can check the connection before trying an image or file.
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Install Cachy on both computers
Open the Cachy download page on your Mac and your Windows PC, install the appropriate version, and complete setup. The download page shows the available installers.
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Sign in to the same Cachy account
Use the same account on both computers. Keep Cachy running and both devices connected to the internet while you test.
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Check the clipboard settings
In Cachy Settings, find Sync. Make sure Sync Engine and Shared Clipboard are enabled on both devices.
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Copy on your Mac
Select a sentence or link and press Command + C. Allow the copied item to reach the other computer.
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Paste on your Windows PC
Click into Notepad, a document, or a message field and press Ctrl + V. To reuse an older item, open Cachy’s clipboard history and choose it there.
How to copy from Windows to Mac
The same setup works in reverse. With Cachy running and Shared Clipboard enabled on both computers, select the content on Windows and press Ctrl + C. After it syncs, click where you want it on your Mac and press Command + V.
For example, copy a reference number from a Windows app and paste it into a document on your Mac. You can also find the item in Cachy’s clipboard history if you have copied something else since then.
For a screenshot, copy the image itself and paste into an app that accepts images. Copying a filename or a path such as C:\Users\you\Pictures\example.png only copies text; that path does not give the Mac access to the picture.
Copy between two Macs with Universal Clipboard
If both computers are Macs, Apple’s Universal Clipboard may already cover what you need. It works with supported Apple devices that are near each other and signed in to the same Apple Account.
Enable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff on both Macs. Copy the content on the first Mac with Command + C, then paste on the second with Command + V. The copied content is available briefly, until it expires or another copy replaces it.
Universal Clipboard does not provide a Mac-to-Windows clipboard connection. For that pairing, use the Cachy setup above.
Copy between two Windows PCs with clipboard sync
Windows has a built-in option for syncing copied text between PCs. Sign in with the same Microsoft account or supported work account on both computers, then open Settings → System → Clipboard.
Enable Clipboard history and Clipboard history across your devices; some versions label the latter Sync across devices. Choose Automatically sync text that I copy, or use manual sync if you prefer to choose the items yourself.
Copy text on the first PC. On the second, press Windows + V and select the synced entry to paste it. A work or school device may have settings controlled by its administrator.
This Windows feature does not add clipboard sync to macOS. Use a compatible clipboard app on both computers when one is a Mac.
How to copy files from Mac to Windows
For a folder of PDFs, photos, or project files, use file sharing. macOS supports SMB, the network sharing protocol used by Windows. Both computers must be able to reach each other on the network.
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Turn on file sharing on the Mac
Open System Settings → General → Sharing. Open the details beside File Sharing, enable it, and choose the folder and access permissions you need.
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Enable Windows access
Under Options, enable “Share files and folders using SMB” and the Mac account you will use for Windows sharing. Enter that account’s password when prompted.
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Open the Mac from Windows
In File Explorer, open Network and select your Mac. Sign in with the Mac account enabled for sharing. If the Mac does not appear, enter its address in the address bar, for example \\192.168.1.20, using your Mac’s actual network address.
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Copy the files to a local folder
Open the shared folder, select the files, and copy them into a folder on your Windows PC. Open a copied file to check it before deleting any originals.
Copy files from Windows to Mac, or use a USB drive
To retrieve files from a Windows shared folder, enable file sharing for that folder on the PC. On your Mac, open Finder → Go → Connect to Server and enter smb://PC-address/share-name, replacing those parts with the PC’s network address and shared folder name. Sign in with an account allowed to access the folder, then copy the files onto your Mac.
For an offline transfer, use a USB drive or external SSD that both computers can read and write. ExFAT is a compatible format for macOS and Windows. Copy the files onto the drive, eject it, connect it to the other computer, and copy them into a local folder. Back up a drive before reformatting it: formatting erases its contents.
If you already use a cloud storage folder on both computers, you can put files there and wait for the upload to finish before downloading them on the other computer. This also works when the computers are on different networks.
Why is copy and paste between computers not working?
First, copy a short sentence and try pasting it locally, then on the second computer. If the local paste works, check the connection between the devices.
Check the account and sync settings
For Cachy, confirm the same account is signed in on both computers and that Sync Engine and Shared Clipboard are enabled. Keep both computers awake, online, and running Cachy during the test.
Find the item in clipboard history
A newer copy can replace the current clipboard. If your item appears in Cachy’s history on the receiving computer, choose it there and try pasting again.
Check the destination app
A text field cannot accept an image or file. Test text in a plain text editor, an image in an image-capable app, and a file in Finder or File Explorer.
Allow time for the transfer
An image or file has more data to move than a short link. Wait for it to arrive before copying another item, and check that both devices still have a connection.
Common questions about copying between computers
Can I copy on a Mac and paste on Windows?
Yes. With a clipboard sync app such as Cachy installed and configured on both devices, copy with Command + C on the Mac and paste with Ctrl + V on Windows after the item syncs.
Do both computers need to be on the same Wi-Fi?
Cachy Cloud sync can connect signed-in computers on different networks with internet access. SMB file sharing needs a reachable network connection between the computers. A USB drive works without a network.
Can I copy between computers without installing an app?
Two compatible Macs can use Universal Clipboard, and two Windows PCs can use Windows clipboard sync. For Mac-to-Windows transfers without an extra app, use a shared folder or external drive; these move files rather than continuously sharing your clipboard.
Does copying a file path transfer the file?
No. A path is an address on the original computer. To use the file on the other computer, transfer its contents through file sharing, storage, or a clipboard tool that supports file payloads.