Chromebooks are popular thanks to their affordability and ease of use. There are plenty of options to choose from, regardless of your budget, including somecheap Chromebooks. In addition, ChromeOS is a particularly light operating system, making it easy toinstall on an old PC or Mac, allowing you to revive an outdated computer into a snappy machine that lets you browse the internet using the built-in Chrome web browser.

Even though ChromeOS is a simple and light operating system, it can be used to accomplish various tasks, including completing administrative tasks, text editing, and more. To make things more seamless, Chromebooks offer features you’re used to on other computers, tablets, and smartphones, such as copying and pasting content. If you’re unfamiliar with the feature but want to learn how to use it, read on to get acquainted with ChromeOS' copying and pasting features.

Screenshot of a ChromeOS interface showing the clipboard from the contextual menu

How to copy and paste using your Chromebook’s keyboard

The most natural way to copy and paste text on a computer is to use your keyboard, and Chromebooks are no exception. Here’s how to easily copy and paste text on any laptop running ChromeOS:

If your Chromebook has a search key on its keyboard, you can use it to retrieve the last five elements you copied to your clipboard instead of pasting the last one. Follow the above steps, but when you’re about to paste, press theCtrl,V,andSearchkeys simultaneously on your keyboard to access the list of the five last items you copied. You can then click the item you’d like to paste into your document.

Screenshot of a ChromeOS interface showing the contextual menu with the option to copy text

How to copy and paste using your Chromebook’s trackpad

Another option to copy and paste text using a Chromebook is to use its built-in trackpad. Some people prefer this option, as they use the trackpad to highlight text and prefer to avoid switching to the keyboard to copy and paste it.

When pasting using your trackpad, you may also retrieve the last five elements you copied in your clipboard. To do so, follow the above steps, but when you’re about to paste, clickPaste from clipboard, as shown in the screenshot below.

Screenshot of a ChromeOS interface showing the contextual menu with the pasting options

How to copy and paste on a Chromebook using a mouse

Whether you use a Chromebook or installed ChromeOS on an old PC or Mac, you can easily use an external mouse to copy and paste text.

When pasting using your mouse, you can retrieve the last five elements you copied in your clipboard. To do so, follow the above steps, but when you’re about to paste, clickPaste from clipboard, as shown in the screenshot below.

Screenshot of a ChromeOS interface showing the clipboard from the contextual menu

Make the most out of your Chromebook

Now that you know everything about copying and pasting on a Chromebook,check out our list of tipsto learn more about the operating system and make the most out of your new Chromebook or out of ChromeOS Flex if you installed it on an old PC or Mac.

Screenshot of a ChromeOS interface showing the clipboard from the contextual menu