How to Copy and Paste Without the Mouse

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Windows includes a variety of keyboard shortcuts.

Windows supports keyboard shortcuts for selecting text as well as copying and pasting it. If you're using a text editor, you can copy and paste text without removing your fingers from your keyboard. If you're trying to navigate your computer without a mouse, you can activate the Mouse Keys feature, a keyboard-controlled mouse cursor. The cursor functions like a normal mouse cursor except that it's controlled by the numeric keypad on your keyboard.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

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Step 1

Move the input cursor to the beginning or end of the portion of text you want to copy using the arrow keys.

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Step 2

Select the the text by pressing and holding the "Shift" keys, and then pressing the arrow keys.

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Step 3

Release the "Shift" key once you've selected the text.

Step 4

Press and hold "Ctrl" and then press "C" on your keyboard to copy the selected text.

Step 5

Move the input cursor to the place you want to paste the text using the arrow keys.

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Step 6

Press and hold "Ctrl" and then press "V" on your keyboard to paste the selected text.

Mouse Keys

Step 1

Turn on Mouse Keys by pressing and holding the "Alt" and "Shift" keys on the left side of your keyboard and the "Num Lock" key at the same time.

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Step 2

Activate the left mouse button by pressing the "/" key on your keyboard.

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Step 3

Move the cursor to the left or right side of the text you want to select by pressing the number keys on your keyboard's numeric keypad. For example, move it up by pressing the "8" button at the top of the numeric keypad or move it down by pressing the "2" button at the bottom.

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Step 4

Press the "0" key on your keypad to depress the left mouse button and then move the cursor to select the text.

Step 5

Release the left mouse button after you've selected the text by pressing the "." key on the keypad.

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Step 6

Copy the text by pressing and holding "Ctrl" and then pressing "C" on your keyboard.

Step 7

Move the cursor to where you want to paste the text and press the "5" key on the keypad to click in the text box.

Step 8

Paste the text by pressing and holding "Ctrl" and then pressing "V" on your keyboard.

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