Control C, V and X just work
Press Control C to copy, Control V to paste and Control X to cut. Recento turns each press into the Mac equivalent the moment you press it, in any app.
Copy Paste · Part of Recento Pro
Ctrl C and Ctrl V on Mac, the way Windows does it
Control C copies, Control V pastes and Control X cuts, in every app. Your Command shortcuts keep working, and terminals keep their own Control keys.
macOS 14 or later · Apple Silicon & Intel
If you use a Windows PC at work and a Mac at home, or you have just switched, your fingers reach for Control C and Control V before you think. On a Mac those keys do nothing, or something else entirely. The usual fix in System Settings swaps Control and Command for every shortcut, which moves Command Tab, Command Q and Command Space along with it.
Copy Paste lets you use Ctrl C and Ctrl V on Mac for copy and paste, and nothing more than you choose. Only the editing keys change, only in the apps where it makes sense, with no driver to install and no restart. It is a tool inside Recento Utilities in Recento Pro, and it is free.
What Copy Paste does
Command keys stay exactly as they are
Nothing is swapped. Command C, Command Tab, Command Q and every other Mac shortcut keep doing what they did, so you can use either habit.
Add the other Windows habits if you have them
Turn on Control A for Select All, Control S for Save, Control F for Find, and Control Z for Undo. Both Control Y and Control Shift Z redo, so either Windows habit works. Only copy, paste and cut are on to start with.
Terminals keep Control C for stopping commands
In a terminal, Control C stops the running command, and losing that would be a real problem. Terminal and the other common terminal apps are left alone by default, along with virtual machines and remote desktops, where Windows already reads Control the Windows way.
Choose which apps are left alone
The list of apps left untouched is yours to edit. The last app you used is offered as one click, so you never have to go looking for it in the Applications folder.
Works with any keyboard layout
Copy Paste follows the physical key, so it behaves on a non-US layout the same way your Command shortcuts already do.
Other shortcuts are not touched
Only Control on its own is changed. A shortcut that also uses Command or Option belongs to another app, so it passes straight through.
Free, every feature
Copy Paste has no paid tier. Every key and setting is in the free version.
How it works
- 1Open Recento Pro, then Recento Utilities, and choose Copy Paste in the sidebar.
- 2Turn Copy Paste on. It starts off, because it changes what keys do across your Mac.
- 3Allow Accessibility access when macOS asks.
- 4Choose which keys to use: copy, paste and cut are on. Add Select All, Undo and Redo, Save and Find if you want them.
- 5Check the list of apps left alone, and add any of your own.
Who it's for
- People switching from Windows: keep your muscle memory while you learn the Mac.
- People who use both: stop fighting your fingers when you move between a work PC and a home Mac.
- Developers: use Control C and Control V in editors without losing Control C in the terminal.
- Families and shared Macs: help someone used to Windows feel at home without changing every shortcut.
Free and paid
| Feature | Free version | Recento Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Windows-style ⌃C, ⌃V & ⌃X | Included | Included |
Copy Paste is free in full. Recento Pro, at $9.99 a month or $99 once for a lifetime licence, unlocks the paid features in other modules.
Plans, trial and refund terms are on the Recento Pro pricing section.
Privacy and permissions
- Accessibility: required. macOS only lets an app change the keys you press with this permission. Recento asks for it when you turn Copy Paste on, not before.
- Recento changes a keystroke at the moment you press it and does not record, store or send what you type.
- Your key choices and the list of apps left alone are stored on your Mac.
Requirements
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
- Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
- Accessibility permission.
- Part of Recento Utilities in Recento Pro.
Questions
How do I copy and paste with Ctrl on a Mac?
Install Recento Pro, open Recento Utilities, choose Copy Paste and turn it on. Allow Accessibility access when macOS asks. From then on, Control C copies and Control V pastes in any app.
Does it swap Control and Command for everything?
No. Only the editing keys you choose change. Command C, Command Tab, Command Q and every other Mac shortcut keep working as before.
Will Control C still stop a command in the terminal?
Yes. Terminal and the other common terminal apps are left alone by default, so Control C there still interrupts the running command. You can edit that list.
Why does Copy Paste need Accessibility permission?
macOS only lets an app change the keys you press with Accessibility access. Without it, Copy Paste cannot work, and the page tells you so.
Can I use Control Z and Control Y too?
Yes. Turn on Undo and Redo: Control Z undoes, and both Control Y and Control Shift Z redo. Select All, Save and Find are optional too.
Does it work with a non-US keyboard?
Yes. It follows the physical key, the same way your Command shortcuts do on that layout.
Do I need to restart my Mac or install a driver?
No. There is no driver and no restart. Turn it on and it works. Turn it off and your keys go straight back to normal.
Is Copy Paste free?
Yes, every feature is included in the free version of Recento Pro.
Copy and paste the way your fingers expect
Use Control C and Control V on your Mac, free.
