How to copy a file instead of moving it on a Mac

Hold ⌥ Option while you drag the file. A green + on the pointer means Finder will copy it and leave the original where it is.

Option-drag

1. Start dragging the file to the folder where you want the copy.
2. Hold ⌥ before you let go. A green + appears on the pointer.
3. Drop it. The original stays put and a copy lands in the new folder.

Dragging to another disk, such as a USB drive, copies by default, without any key.

Copy and paste

1. Select the file in Finder and press ⌘C.
2. Open the other folder and press ⌘V.

Duplicate in the same folder

1. Select the file and press ⌘D. Finder adds a copy with "copy" in its name.

With dragand

Drop a file on dragand's Hold zone and it keeps a copy for 24 hours, leaving the original where it was. Useful when you need the copy only for an upload or an email; it clears itself afterwards.

How Hold works

Related guides

• How to move a file instead of copying it on a Mac
• How to move files between apps on a Mac
• How to undo moving a file in Finder