With every new Windows iteration, a plethora of new features are introduced and some of the old ones are either modified or done away with altogether. It’s pretty much the same with Windows 11. The first change you must have noticed was probably the centered ‘Taskbar’, a cool introduction indeed.

But, there are many changes that might put you in a pickle. For instance, the context menu. It has been revamped altogether with just a few relevant options left. So, how do you cut, copy or paste a file/folder in Windows 11?

Although you wouldn’t find these options listed where they used to be in the previous iterations, they are still present in the form of icons in the context menu. Also, the keyboard shortcuts for cut, copy, and paste, still work like a charm.

We have used two sub-headings, one to cut or copy a file/folder and the second to paste it.

Cut or Copy a File or Folder in Windows 11

Let’s see all the ways you can cut or copy a file/folder in Windows 11.

Using Cut or Copy Icons in Context Menu

To cut or copy a file in Windows 11, right-click on it and select the desired icon at the top or bottom of the context menu. The ‘Cut’ icon resembles a scissor while the ‘Copy’ icon resembles two overlapping pages. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + X to ‘Cut’ a file and CTRL + C to ‘Copy’ it.

Using Cut or Copy Icons in File Explorer Command Bar

When you launch File Explorer, you will notice a new toolbar, referred to as the ‘Command Bar’ in Windows 11. It’s been uncluttered, but most of the relevant options have been retained. Also, it takes up a lot less space compared to the toolbar in the previous versions.

To cut or copy a file, select it, and then click on the desired icon in the Command Bar at the top.

Using the Legacy Context Menu

When you right-click on a file to launch the context menu, you wouldn’t find most of the options that were available in the earlier versions. This is another major change in Windows 11. But, you can still access the legacy context menu, either through the modern one or using the keyboard shortcut. Both methods have been discussed below.

To cut or copy a file, right-click on it, and select ‘Show more options’ in the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the file and press SHIFT + F10 to launch the legacy context menu.

The legacy context menu that we have been using for all these years, now appears on the screen. Select the ‘Cut’ or ‘Copy’ option, as desired.

That’s all there’s to cut or copy a file/folder on Windows 11.

Paste a File or Folder in Windows 11

Now that you have cut or copied a file, it’s time you paste it to the desired location. Here are all the ways you can paste a file in Windows 11.

Using the Paste Icon in Context Menu

To paste a file, navigate to the desired location, right-click on the free space and select the ‘Paste’ icon at the top or bottom of the context menu. The paste icon resembles a small sheet of paper over a clipboard. Alternatively, you can use the CTRL + V keyboard shortcut to paste a file.

Using the Paste Icons in File Explorer Command Bar

To paste a file using the icons in the Command Bar, navigate to the desired folder where you want to paste the file, and then select the ‘Paste’ icon at the top.

Using the Legacy Context Menu

Again, you can use the legacy context menu to paste a file/folder, as you did while copying it.

To paste a file, navigate to the desired location on the system, right-click on the free space to launch the context menu, and then select ‘Show more options’. Alternatively, you can press SHIFT + F10 to directly launch the legacy context menu.

Next, click on the ‘Paste’ option in the legacy context menu.

That’s all there’s to pasting a file/folder on Windows 11.

These are all the ways you can cut, copy, or paste a file/folder on Windows 11. The introduction of icons for each in the context menu definitely enhances clarity and makes the task a lot quicker.