Why did Cmd+C stop working only in one app?

That app likely reassigned the shortcut or captures it for another function. Open the app's Edit menu to see the shortcut listed next to Copy, and check System Settings > Keyboard > App Shortcuts for an override.

Is running killall pboard safe?

Yes. pboard is the macOS clipboard server and it relaunches automatically the moment it's killed. You only lose the single item currently on the system clipboard.

Could a hardware keyboard issue cause this?

Yes. A stuck or dirty Command key, or a second keyboard sending a held modifier, can block shortcuts. Test the built-in keyboard alone with all external keyboards unplugged.

Can I avoid losing copied text when shortcuts glitch?

A clipboard manager like ClipHistory keeps your last 150 clips, so a missed or duplicated copy doesn't erase what you had. You can recall earlier items from a single panel.

Copy/Paste Shortcut Not Working on MacBook Pro: Fixes

When Cmd+C and Cmd+V suddenly stop working on a MacBook Pro, it almost always traces back to one of a handful of concrete causes. Here is how to find yours and fix it, ordered from most to least common.

First, confirm it's the shortcut and not the clipboard

Before you blame the keys, test the menu path. Select some text, then use Edit > Copy from the menu bar, switch to another field, and choose Edit > Paste. If the menu works but the keyboard doesn't, the problem is your keys or a shortcut conflict. If even the menu fails, the issue is the app or the clipboard itself.

Cause 1: A stuck or remapped modifier key

The most frequent culprit is the Cmd key being physically stuck, dirty, or held down by a stuck key event.

Open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys and confirm Command is still mapped to Command and hasn't been swapped (a common accident after pairing an external Windows keyboard).
Press and release each modifier (Cmd, Option, Control, Shift) firmly a few times to clear any stuck state.
If you have an external keyboard connected, unplug it and test the built-in keyboard alone. A second keyboard sending a held modifier can silently block shortcuts.

Cause 2: The app has its own conflicting shortcut

Some apps reassign Cmd+C/Cmd+V or capture them for a different function (terminals, code editors, remote-desktop windows).

Check System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts for a custom entry that overrides copy or paste.
In the misbehaving app, open its menu and look at what shortcut is listed next to Copy and Paste. If it shows something other than Cmd+C, that's your answer.

Cause 3: Focus is in the wrong place

Paste only works where the cursor is active. If you clicked a button or a non-editable panel right before pressing Cmd+V, nothing happens. Click directly into the text field first, watch for the blinking insertion point, then paste.

Cause 4: A clipboard process hiccup

macOS routes copy/paste through a background process called pboard. When it stalls, copying appears to do nothing. Restarting it is safe:

Open Terminal.
Run killall pboard.
The process relaunches automatically; try copying again.

If pboard keeps failing, log out and back in, or restart the Mac.

Cause 5: Accessibility or third-party tools intercepting input

Text-expansion utilities, macro tools, and remapping apps (Karabiner, BetterTouchTool, and similar) sit between your keys and the system. A bad rule can swallow Cmd+C. Quit those tools one at a time and retest to isolate the offender.

A faster, more reliable copy/paste workflow

Once shortcuts work again, the deeper frustration is usually this: the standard clipboard holds exactly one item. Copy something new and the previous thing is gone. That's why an "accidental" overwrite feels so painful.

A clipboard manager removes that single-slot limit. ClipHistory keeps your last 150 unpinned clips plus unlimited pinned ones, all reachable from a single panel via Cmd+Shift+V. So even if a shortcut glitches and you re-copy, the earlier content is still there to recover. Everything stays local on your Mac—no cloud, no account.

Quick checklist

Test Copy/Paste from the Edit menu to isolate keyboard vs. clipboard.
Verify Modifier Keys mapping and unplug external keyboards.
Check for App Shortcuts overrides.
Click into the field so focus is correct before pasting.
Run killall pboard if the clipboard itself is stuck.
Disable remapping/expansion utilities to rule out interception.

Work through these in order and you'll resolve the vast majority of copy/paste failures without a full reinstall.

Ready to stop losing what you copy? Get ClipHistory for macOS for a one-time $19.99 (12-month license, no auto-renewal). Signed and notarized by Apple, universal binary, everything stays local.