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1. [Home](https://iboysoft.com/) 2. [News Tips](https://iboysoft.com/tips/) # How to Copy a File/Directory in macOS Terminal with the cp command? Updated on Thursday, April 2, 2026  Written by [Jenny Zeng](https://iboysoft.com/author/jenny.html)  Approved by [Jessica Shee](https://iboysoft.com/author/jessica.html) *English* [*Français*](https://iboysoft.com/fr/nouvelles/copier-fichier-macos-terminal.html) [*Deutsch*](https://iboysoft.com/de/nachricht/datei-kopieren-macos-terminal.html) [*やまと*](https://iboysoft.com/jp/news/copy-file-macos-terminal.html) [*Español*](https://iboysoft.com/es/noticias/copiar-archivo-macos-terminal.html) [*Português*](https://iboysoft.com/pt/noticias/copiar-arquivo-macos-terminal.html) Table of contents - [1\. How to copy a file or directory on Mac through Terminal?](https://iboysoft.com/tips/copy-file-macos-terminal.html#how-to-copy-a-file-or-directory-on-mac-through-terminal?) - [2\. How to copy multiple files from one directory to another in Terminal?](https://iboysoft.com/tips/copy-file-macos-terminal.html#how-to-copy-multiple-files-from-one-directory-to-another-in-terminal?) - [3\. How to copy hidden files in Mac Terminal?](https://iboysoft.com/tips/copy-file-macos-terminal.html#how-to-copy-hidden-files-in-mac-terminal?) - [4\. macOS script to copy files on Mac with the cp command](https://iboysoft.com/tips/copy-file-macos-terminal.html#macos-script-to-copy-files-on-mac-with-the-cp-command) While it's easy to copy a file or directory in Finder, executing the cp command in [Terminal](https://iboysoft.com/wiki/mac-terminal.html) allows you to copy files faster, bash copy all files in a directory and subdirectories without opening windows in Finder, and interact with hidden files. This article will teach you **how to copy files or directories in macOS Terminal** with the cp command. **cp command**: Shortened for "copy," the cp command on Mac is used to copy files and directories locally. If you want to learn all the usages of the cp command, run "man cp" in Terminal. In the following sections, we'll discuss its common usage. ### How to quickly get the path to the file or folder you want to copy? The easiest way to get the file path on Mac is by dragging and dropping the file or folder into the Terminal window. For instance, if you want to get the file path of the Documents folder, simply drag and drop it into the Terminal window.  ## How to copy a file or directory on Mac through Terminal? Note: Make sure you enter the correct command with the needed empty spaces, as each part of the command is separated by a space. Otherwise, the command won't work. When copying a file or directory locally on Mac: To copy a single file in Terminal: cp file\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a file named test.png from the desktop to the Documents folder: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test.png /Users/jenny/Documents  To copy and rename a file on Mac with Terminal: cp file\_path renamed\_file\_path To copy and rename test.png to test-copy.png: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test.png /Users/jenny/Desktop/test-copy.png.  To copy a folder and its contents in Terminal: cp -R folder\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a folder named test and its directories and sub-directories in macOS Terminal to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test /Users/jenny/Documents  Note: The R flag tells the cp command to copy everything inside the designated folder. ## How to copy multiple files from one directory to another in Terminal? To copy contents of one directory to another in Terminal rather than the directory itself: cp -R source\_directory/ destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy files in the test folder on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/ /Users/jenny/Documents (Notice the forward slash (/) used at the end of the source directory? This is the key to copying only contents, not the directory.)  To copy a specific file type to another directory in Terminal: cp \*.file\_type destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy all txt files to your desktop: cp \*.txt /Users/jenny/Desktop/ To copy selected files to another directory in Terminal: cp file\_path1 file\_path2 destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy 2 files from the test folder on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/picture1.png /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/picture2.png /Users/jenny/Documents  To bash copy all files in directories and subdirectories: cp -R folder\_path1 folder\_path2 destination\_directory\_path E.g., To bash copy all files in the test1 and test2 folders on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test1 /Users/jenny/Desktop/test2 /Users/jenny/Documents  Tips: The Mac Terminal commands used above can also be used to copy files to an external hard drive on Mac. Share this post to help others copy files in macOS Terminal\! ## How to copy hidden files in Mac Terminal? To copy a specific hidden file: cp hidden\_file\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a hidden file named .config to the backup folder on your desktop: cp /Users/jenny/.config /Users/jenny/Desktop/backup/ To copy all files including hidden ones, from one directory to another: cp -R source\_directory\_path/{.\*,\*} destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy all files, including hidden items from the test folder to the backup folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/{.\*,\*} /Users/jenny/Desktop/backup/ ## macOS script to copy files on Mac with the cp command If you're looking to create a script on macOS to copy files using the cp command, take the following steps: 1. Open Terminal. 2. Create a script with a text editor like Nano. (for instance, copy\_files.sh)nano copy\_files.sh 3. Copy and paste the following script into the file. (Ensure you replace the source\_directory\_path and destination\_directory\_path.)  4. Press Ctrl + o to write the changes, then press Enter, and then Ctrl + X to exit. 5. Give the script execution permissions.chmod +x copy\_files.sh 6. Now you can run the script../copy\_files.sh  If you find this post helpful, share it to benefit others who want to learn how to copy files or directories in Mac Terminal. Also Read: [How to Rename a File or Multiple Files in macOS Terminal?](https://iboysoft.com/tips/rename-file-macos-terminal.html)  [Jenny Zeng](https://iboysoft.com/author/jenny.html) Jenny is a technical writer at iBoysoft, specializing in computer-related knowledge such as macOS, Windows, hard drives, etc. She's also been producing top-notch articles for other famous technical magazines and websites.  [Jessica Shee](https://iboysoft.com/author/jessica.html) Jessica Shee is a senior tech editor at iBoysoft. Throughout her 4 years of experience, Jessica has written many informative and instructional articles in data recovery, data security, and disk management to help a lot of readers secure their important documents and take the best advantage of their devices. Policies [Refund Policy](https://iboysoft.com/refund-policy.html) [Privacy Policy](https://iboysoft.com/privacy-policy.html) [License Agreement](https://iboysoft.com/license-agreement.html) [Uninstall](https://iboysoft.com/uninstall.html) No. 308, 3/F, Unit 1, Building 6, No. 1700, Tianfu Avenue North, High-tech Zone Copyright© 2026 iBoysoft®. All Rights Reserved. [](https://www.dmca.com/Protection/Status.aspx?ID=9d966a8c-503f-40ae-b91a-6eadc7e7ad50 "DMCA.com Protection Status")

While it's easy to copy a file or directory in Finder, executing the cp command in [Terminal](https://iboysoft.com/wiki/mac-terminal.html) allows you to copy files faster, bash copy all files in a directory and subdirectories without opening windows in Finder, and interact with hidden files. This article will teach you **how to copy files or directories in macOS Terminal** with the cp command. **cp command**: Shortened for "copy," the cp command on Mac is used to copy files and directories locally. If you want to learn all the usages of the cp command, run "man cp" in Terminal. In the following sections, we'll discuss its common usage. ### How to quickly get the path to the file or folder you want to copy? The easiest way to get the file path on Mac is by dragging and dropping the file or folder into the Terminal window. For instance, if you want to get the file path of the Documents folder, simply drag and drop it into the Terminal window.  ## How to copy a file or directory on Mac through Terminal? Note: Make sure you enter the correct command with the needed empty spaces, as each part of the command is separated by a space. Otherwise, the command won't work. When copying a file or directory locally on Mac: To copy a single file in Terminal: cp file\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a file named test.png from the desktop to the Documents folder: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test.png /Users/jenny/Documents  To copy and rename a file on Mac with Terminal: cp file\_path renamed\_file\_path To copy and rename test.png to test-copy.png: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test.png /Users/jenny/Desktop/test-copy.png.  To copy a folder and its contents in Terminal: cp -R folder\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a folder named test and its directories and sub-directories in macOS Terminal to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test /Users/jenny/Documents  Note: The R flag tells the cp command to copy everything inside the designated folder. ## How to copy multiple files from one directory to another in Terminal? To copy contents of one directory to another in Terminal rather than the directory itself: cp -R source\_directory/ destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy files in the test folder on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/ /Users/jenny/Documents (Notice the forward slash (/) used at the end of the source directory? This is the key to copying only contents, not the directory.)  To copy a specific file type to another directory in Terminal: cp \*.file\_type destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy all txt files to your desktop: cp \*.txt /Users/jenny/Desktop/ To copy selected files to another directory in Terminal: cp file\_path1 file\_path2 destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy 2 files from the test folder on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/picture1.png /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/picture2.png /Users/jenny/Documents  To bash copy all files in directories and subdirectories: cp -R folder\_path1 folder\_path2 destination\_directory\_path E.g., To bash copy all files in the test1 and test2 folders on your desktop to the Documents folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test1 /Users/jenny/Desktop/test2 /Users/jenny/Documents  Tips: The Mac Terminal commands used above can also be used to copy files to an external hard drive on Mac. Share this post to help others copy files in macOS Terminal\! To copy a specific hidden file: cp hidden\_file\_path destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy a hidden file named .config to the backup folder on your desktop: cp /Users/jenny/.config /Users/jenny/Desktop/backup/ To copy all files including hidden ones, from one directory to another: cp -R source\_directory\_path/{.\*,\*} destination\_directory\_path E.g., To copy all files, including hidden items from the test folder to the backup folder: cp -R /Users/jenny/Desktop/test/{.\*,\*} /Users/jenny/Desktop/backup/ ## macOS script to copy files on Mac with the cp command If you're looking to create a script on macOS to copy files using the cp command, take the following steps: 1. Open Terminal. 2. Create a script with a text editor like Nano. (for instance, copy\_files.sh)nano copy\_files.sh 3. Copy and paste the following script into the file. (Ensure you replace the source\_directory\_path and destination\_directory\_path.)  4. Press Ctrl + o to write the changes, then press Enter, and then Ctrl + X to exit. 5. Give the script execution permissions.chmod +x copy\_files.sh 6. Now you can run the script../copy\_files.sh  If you find this post helpful, share it to benefit others who want to learn how to copy files or directories in Mac Terminal. Also Read: [How to Rename a File or Multiple Files in macOS Terminal?](https://iboysoft.com/tips/rename-file-macos-terminal.html)