How To Fix Copy Paste Not Working on Ubuntu Putty

In this article, we will delve into the issue of copy-paste not working in PuTTY on Ubuntu and provide you with comprehensive solutions to fix this problem.

Introduction

PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator that supports a variety of network protocols such as SSH, Telnet, and rlogin. Although it’s primarily used on Windows, PuTTY can also be utilized on Ubuntu. However, users often encounter issues with the copy-paste functionality in PuTTY on Ubuntu, which can be quite frustrating.

Understanding the Issue

In most cases, the copy-paste issue arises due to the difference in keyboard shortcuts between Windows and Ubuntu. On Windows, the standard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are used for copying and pasting, respectively. However, in Ubuntu’s terminal (and by extension, PuTTY), these shortcuts serve different purposes.

Solution 1: Use Shift Key

The first solution to this problem is using the Shift key in combination with the standard copy-paste commands. Here’s how it works:

• To copy, use Ctrl+Shift+C
• To paste, use Ctrl+Shift+V

The Shift key is added to the usual Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V commands to override the terminal’s default behavior and enable copying and pasting.

Solution 2: Use Alternative Paste Methods

If the Shift key method doesn’t work, you can try alternative paste methods. Here’s how:

• Left-click and drag to select the text you want to copy. Once you release the mouse button, the text is copied.
• To paste, you can either press Enter or click the middle mouse button.

This method utilizes the mouse for both copying and pasting, bypassing the need for keyboard shortcuts.

Solution 3: Use SSH in the Terminal

Instead of using PuTTY, you can directly use the terminal to establish an SSH connection. Here’s how:

• Open the terminal
• Type ssh your_username@your_server to connect to the server

In this command, ssh is the client program. your_username is your username on the remote server, and your_server is the IP address or hostname of the server you want to connect to.

For example, if your username is “john” and you want to connect to a server with the IP address “192.168.1.1”, you would type ssh john@192.168.1.1.

This method eliminates the need for PuTTY in Ubuntu, as Ubuntu’s terminal already has built-in SSH capabilities. For more advanced SSH options, you can refer to the man pages.

Conclusion

While PuTTY is a useful tool, the copy-paste issue on Ubuntu can cause inconvenience. However, by using the Shift key with the standard copy-paste commands, employing alternative paste methods, or using SSH directly in the terminal, you can easily overcome this problem.

Remember, the key to mastering any software is understanding how it works and being aware of its quirks and features. With this knowledge in hand, you can make the most out of PuTTY on Ubuntu.