copy

Syntax

UPPERCASE words are placeholders to replace. Brackets in the syntax line describe optional arguments; do not type those brackets literally.

copy [/-y] SOURCE DESTINATION

Example

copy /-y note.txt note-copy.txt

Expected result

Copies the file and asks before overwriting an existing destination.

Notes and traps

COPY is not a backup system; use tools designed for directory trees when appropriate.

Related commands

• PowerShell: Copy-Item
• Bash: cp

Related tasks may need different flags and have different semantics. Check the entry before translating a command between shells.

Updated 13 September 2026. Examples describe the expected behavior; not every platform is available for execution testing.