Windows
Linux
File Management
Copy/Move
Windows copy /y equivalent in Linux
Copies while forcing overwrite of the target.
Windows
→
copy /y
Linux equivalents
cp -f source destination
cp -f source destination
cp -f source destination
Overview
What this command does
Copies while forcing overwrite of the target.
Migration tip: Check the distro-specific rows before copying; package names and service names can differ even when the tool name is similar.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
Copy and overwrite
Copies while forcing overwrite of the target.
cp -f source destination
Copy and overwrite
cp --help
Show command help when supported
man cp
Open the manual page when installed
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
cp -f source destination
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
# Windows equivalent: copy /y
cp -f source destinationReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
cp -f source destination | Copy and overwrite |
cp --help | Show command help when supported |
man cp | Open the manual page when installed |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
The equivalent is shown for Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch. Some rows use a different package manager or helper tool where Linux distributions commonly diverge.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | cp -f source destination |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | cp -f source destination |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | cp -f source destination |
Same command on this distribution. |
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