The simplest way to copy an Instagram comment

On both iPhone and Android, press and hold the comment text until a menu appears. Tap Copy. The comment is now in your clipboard and you can paste it anywhere — into a note app, an email, a text message, or another social media platform. This works for comments you wrote and comments other people wrote on your posts.

If you're on a computer, right-click the comment and select Copy from the menu that appears. The process is identical to copying text anywhere else online.

Instagram doesn't notify the person who wrote the comment when you copy it. There's no log of who copied what, and the original commenter won't know unless you tell them or they see you've posted their words elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold a comment on mobile or right-click on desktop to reveal a copy option that works for any comment on the platform.
  • Copying a comment leaves no trace — Instagram doesn't alert the original commenter or create a record you can later access.
  • When you copy someone else's comment and repost it, you're responsible for how it's used, including whether you credit the original author.
  • Screenshots capture more context (who wrote it, when, how many likes) than copying text alone, so choose based on what you need to preserve.

Why you might copy instead of screenshot

A screenshot captures the entire visual context — the commenter's name, profile picture, timestamp, and like count. Copying just the text is faster if you only need the words themselves, and it takes up less space in your notes or documents.

Copying is also useful when you want to quote someone in a way that's straightforward to edit or format. If you're collecting feedback, building a document, or sharing comments in a group chat, plain text is often more practical than an image file.

What happens when you copy someone else's comment

Instagram doesn't track or limit copying. You can copy the same comment a hundred times and nothing changes on the platform. The original commenter has no way to know you copied their words unless you tell them or they see you've posted the comment somewhere else.

However, you are responsible for how you use that comment. If you repost it publicly — on another Instagram post, on another platform, in a screenshot with attribution — you should credit the original author. If you copy a comment and present it as your own idea, that's plagiarism, even though Instagram itself won't catch it or punish it.

Some comments contain personal information, opinions, or context that the person who wrote them didn't intend to be shared widely. Copying and reposting without permission can damage trust, even if it's technically possible.

Copying comments versus taking screenshots

Both methods have different trade-offs depending on what you're trying to do. A screenshot preserves the full context and makes it clear who said what and when. Copying just the text is faster and creates a cleaner record if you're collecting multiple comments into a document or spreadsheet.

Screenshots also protect against misquoting, because the original text is locked in an image. When you copy text, you can accidentally edit it while pasting, or the formatting might change depending on where you paste it. If accuracy matters — especially if you're using someone's words to represent their position — a screenshot is the safer choice.

Copying comments from accounts you don't follow

You can copy comments on public posts even if you don't follow the account that posted them. If the post is public, the comments are public, and you can see and copy them the same way you would on a friend's post.

If an account is private, you can only see comments on posts if the account owner has approved your follow request. If you're not following a private account, you won't see their posts or comments at all.

What Instagram stores about your activity

Instagram doesn't create a record of which comments you've copied. The platform tracks what you like, what you comment on, what you share, and what you save, but copying text is invisible to Instagram's systems. This is different from liking or commenting, which appear in your activity history and can be seen by other users.

That said, Instagram does track what you view and for how long. If you spend time reading comments on a particular post, that activity feeds into Instagram's algorithm and may influence what content you see in the future. Copying a comment doesn't trigger any special tracking beyond the normal viewing data Instagram collects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the person who wrote the comment get notified if I copy it?

No. Instagram doesn't send notifications for copying, and there's no way for the original commenter to know you copied their words unless you tell them or they see you've reposted it somewhere.

Can I copy comments from a private account?

Only if you follow the private account and the owner has approved your request. If you're not following them, you won't see their posts or comments at all, so there's nothing to copy.

What's the difference between copying and saving a comment?

Copying puts the text in your clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere. Instagram doesn't have a built-in save feature for individual comments. If you want to keep a comment for later, copying it to a notes app or taking a screenshot are your main options.

If I copy someone's comment and post it on my own account, do I need to credit them?

Yes, if you're reposting someone else's words publicly, crediting the original author is the right practice. Instagram won't enforce this automatically, but it's a matter of respect and honesty, especially if the comment is insightful or personal.

Can Instagram see if I copy comments for research or data collection?

Instagram can see that you're viewing posts and comments, but it can't tell whether you're copying text or just reading it. If you're collecting large amounts of data from Instagram comments, that activity might eventually trigger Instagram's spam detection, but the copying itself is invisible.