The basic steps for copying and pasting

Copying and pasting on a Samsung tablet works the same way as on a phone or computer — you select text or an image, copy it, then paste it somewhere else. The difference is that on a tablet, you have more screen space, so the buttons and menus are easier to see and tap.

To copy text, press and hold your finger on the first word you want to copy. A blue highlight will appear around that word, and a menu will pop up above it. Drag the blue handles at the start and end of the highlight to select exactly what you want — you can select a single word, a sentence, or several paragraphs. Once the right text is highlighted, tap Copy from the menu.

To paste that text, open the app or document where you want it to go, tap and hold where you want to paste it, and select Paste from the menu that appears. The text will appear when ready at that spot.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold on text to select it, then drag the blue handles to choose exactly how much you want to copy.
  • Tap Copy from the menu that appears, then open a different app or document and tap Paste where you want the text to go.
  • You can copy and paste text between any apps — from a web browser into an email, from a note into a text message, or from one document into another.
  • Images work the same way: press and hold an image, tap Copy, then tap and hold in the destination and select Paste.
  • If Copy or Paste do not appear in the menu, try pressing and holding for a full second before releasing.

Copying and pasting images

Images copy and paste the same way as text. Press and hold on any image — whether it is in a web browser, a photo app, or a document — and a menu will appear. Tap Copy. Then open the app where you want to paste it, tap and hold in an empty area, and select Paste.

Some apps have restrictions on what you can paste. For example, you may not be able to paste an image into a text message app, but you can usually paste it into email, a note-taking app, or a document editor. If Paste does not appear as an option, that app does not support pasting images.

What to do if the menu does not appear

If you press and hold on text or an image and nothing happens, try holding your finger still for a full second before releasing. A short tap will not trigger the menu — you need to hold steady. Make sure you are pressing on the actual text or image, not on blank space around it.

If the menu still does not appear, the app you are using may not support copying. Most built-in Samsung apps and common apps like Gmail, Chrome, and Notes support copy and paste, but some older or specialized apps do not. Try the same action in a different app to see if copy and paste works there.

Copying text from web pages

When you are reading a web page in Samsung Internet or Chrome, you can copy any text the same way: press and hold on the text, drag the blue handles to select what you want, and tap Copy. This works for paragraphs, headlines, links, and even text inside images (though you can only copy the image itself, not the text within it).

After you copy text from a web page, you can paste it into an email, a note, a document, or any other app that accepts text. The text will paste exactly as it appeared on the page, including line breaks and spacing.

Using the clipboard to paste multiple times

When you copy something, it goes into your tablet's clipboard — a temporary holding area. You can paste that same item as many times as you want until you copy something else. For example, you could copy a phone number, then paste it into three different text messages. The phone number stays in the clipboard until you copy a different piece of text.

If you want to see what is currently in your clipboard or paste something you copied earlier, some Samsung tablets let you access the clipboard history. Tap and hold in a text field and look for a Clipboard option in the menu. Not all apps show this option, but Gmail, Notes, and most text editors do.

Copying and pasting between different apps

One of the most useful things about copy and paste is that it works across apps. You can copy text from a web page and paste it into an email. You can copy a link from a text message and paste it into a note. You can copy an address from a document and paste it into a maps app. As long as both apps support copy and paste, you can move text and images between them freely.

This is especially helpful when you are researching something online and want to save information, or when you need to share the same text in multiple places without typing it out again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between my Samsung tablet and my phone?

Not directly through the standard copy and paste menu. However, if both devices are signed into the same Samsung account, you can use Samsung's clipboard sync feature to share copied text between them. Check your Samsung account settings on both devices to turn this on.

What happens if I copy something and then turn off my tablet?

The clipboard clears when you turn off your tablet. Whatever you copied will be gone, and you will not be able to paste it after you turn the tablet back on. If you need to save something permanently, paste it into a note or document instead of leaving it in the clipboard.

Why does the paste option appear grayed out sometimes?

A grayed-out Paste option means the app recognizes that something is in your clipboard, but it cannot paste it in that particular location. This usually happens when you try to paste an image into an app that only accepts text, or when you try to paste into a field that is locked or read-only.

Can I copy and paste without using the menu?

On most Samsung tablets, you need to use the menu that appears when you press and hold. However, some apps have keyboard shortcuts — if your tablet has a connected keyboard, you can try selecting text and pressing Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste, just like on a computer.

What is the difference between copy and cut?

Copy leaves the original text or image where it is and puts a copy in the clipboard. Cut removes the original and puts it in the clipboard. When you paste after cutting, the original disappears from where it was. Most tablet users copy more often than cut, but both options appear in the same menu.