The basic method: select, copy, paste
Copying and pasting on an iPad with a keyboard works almost the same way it does on a computer. Select the text or image you want to copy by tapping and dragging across it, or by triple-tapping a word to select it. Then press Command+C to copy. Move to where you want to paste and press Command+V.
The main difference from a desktop is that you cannot always see a text cursor blinking where you want to paste. Tap the spot where you want the text to go first — you should see a cursor appear or a text box set up. Then press Command+V. If nothing happens, the app may not support pasting, or you may need to tap a text field first.
If you are copying from one app and pasting into another, the process is identical. Copy from Safari, paste into Notes. Copy from Mail, paste into a document. iPad keeps what you copied in its clipboard until you copy something else.
Key Takeaways
- Select text by tapping and dragging, then press Command+C to copy and Command+V to paste.
- You must tap in a text field or document before pasting, or the paste command will not work.
- Some apps do not support pasting — if Command+V does nothing, try right-clicking to see if a paste option appears in a menu.
- The iPad clipboard holds only one copied item at a time, so copying something new will replace what you copied before.
- You can copy and paste between different apps — there is no restriction on moving text from Safari to Mail or from Notes to a document.
Selecting text and images to copy
To select a single word, triple-tap it. The word highlights in blue, and you can when ready press Command+C to copy it. To select multiple words or a longer passage, tap at the start of what you want, hold, and drag to the end. A blue highlight shows what you have selected.
If you want to select all the text in a document or text field, press Command+A. This selects everything at once, which is faster than dragging if you need the whole thing. Then press Command+C to copy it all.
To copy an image, tap and hold on it until a menu appears. Tap Copy from the menu. You can then paste the image into another app by pressing Command+V, though not all apps accept image pastes — Mail and Notes do, but some others may not.
When paste does not work
If you press Command+V and nothing happens, the most common reason is that you have not tapped in a text field yet. Some apps require you to tap in a specific box or area before they will accept a paste. Tap where you want the text to go, wait for a cursor to appear, and try Command+V again.
Some apps do not support pasting at all, or they restrict what you can paste into them. If Command+V still does not work, try right-clicking in the text area. A menu may appear with a Paste option. If that menu does not show a paste option, the app likely does not support it.
Another reason paste might fail is if you are trying to paste into a field that does not accept the type of content you copied. For example, you cannot paste an image into a search box, and some apps only accept plain text, not formatted text with colors or bold.
Using cut to move text instead of copy
If you want to move text from one place to another rather than duplicate it, use cut instead of copy. Select the text the same way — tap and drag, or triple-tap a word. Then press Command+X to cut. The text disappears from where it was. Tap where you want it to go and press Command+V to paste it there.
Cut is useful when you are reorganizing a document or moving a sentence from one paragraph to another. The text is removed from the original location and placed in the new one. If you change your mind before pasting, you can press Command+Z to undo the cut.
Copying from web pages and emails
To copy text from a Safari web page, tap and drag to select it, then press Command+C. You can then paste it into Notes, Mail, or any other app that accepts text. The text pastes as plain text — colors, fonts, and links from the web page do not come along.
If you want to copy a link from a web page, tap and hold on the link until a menu appears. Tap Copy Link from the menu. You can then paste the link into an email, message, or document. The full web address pastes, not just the link text.
In Mail, you can copy text from an email the same way: select it and press Command+C. You can then paste it into a reply, a note, or another email. If you want to copy the sender's email address, tap and hold on their name and select Copy from the menu.
Pasting into different types of apps
Text pastes the same way in most apps, but some have special behavior. In Notes, you can paste text, images, and links all in the same document. In Mail, you can paste text into the body of an email or into the subject line. In a web browser, you can paste into search boxes and form fields.
Some apps, like spreadsheet or database apps, may paste into specific cells or fields rather than anywhere you tap. If you are pasting into a spreadsheet, make sure you have selected the cell where you want the data to go before pressing Command+V. The pasted content goes into that cell, not somewhere else.
If you are pasting into a form on a website, tap in the text field first, then press Command+V. Forms usually accept pasted text the same way they accept typed text. If a form field rejects your paste, it may have restrictions on what characters it accepts, or it may not support pasting at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between my iPad and my Mac or iPhone?
Yes, if you have the same iCloud account signed in on both devices. Copy something on your iPad, and you can paste it on your Mac or iPhone within a few seconds. This feature is called Universal Clipboard. The devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network or connected to the same cellular account.
What if I copy something and then forget what it was?
Once you copy something new, the old item is gone from your clipboard. iPad does not show you a history of what you have copied. If you need to keep text for later, paste it into Notes or another app instead of relying on the clipboard.
Can I paste without using the keyboard shortcut?
Yes. Tap and hold in a text field, and a menu appears with a Paste option. Tap it to paste what you copied. This works the same as pressing Command+V, but it is slower if you are pasting often.
Does copy and paste work the same way without a keyboard?
Yes, the process is identical. Without a keyboard, you select text by tapping and dragging, then tap and hold to see a menu with a Copy option. To paste, tap and hold in the destination and select Paste from the menu. A keyboard just makes it faster.