The basic method: tap and hold, then choose copy or paste

Copying and pasting on a tablet works differently than on a computer because you don't have a mouse or keyboard shortcuts. Instead, you use your finger to select text, then tap a menu that appears on screen. The steps are the same whether you're using an iPad, Android tablet, or any other device: tap and hold on the text you want to copy, drag to select more if needed, tap "Copy" from the menu, then tap and hold where you want to paste it and select "Paste".

The main difference from a computer is that there's no Ctrl+C or Ctrl+V. Everything happens through on-screen menus that appear when you touch and hold. Once you copy something, it stays in your tablet's clipboard until you copy something else, so you can paste the same thing multiple times in different places.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold on text until a menu appears, then select "Copy" — don't just tap once or you'll only place your cursor.
  • To select more than a few words, tap and hold, then drag your finger across the text you want before releasing.
  • Paste by tapping and holding in the spot where you want the text to go, then selecting "Paste" from the menu.
  • If you're copying from an image or a link, the menu options change — you might see "Copy Image" or "Copy Link" instead of "Copy".
  • Your tablet remembers only the last thing you copied, so copying something new will replace what was in your clipboard.

How to select text before copying

The hardest part of copying on a tablet is selecting exactly the text you want. If you tap once, you just place your cursor in that spot. You have to tap and hold — press your finger down and keep it there for a second — until you see a menu pop up or the text gets highlighted.

Once the menu appears, you have two choices. You can tap "Copy" right away if you only want a single word, or you can drag your finger across more text to select a larger block. If you drag, the selected text will turn blue or gray (depending on your tablet), and you can keep dragging until you've highlighted everything you need. Then tap "Copy" from the menu.

If you mess up the selection, tap somewhere else to cancel it and start over. There's no penalty for trying multiple times.

Pasting text into a new location

Once you've copied something, you can paste it anywhere on your tablet that accepts text — in an email, a text message, a document, a search box, or a note-taking app. Tap and hold in the spot where you want the text to appear. A menu will pop up with "Paste" as one of the options.

If you don't see a "Paste" option, it usually means one of two things: either you haven't copied anything yet, or the app you're using doesn't allow pasting in that particular spot. Some apps lock certain fields so you can't edit them. If that's the case, try pasting somewhere else in the app or in a different app entirely.

You can paste the same copied text as many times as you want. It stays in your clipboard until you copy something new.

Copying and pasting images and links

You can copy more than just text. If you tap and hold on an image, you'll see options like "Copy Image" or "Save Image" depending on the app. Tap "Copy Image" and the image goes into your clipboard just like text does. You can then paste it into an email, a messaging app, or a document.

Links work the same way. Tap and hold on a link (usually blue underlined text) and you'll see "Copy Link" or "Copy URL" in the menu. This copies the web address, not the text of the link itself. When you paste it, you'll get the actual address that you can share with someone or open in a browser.

Some apps are more limited. A social media app might only let you copy text, not images. A news app might not let you copy anything at all. If the option doesn't appear in the menu, that app doesn't support copying that type of content.

Using keyboard shortcuts if your tablet has a keyboard

If you've connected a physical keyboard to your tablet — either a keyboard case or a separate Bluetooth keyboard — you can use the same shortcuts as a computer. Hold down Ctrl (on Android) or Command (on iPad) and press C to copy, or V to paste. This is much faster than the tap-and-hold method if you're doing a lot of copying.

The keyboard shortcuts work in almost every app, but the tap-and-hold method always works as a backup. If a keyboard shortcut doesn't work in a particular app, try the menu method instead.

What to do if copy and paste isn't working

If you tap and hold but no menu appears, your tablet might not have registered the long press. Try again, making sure you keep your finger in one spot for at least a full second before moving it. Don't tap and when ready drag — that's a scroll gesture, not a copy gesture.

If the menu appears but "Copy" is grayed out or missing, the app might not support copying in that location. Try selecting a different piece of text, or try the same action in a different app to see if the problem is with the app or with your selection.

If you've copied something but "Paste" doesn't appear when you need it, the app you're trying to paste into might not support pasting. Some apps are read-only and don't let you add or change text. In that case, you'll need to use a different app that does allow editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to hold my finger down instead of just tapping?

A single tap is how you place your cursor or open something. A long press (tap and hold) is how the tablet knows you want to select text instead. This prevents you from accidentally copying things when you're just trying to read or navigate.

Can I copy text from a PDF or an image that contains text?

It depends on the app. PDFs usually let you copy text the same way you would from any other document — tap and hold to select. Images with text (like a screenshot or a photo) usually don't, because the text is just part of the picture, not actual text data. Some apps have special tools to extract text from images, but most tablets don't do this automatically.

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

When you turn off your tablet, whatever you copied is lost. The clipboard only holds information while your device is on. If you need to save something to use later, paste it into a note or document and save that file instead.

Can I copy from one app and paste into a completely different app?

Yes. Copy something in one app, then switch to another app and paste it there. The clipboard works across your entire tablet, not just within a single app. This is useful for copying a link from a browser and pasting it into an email, or copying text from a document and pasting it into a message.

Is there a way to copy multiple things at once without losing the first one?

Not on most tablets. When you copy something new, it replaces what was in your clipboard. If you need to keep multiple pieces of text, paste them all into a note or document first, then copy and paste from there as needed.