The basic way to copy on iPad

To copy something on your iPad, you select it, then tap Copy from the menu that appears. The item stays in your clipboard — a temporary holding space — until you paste it somewhere else or copy something new. This works for text, images, links, and files depending on what app you're using.

The steps are almost always the same: touch and hold the thing you want to copy, wait for the menu to pop up, then tap Copy. On a webpage, you might tap and hold a word or image. In Notes or Mail, you tap and hold text. In Photos, you tap and hold a picture. The menu appears in roughly the same spot each time.

Once you've copied something, you can paste it into another app or document by tapping and holding where you want it to go, then tapping Paste. You can only paste one thing at a time — pasting something new replaces what was in your clipboard before.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold the text or image you want to copy, then tap Copy from the menu that appears.
  • Your copied item stays in the clipboard until you copy something else or paste it somewhere.
  • Paste by tapping and holding where you want the item to go, then selecting Paste from the menu.
  • You can copy text from websites, images from Photos, links from Safari, and files from the Files app using the same tap-and-hold method.
  • If you copy something by accident, you can undo the paste action by swiping three fingers down on your screen.

Copying text from websites and apps

When you're reading something on a webpage or in an app and want to copy a sentence or paragraph, tap and hold directly on the text. A menu appears with options including Copy. If you want to copy more than a few words, you can drag the blue handles that appear on either side of your selection to expand it before tapping Copy.

Some apps make copying harder than others. In Safari, you can copy text from most webpages, but some sites block copying for copyright reasons — you'll tap and hold but the Copy option won't appear. In Mail, you can copy text from messages you receive. In Notes, you can copy anything you've typed or pasted yourself.

If you're copying a link — like a URL from Safari or a link someone sent you in Messages — tap and hold the link itself, not the text around it. A menu appears with options to Copy Link or Open in New Tab. Copying the link puts the web address in your clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere.

Copying images and photos

To copy a photo from your Photos app, open the photo, tap and hold it, then tap Copy. The image goes into your clipboard. You can then paste it into Mail, Messages, Notes, or most other apps by tapping and holding where you want it and selecting Paste.

You can also copy images from websites. In Safari, tap and hold an image on a webpage. A menu appears with options including Copy. This works for most images, though some websites prevent copying. After copying, you can paste the image into Photos, Notes, or any app that accepts images.

If you want to copy an image and save it to your Photos app at the same time, look for a Save Image option in the menu instead of Copy. Save Image stores the picture in your Photos library, while Copy just puts it in your clipboard temporarily.

Using copy and paste between different apps

One of the useful things about copy and paste is that it works across apps. You can copy text from Safari and paste it into Notes. You can copy a photo from Photos and paste it into Mail. You can copy a link from Messages and paste it into Notes. The clipboard doesn't care which app you're in.

This also works if you have multiple apps open in Split View — where two apps appear side by side on your screen. You can copy from the app on the left, then tap the app on the right and paste. This is faster than switching between apps one at a time.

Keep in mind that when you copy something new, it replaces what was in your clipboard before. If you copy text, then copy an image, the text is gone. There's no way to keep multiple things in the clipboard at once on a standard iPad, though some third-party apps offer clipboard history if you need that feature.

Copying files and folders

In the Files app, you can copy files and folders the same way. Tap and hold a file or folder, then tap Copy from the menu. You can then navigate to a different folder, tap and hold in the empty space, and tap Paste to move the copy there. This works for documents, PDFs, images, and most other file types.

Copying a file in the Files app creates a duplicate — the original stays where it was. If you want to move a file instead of copying it, look for a Move option in the menu, or copy it and then delete the original from its first location.

You can also copy files from the Files app and paste them into other apps. For example, you can copy a PDF from Files and paste it into Mail as an attachment, or copy a document and paste it into Notes.

What to do if copy and paste isn't working

If you tap and hold something but the Copy option doesn't appear, the app or website may not allow copying. Some websites block text copying for copyright protection. Some apps restrict what you can copy for security reasons. In these cases, there's no workaround — you'll need to type or find the content elsewhere.

If copy and paste usually works but suddenly stops, try closing and reopening the app. Sometimes the clipboard gets stuck. If that doesn't help, restart your iPad by holding the power button until the shutdown screen appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

If you're trying to paste but the Paste option is grayed out or missing, make sure you actually copied something first. Also check that the app you're pasting into accepts the type of content you copied — for example, some apps don't accept images, only text.

Using keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste

If you have a keyboard connected to your iPad, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of tapping menus. Select the text or item you want, then press Command + C to copy. To paste, press Command + V. These shortcuts work in most iPad apps and are much faster than the tap-and-hold method.

You can also use Command + X to cut, which copies something and removes it from where it was. This is useful in Notes or Mail when you want to move text from one place to another. Cut the text, then paste it in the new location.

If you make a mistake, Command + Z undoes your last action, including a paste. On an iPad without a keyboard, you can also undo by swiping three fingers down on the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy something on my iPad and paste it on my iPhone or Mac?

Yes, if you have the same Apple account signed in on both devices and they're on the same Wi-Fi network. This feature is called Universal Clipboard. Copy something on your iPad, then switch to your iPhone or Mac and paste it. It works in the opposite direction too — copy on your Mac, paste on your iPad.

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

The clipboard is cleared when you turn off your iPad. If you copy text, turn off your device, and turn it back on, that text is no longer in the clipboard. You'll need to copy it again if you want to paste it.

Can I copy an entire webpage at once?

You can select all the text on a page by tapping and holding, then tapping Select All, but this only copies the text, not images or formatting. If you want to save a whole webpage, use Safari's Share menu and look for a Save to Files or Save PDF option instead.

Why can't I copy text from some websites?

Some websites use code that blocks copying to protect their content. This is a choice the website owner made. You can't override it on your iPad. If you need the text, you can try copying it on a computer instead, or contact the website owner to ask for permission.

Is there a way to see what I copied recently?

The standard iPad clipboard only holds one item at a time and doesn't show history. However, some third-party apps like Copied or Pasty offer clipboard history that lets you see and access things you copied earlier. These apps are available in the App Store.