The basic steps for copying and pasting on Facebook

Copying and pasting on Facebook works the same way it does anywhere else on your computer or phone — you select the text or link you want, copy it, then paste it where you need it. On a computer, you highlight what you want with your mouse, press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac), then press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V) where you want to paste it. On a phone or tablet, you tap and hold the text until a menu appears, tap "Copy", then tap and hold in the new location and tap "Paste".

The main difference is knowing where Facebook lets you copy from and where you can paste to. You can copy text from posts, comments, messages, and profile information. You can paste into your own posts, comments, messages, and the search bar. Some areas — like other people's posts or certain protected content — won't let you paste over them, but you can still copy the text out.

Key Takeaways

  • On a computer, highlight text with your mouse, press Ctrl+C to copy, then Ctrl+V to paste; on a phone, tap and hold, select Copy, then tap and hold again and select Paste.
  • You can copy text from Facebook posts, comments, messages, and profile bios, but you cannot paste over other people's posts or comments.
  • To copy a Facebook link, right-click the post or profile and select "Copy link" instead of copying the text itself.
  • If copy and paste is not working, try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or using a different browser.
  • Facebook's mobile app and the web version work the same way for copying and pasting, though the menu options look slightly different.

Copying text from Facebook posts and comments

To copy text from a post or comment on Facebook, click and drag your mouse across the words you want to select. The text will highlight in blue. Once it is selected, press Ctrl+C on Windows or Cmd+C on a Mac. The text is now in your clipboard and ready to paste anywhere.

If you want to copy an entire post, you do not have to select it word by word. Right-click anywhere on the post and look for an option like "Copy text" or "Select all" — the exact wording depends on your browser. Some browsers will let you select the whole post at once this way. If that option does not appear, select the text manually by clicking at the start and dragging to the end.

Copying links from Facebook posts and profiles

When you want to copy a link to a specific post, right-click on the post itself and select "Copy link" from the menu that appears. This copies the URL of that post, not the text inside it. You can then paste this link into a message, email, or another website. The person who receives the link can click it to go straight to that post.

To copy a link to someone's profile, right-click their name or profile picture and select "Copy link". This gives you the URL to their profile page. You can also click the three dots on their profile and look for a "Copy profile link" option, depending on which version of Facebook you are using.

Pasting text and links on Facebook

Once you have copied something, you can paste it into a Facebook post, comment, or message. Click in the text box where you want the text to go, then press Ctrl+V on Windows or Cmd+V on a Mac. The text will appear instantly. On a phone, tap in the text box, then tap and hold until you see a "Paste" option and tap it.

You can paste text into your own posts, comments on other people's posts, private messages, and group discussions. You cannot paste text directly into other people's posts or comments — Facebook does not let you edit or add to content that is not yours. If you want to share someone else's words, you have to post them in your own post or comment and credit the original author.

Copying and pasting on the Facebook mobile app

The process on the Facebook app for iPhone or Android is nearly identical to the computer version, but the menus look different. To copy text from a post, tap and hold your finger on the text until a menu appears with options like "Copy". Tap "Copy" and the text goes into your clipboard.

To paste, tap in the text box where you want the text to go, then tap and hold until you see a "Paste" option. Tap it and the text appears. If you do not see a "Paste" option, make sure you actually copied something first — the option only shows up if there is something in your clipboard to paste.

What to do if copy and paste is not working

If you copy something but the paste option does not appear, or if the text does not paste correctly, try refreshing the Facebook page first. Press F5 on your keyboard or click the refresh button in your browser. Sometimes Facebook gets stuck and a refresh fixes it.

If refreshing does not work, clear your browser's cache and cookies. In most browsers, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete on Windows or Cmd+Shift+Delete on a Mac, then selecting "Cached images and files" and clicking "Clear". After clearing the cache, log back into Facebook and try again. If the problem continues, try using a different browser — sometimes one browser has issues while another works fine.

On a phone, if paste is not working, make sure you actually copied something by trying to copy text again. If the app is acting slow or frozen, close it completely and reopen it. You can also try restarting your phone, which fixes most temporary app problems.

Copying and pasting between Facebook and other websites

You can copy text from Facebook and paste it into email, Word documents, Google Docs, or any other website. The process is the same — copy from Facebook with Ctrl+C, then paste into the other location with Ctrl+V. The text will keep its basic formatting like bold or italics, though some fancy formatting may not transfer.

If you copy a Facebook link and paste it into an email or text message, the link will work and people can click it to view the post. If you paste a Facebook link into a document, it will show as a clickable link that people can use. Some websites and apps will automatically show a preview of the Facebook post when you paste the link, while others will just show the URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste someone else's post to my own timeline?

You can copy the text from someone else's post and paste it into your own post, but you should credit them as the original author. Facebook also has a "Share" button that lets you repost something without copying and pasting — this is the better option because it links back to the original post and shows who wrote it.

Why does my pasted text look different than the original?

When you copy and paste text from Facebook, some formatting like fonts or colors may not transfer perfectly, depending on where you are pasting it. Plain text usually pastes without any formatting at all. If you need the text to look exactly the same, take a screenshot instead of copying and pasting.

Can I copy messages from my Facebook inbox?

Yes, you can copy text from private messages the same way you copy from posts — highlight the text, press Ctrl+C, then paste it elsewhere. You can also copy the entire message thread by selecting all the text in the conversation and copying it.

What happens if I copy a post that gets deleted later?

The text stays in your clipboard and you can still paste it, even if the original post is deleted. Once you paste it somewhere, it is saved in that new location and will not disappear if the Facebook post is removed.

Is there a way to copy multiple things at once?

Your clipboard can only hold one thing at a time, so you have to copy and paste one item, then copy something else. Some computers have clipboard managers that let you save multiple copied items, but these are separate programs you have to download — Facebook itself does not have this feature built in.