Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and Android, press and hold a comment until a menu appears, then tap Copy.
- On desktop, triple-click the comment text to select it all, then use Ctrl+C or Command+C to copy.
- You can only copy the text itself — Instagram does not let you copy the comment as a formatted object with the commenter's name attached.
- Copying someone else's comment is straightforward, but pasting it elsewhere as your own may violate Instagram's terms of service.
Copying a Comment on iPhone
Open the Instagram app and find the comment you want to copy. This can be a comment on a post in your feed, a comment on your own post, or a comment on someone else's post. Tap and hold your finger directly on the comment text itself — not on the commenter's name or profile picture, but on the actual words of the comment.
A menu will pop up with several options. Look for the word "Copy" in this menu and tap it. The comment text is now saved to your clipboard. You can paste it into Notes, Messages, email, or any other app by opening that app, tapping where you want the text to go, and selecting Paste from the menu that appears.
Copying a Comment on Android
Find the comment in the Instagram app and press and hold your finger on the comment text. Unlike some apps, Instagram on Android uses the same long-press method as iPhone. A menu will appear with options including Copy.
Tap Copy to save the comment text to your clipboard. You can then open any other app — Notes, Gmail, Messenger, or a text editor — and paste the text by long-pressing where you want it to go and selecting Paste. The process is identical to iPhone once the text is copied.
Copying a Comment on Desktop
Go to Instagram.com in your web browser and find the post that contains the comment you want to copy. Click on the comment to make sure it's in focus. Then triple-click directly on the comment text to select all of it at once. The text should highlight in blue.
Once the text is selected, press Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac to copy it. You can then paste it into a document, email, or any other text field by clicking where you want it and pressing Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
What Happens When You Copy a Comment
When you copy an Instagram comment, you are copying only the text — the actual words written. You are not copying the commenter's name, profile picture, timestamp, or any other metadata. If the comment contains an emoji or a link, those copy along with the text.
Once the text is in your clipboard, it stays there until you copy something else. You can paste it as many times as you want into different places. Instagram does not notify the original commenter that you copied their comment, and there is no way for them to know you did so.
Why You Might Not Be Able to Copy a Comment
If the long-press or triple-click method is not working, the comment may have been deleted by the person who wrote it or by the post owner. Deleted comments cannot be copied. If the comment is still visible but the copy option does not appear, try closing and reopening the Instagram app, or refreshing the page if you are on desktop.
On some older Android phones, the copy menu may appear in a different location or use different wording. If you see a menu with options like "Select All" or "Copy Text", use those instead. If nothing happens at all, restart your phone and try again.
Copying Your Own Comments
You can copy your own comments using the same method as anyone else's. Long-press on your comment on a phone, or triple-click on desktop. The copy option will appear in the menu. This is useful if you want to reuse something you wrote in a different conversation or save it to your notes.
If you want to edit a comment you wrote instead of copying it, look for an "Edit" option in the same menu. You can only edit comments you wrote yourself — you cannot edit or delete other people's comments unless you are the post owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Instagram notify someone when I copy their comment?
No. Instagram does not send any notification when you copy a comment. The person who wrote the comment has no way to know that you copied it, and there is no record of the copy action on your account or theirs.
Can I copy a comment that has been deleted?
No. Once a comment is deleted, it is no longer visible on the post, and you cannot copy it. If you see a comment that says "[deleted]" or similar, the original text is gone and cannot be recovered.
What if I copy a comment and then paste it as my own?
Pasting someone else's comment as your own violates Instagram's terms of service and is considered plagiarism. While Instagram does not automatically detect this, the original commenter or other users may report it. Repeated violations can result in your account being restricted or removed.
Can I copy multiple comments at once?
No. Instagram's copy function works on one comment at a time. You must copy each comment separately and paste them individually into your destination. There is no bulk copy feature for comments.
Does copying a comment work the same way on Instagram Direct Messages?
Yes. You can copy messages in Instagram DMs using the same long-press method on phone or triple-click on desktop. The process is identical to copying comments on posts.