The basic method: highlight, copy, paste

Copying and pasting on a Samsung tablet works the same way as on most Android devices. Tap and hold your finger on the text or image you want to copy until a menu appears. The menu will show options including Copy — tap that option. Then open the app or document where you want to paste, tap and hold in the space where you want the text to go, and select Paste from the menu that appears.

The key difference from a computer is that you use your finger instead of a mouse, and the menu appears automatically rather than requiring a keyboard shortcut. Once you copy something, it stays in your clipboard until you copy something else, so you can paste the same text multiple times if you need to.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold on text or an image until a menu appears, then select Copy from that menu.
  • To paste, tap and hold in the destination app or document and select Paste from the menu.
  • You can select multiple lines of text by tapping and holding, then dragging your finger to expand the selection before copying.
  • Some apps like email and messaging let you paste by long-pressing the text field without needing to copy first — the Paste option appears automatically.
  • If Paste is grayed out or missing, the app you are trying to paste into may not support that action.

Selecting more than one line of text

If you need to copy a paragraph or multiple sentences, tap and hold on the first word until the selection menu appears. You will see the word highlighted and small handles (blue dots or lines) at the beginning and end of the selection. Drag these handles with your finger to expand the selection to include all the text you want.

Alternatively, tap once to place your cursor, then tap and hold on a word to select it. Many Samsung tablets let you double-tap a word to select just that word, then drag the handles to extend the selection. Once the selection covers what you need, tap Copy from the menu.

Copying images and links

To copy an image, tap and hold on it until a menu appears. You will see options that may include Copy image, Copy image URL, or Save image depending on the app. Copy image puts the actual picture in your clipboard so you can paste it into another app. Copy image URL copies the web address of the image instead, which is useful if you want to share the link rather than the image itself.

For links in web pages or documents, tap and hold on the link text. The menu will usually show Copy link or Copy URL. This copies the address, not the text you see on screen. When you paste it, you will get the web address. If you want the visible text instead, select the text around the link and copy that separately.

Using Samsung's clipboard manager

Samsung tablets include a clipboard manager that stores multiple items you have copied. To open it, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel, then look for a clipboard or recent items icon. On some Samsung models, you can also access it by tapping and holding in a text field — the Paste menu sometimes shows recent items you have copied.

The clipboard manager is useful if you need to paste something you copied several steps ago without having to copy it again. However, the clipboard clears when you restart your tablet, so do not rely on it for long-term storage. If you need to save text or images permanently, paste them into a notes app or document instead.

What to do if copy and paste is not working

If the Copy option does not appear when you tap and hold, the app may not support copying from that location. Some apps restrict copying for security or copyright reasons — for example, some banking apps do not let you copy account numbers, and some ebook readers do not let you copy text.

If Copy appears but Paste is grayed out or missing, the app you are trying to paste into may not support pasting. Try a different app to test whether the problem is with copying or pasting. If neither works, restart your tablet — sometimes the clipboard gets stuck and a restart clears it. If the problem persists after a restart, the app itself may have a bug and you may need to update it or contact the app maker for support.

Copying and pasting between different apps

You can copy text from one app and paste it into almost any other app on your tablet. For example, you can copy a sentence from a web browser and paste it into an email, or copy a phone number from a contact and paste it into a text message. The process is the same: copy from the source app, then switch to the destination app and paste.

Some apps handle pasted content differently. A notes app will paste text as plain text. An email app might paste text with the original formatting (bold, italics, colors) if the source had it. If the formatting does not paste the way you want, try pasting into a plain text app first, then copying from there and pasting into your final destination.

Keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste

If your Samsung tablet has a connected keyboard, you can use the standard keyboard shortcuts instead of tapping and holding. Select the text you want with your finger or trackpad, then press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. These shortcuts work in most apps and are faster than using the menu if you are doing a lot of copying and pasting.

Some Samsung tablets with keyboard cases also support Ctrl+X to cut (copy and delete at the same time) and Ctrl+Z to undo if you paste something by mistake. Check your keyboard manual to see which shortcuts it supports, since not all keyboard cases include all functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my tablet paste the wrong thing?

Your clipboard holds only one item at a time. If you copied something new after copying what you wanted to paste, the new item replaced the old one. Check your clipboard manager to see what is currently stored. If you need to paste something you copied a while ago, you may need to find the original source and copy it again.

Can I copy and paste between my tablet and my phone?

Not directly through the standard clipboard — each device has its own separate clipboard. However, you can use cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud to copy text or files on one device and access them on another. Some Samsung devices with Samsung DeX also let you copy between connected devices, but this requires specific hardware and setup.

What if copy and paste works in some apps but not others?

Some apps intentionally block copying for security or licensing reasons. Banking apps, password managers, and some ebook readers restrict copying to protect sensitive information. This is normal and not a problem with your tablet. If you need the information, try taking a screenshot instead, or contact the app maker to ask if there is another way to share the content.

Does copying something use up storage space on my tablet?

No. The clipboard is temporary memory that holds copied items only until you copy something else or restart your tablet. It does not take up permanent storage space. You can copy and paste as much as you want without affecting how much space your tablet has available.

Can I copy and paste files or folders on my tablet?

Yes, but the process is different from copying text. In a file manager app like Samsung My Files, tap and hold a file or folder until a menu appears, then select Copy. Navigate to the destination folder, tap and hold in the empty space, and select Paste. Some file managers also let you cut files to move them instead of copying them.