The basic way to copy a picture

To copy a picture, right-click on it and select Copy from the menu that appears. Then open the program where you want to paste it — an email, document, or messaging app — right-click in the blank space, and select Paste. The picture will appear in that new location.

On a phone or tablet, press and hold your finger on the picture until a menu pops up, then tap Copy. Open the app where you want it, press and hold in the blank space, and tap Paste.

This method works for pictures you find online, pictures stored on your device, or pictures in documents. The copy stays in your device's temporary memory — called the clipboard — until you copy something else or restart your device.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a picture on a computer and select Copy, then right-click where you want it and select Paste.
  • On a phone, press and hold the picture, tap Copy, then press and hold in your destination app and tap Paste.
  • You can copy pictures from websites, your photo library, emails, or documents using the same steps.
  • If Copy does not appear in the menu, the picture may be protected or the app may not support copying.

Copying pictures from websites

When you find a picture on a website, right-click directly on the image itself. A menu will appear with options including Copy Image or Copy. Select that option. The picture is now copied to your clipboard.

Open the program where you want to paste it — Word, Google Docs, an email, or a messaging app — and right-click in the space where you want the picture to go. Select Paste. The picture will appear there.

On a phone, open the website in your browser, press and hold on the picture until a menu appears, and tap Copy Image. Then switch to your destination app, press and hold in the text area, and tap Paste.

Copying pictures from your device's photo library

On a Windows computer, open File Explorer and navigate to your Pictures folder. Right-click the picture you want to copy and select Copy. Then open the program where you want it and paste as usual.

On a Mac, open Finder, go to Pictures, right-click the photo, and select Copy. Switch to your destination program and paste.

On an iPhone, open the Photos app, select the picture, tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up), and tap Copy. On an Android phone, open your photo app, press and hold the picture, and tap Copy.

Copying pictures from emails and documents

In an email program like Outlook or Gmail, right-click on any picture in the message and select Copy. Then paste it into another program the same way you would paste any other picture.

In a document like Word or Google Docs, right-click the picture and select Copy. You can then paste it into another document, email, or messaging app. This works even if the picture is embedded in the document.

Some programs may show slightly different menu options — for example, Copy Image instead of just Copy — but the result is the same. If you do not see a copy option, try right-clicking in a different spot on the picture or check whether the program supports copying.

What to do if Copy does not appear

If you right-click a picture and Copy does not show up in the menu, the picture may be protected or the website may have blocked copying. Some websites and apps prevent users from copying images this way for copyright reasons.

If the picture is in a document or email that you own, try right-clicking in a slightly different location on the image. Sometimes the menu changes depending on exactly where you click. If that does not work, the program itself may not support copying — in that case, you can take a screenshot instead.

On a phone, if Copy Image does not appear when you press and hold, the app may not allow copying. Try taking a screenshot of the picture instead, then crop it to show only what you need.

Using screenshots as an alternative

If copying does not work, you can take a screenshot of the picture instead. On a Windows computer, press Print Screen, then open Paint or another image program and paste. On a Mac, press Shift + Command + 4 to select the area you want to capture.

On an iPhone, press the side button and volume up button at the same time. On an Android phone, press the power button and volume down button together. The screenshot will save to your Photos app, and you can copy it from there using the normal copy steps.

Screenshots capture everything on your screen, so you may need to crop the image afterward to show only the picture you wanted. Most devices have a built-in crop tool in the Photos app or image viewer.

Copying multiple pictures at once

On a computer, you can select multiple pictures and copy them together. In File Explorer or Finder, click the first picture, then hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each additional picture you want. Right-click and select Copy. When you paste, all the pictures will appear in your destination program.

On a phone, most photo apps let you select multiple pictures by tapping Select or pressing and holding the first picture, then tapping others. Once selected, look for a Copy or Share option. Some phones and apps may paste multiple pictures as a group, while others paste them one at a time.

If your destination program does not support pasting multiple pictures at once, you may need to paste them one by one or use a different method like dragging and dropping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy a picture from a website without the website knowing?

Copying a picture to your clipboard does not notify the website or the picture's owner. However, using or sharing that picture may violate copyright law depending on how you use it. Copying for personal use is generally acceptable, but publishing or selling a picture you copied may not be.

What is the difference between copying and downloading a picture?

Copying puts the picture in your temporary clipboard so you can paste it into another program. Downloading saves the picture as a file to your device, usually in your Downloads or Pictures folder. Downloading is better if you want to keep the picture long-term; copying is faster if you just need it once.

Why does my picture look blurry or low quality after I paste it?

The picture quality depends on the original image and how the program you are pasting into handles it. Some programs compress images when you paste them, making them smaller and less sharp. If quality matters, try downloading the picture instead of copying it, or check your program's settings for paste options.

Can I copy a picture from a PDF?

Yes. Right-click on the picture in the PDF and select Copy Image or Copy. Then paste it into another program. If that does not work, try opening the PDF in a different program — some PDF readers do not support copying images.

What happens to the picture after I copy it?

The picture stays in your clipboard until you copy something else or restart your device. You can paste it as many times as you want before then. Once you copy a different picture or text, the old picture is replaced and you cannot paste it anymore.