The fastest way to copy an email
To copy an entire email message, open it in your email program, then use Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all the text. Then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy it. Open a document, text field, or new email and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste.
This method copies the text and basic formatting — the sender's name, subject line, date, and the message body. It does not copy attachments. If you need the attachments too, you will need to save or forward them separately, which is covered below.
The keyboard shortcuts work the same way in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and most other email services. If keyboard shortcuts do not work in your email program, you can also right-click the email text and select "Copy" from the menu that appears, then right-click where you want to paste and select "Paste".
Key Takeaways
- Use Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+A then Command+C (Mac) to copy an entire email, then Ctrl+V or Command+V to paste it anywhere.
- Copying an email this way includes the sender, subject, date, and message text, but not attachments.
- To copy an email with attachments, forward it to yourself or save it as a file instead of using copy and paste.
- Right-click menus work as an alternative to keyboard shortcuts if your keyboard shortcuts are not responding.
- Different email services (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) all use the same copy-and-paste method.
Copying just part of an email
If you only need a portion of the email — a paragraph, a phone number, or a sentence — you can select just that part instead of the whole message. Click at the start of the text you want, then drag your mouse to the end of it. The selected text will highlight in blue (or another color, depending on your device). Then press Ctrl+C or Command+C to copy it.
On a touchscreen or laptop trackpad, you can also double-click a word to select it, then drag to expand the selection. Once the text is highlighted, copy it the same way.
This is useful when an email contains multiple pieces of information and you only need one of them — for example, copying just an address or a date from a longer message.
Copying emails with attachments
Copy and paste does not bring attachments along with the email text. If you need to move an email that has files attached, use your email program's forward or save feature instead.
In Gmail, open the email and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right. Select "Forward" and send it to yourself or to whoever needs it. The attachments will come along. In Outlook, right-click the email in your inbox and select "Forward", or open it and click the "Forward" button at the top. In Yahoo Mail, open the email and click "Forward" near the top of the message.
If you want to save the entire email as a file on your computer, most email programs have a "Save as" or "Export" option. In Gmail, you will need to use a third-party tool or forward the email to a service that converts it. In Outlook, right-click the email and select "Save As", then choose where to save it and what format you want (usually .msg or .eml). In Yahoo Mail, this option is not built in, so forwarding is the easiest method.
Pasting email text into different places
Once you have copied an email, you can paste it into a document, another email, a text message, a web form, or almost anywhere else that accepts text. The steps are always the same: position your cursor where you want the text to go, then press Ctrl+V or Command+V.
When you paste an email into a word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, the formatting usually comes along — bold text stays bold, line breaks stay in place, and so on. When you paste into a plain text field (like a search box or a text message), only the text itself pastes; the formatting is stripped away.
If you paste an email into a new email message and the formatting looks wrong, try pasting as plain text instead. In most email programs, you can right-click and select "Paste as plain text" or use a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Command+Shift+V (Mac).
What happens to links and images when you copy
Links in an email stay clickable when you copy and paste the email text. The actual web address is preserved, so if someone clicks the link in the pasted version, it will take them to the same place.
Images embedded in the email (pictures that appear inside the message itself) usually do not paste along with the text. If you paste an email with images into a document or another email, the images will be missing. The text around them will still be there, but the pictures themselves will not show up. If you need the images, take a screenshot of the email or use the forward method described above.
Troubleshooting when copy and paste is not working
If Ctrl+C or Ctrl+V is not working, first check that you are using the correct keys for your device. Windows uses Ctrl; Mac uses Command (the key with the Apple logo). If you are on a Mac and using Ctrl instead of Command, the shortcuts will not work.
If the correct shortcuts are not working, try using the right-click menu instead. Click on the text you want to copy, right-click it, and select "Copy" from the menu. Then right-click where you want to paste and select "Paste". This method works on almost all devices and email programs.
Some email programs or web browsers block copy and paste for security reasons. If right-click menus do not show a "Copy" or "Paste" option, or if neither method works, try a different browser or contact your email provider's support team. You can also try forwarding the email to yourself as a workaround.
Copying emails on phones and tablets
On an iPhone or iPad, open the email and press and hold on the text until a menu appears. Tap "Copy" to copy the selected text, or use the menu to select all text first. Then open where you want to paste it, press and hold, and tap "Paste".
On an Android phone or tablet, the process is similar. Press and hold on the text, tap "Copy", then press and hold where you want to paste and tap "Paste". Some Android email apps have a menu button (three dots) at the top of the email; tapping it may show a "Copy" or "Select all" option.
Copying and pasting on mobile devices works the same way as on a computer, but the menu appears when you press and hold instead of when you right-click. If you need to copy an entire email on your phone, look for a "Select all" option in the menu, or try pressing and holding at the very beginning of the message and dragging to the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy an email from one email account and paste it into another?
Yes. Copy the email text from one account and paste it into a new message in the other account. The text will paste as a regular message. If you need to preserve the original sender information or want to keep the email organized, forwarding it instead of copying and pasting is usually better.
Will copying an email change anything in the original?
No. Copying an email does not modify or delete the original message. It only creates a copy of the text that you can paste elsewhere. The original email stays in your inbox unchanged.
What if the email has a lot of formatting and it looks wrong when I paste it?
Try pasting as plain text instead of regular paste. Use Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or Command+Shift+V (Mac), or right-click and select "Paste as plain text". This removes all formatting and pastes only the words, which can help if the formatting is broken or looks messy.
Can I copy an email and paste it into a PDF?
You can paste the email text into most PDF editors, but not into a PDF file that is locked or read-only. If you can edit the PDF, open it in a PDF editor, click where you want the text, and paste. If the PDF is locked, you will need to unlock it first or save the email as a PDF file separately.
Why do images disappear when I copy and paste an email?
Images embedded in emails are stored separately from the text. When you copy and paste, only the text transfers. To keep the images, forward the email instead, or take a screenshot of the email and paste the image file.