The basic method works the same way on most tablets
Copying and pasting on a tablet uses the same idea as on a computer — you select text or an image, copy it to a temporary holding space, then paste it somewhere else. The main difference is that you use your fingers instead of a mouse, and the menus appear as floating buttons rather than dropdown lists.
On both iPad and Android tablets, the process starts with a long press (holding your finger on the screen for about a second) on the text or image you want to copy. A menu will pop up with options including "Copy". After you copy, you navigate to where you want to paste it — a text message, an email, a document — and long-press again to see the "Paste" option.
Key Takeaways
- Long-press (hold your finger for about one second) on text or an image to bring up the copy menu on any tablet.
- On iPad, you can select multiple lines by dragging the blue handles that appear after your first long-press.
- On Android tablets, the copy and paste buttons appear in a floating toolbar above your selection, not in a dropdown menu.
- If paste is grayed out or missing, the app you are trying to paste into may not support pasting, or you may need to tap in a text field first.
How to copy text on iPad
Long-press on any word in the text you want to copy. A menu will appear with "Copy" as one of the options. If you want to copy more than one word, you will see two blue handles (small circles) appear above and below the word you pressed. Drag these handles to expand your selection to include all the text you need.
Once your selection is highlighted in blue and covers everything you want, tap "Copy" from the menu. The text is now in your clipboard — you will not see it anywhere, but it is ready to paste. If you copy something new before you paste, the old text is replaced.
How to copy text on Android tablets
Long-press on any word in the text you want to copy. A toolbar will appear above the text with options like "Copy", "Cut", and sometimes "Share". If you need to select more text, drag the blue handles that appear at the start and end of your selection.
Tap "Copy" from the toolbar. On some Android tablets, the toolbar disappears after you copy, which is normal — your text is still in the clipboard. On others, the toolbar stays visible. Either way, you are ready to paste.
How to paste on iPad
Navigate to the app or document where you want to paste the text. Tap in the text field or document where you want the text to go — you should see a cursor (a blinking line) appear. Long-press in that spot, and a menu will appear with "Paste" as one of the options. Tap "Paste".
If "Paste" is grayed out or missing, it usually means either you have not copied anything yet, or the app does not allow pasting in that particular field. Some apps, like certain password managers or secure messaging apps, disable pasting for security reasons.
How to paste on Android tablets
Open the app or document where you want to paste. Tap in the text field where you want the text to appear — you should see a cursor. Long-press in that field, and a toolbar will appear with "Paste" as one of the options. Tap "Paste".
If you do not see a "Paste" option, make sure you have actually tapped inside a text field (not just on the app screen). Some apps also disable pasting in certain fields. If pasting still does not work, try copying the text again and then pasting.
Copying and pasting images on tablets
The process for images is similar to text. Long-press on an image in a web browser, email, or document. A menu will appear with options like "Copy Image" or "Copy Photo". Tap that option. The image is now in your clipboard.
To paste the image, open the app where you want it — a document, email, or messaging app — and long-press in the area where you want to paste. Tap "Paste" from the menu. Not all apps support pasting images; if the option does not appear, that app may not have that feature.
What to do when copy and paste is not working
If copy and paste stops working, the first step is to make sure you are long-pressing long enough — a quick tap will not bring up the menu. Try holding your finger on the text for a full second before lifting. If the menu still does not appear, try closing and reopening the app.
If you can copy but cannot paste, check that you are tapping inside a text field (you should see a cursor appear). Some apps do not allow pasting for security or design reasons. If pasting works in other apps but not one specific app, that app may have a limitation. Restarting your tablet can also fix temporary glitches with copy and paste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between different apps?
Yes. You can copy text from a web browser and paste it into an email, or copy from a document and paste into a messaging app. The clipboard holds whatever you copied last, regardless of which app it came from.
What happens if I copy something new before I paste?
The new item replaces the old one in your clipboard. If you copy text, then copy an image, the image is now what will paste — the text is gone. There is no way to get the old item back unless you copy it again.
Why does my tablet sometimes show a menu with more options than just copy?
Different apps and websites add their own options to the copy menu. You might see "Copy Link", "Share", "Define", or "Search Web" depending on what you long-pressed on and which app you are using. You can ignore the extra options and just tap "Copy".
Can I paste text that I copied on my phone into my tablet?
On iPad, yes — if you use the same Apple account on both devices and have iCloud Clipboard turned on, text you copy on one device appears in the clipboard on the other. On Android, this does not happen automatically, though some apps like Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote can sync copied text across devices if you set them up.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for copy and paste on tablets?
On iPad with a keyboard attached, you can use Command+C to copy and Command+V to paste, just like on a computer. On Android tablets with a keyboard, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V work in some apps but not all — long-pressing is more reliable across all apps.