The basic method: tap, hold, and drag

Copying and pasting on an iPad works differently than on a computer because you use your fingers instead of a mouse. To copy text, tap and hold your finger on the word you want to copy until a menu appears. The menu will show options including Copy — tap that word to copy it to your clipboard.

Once you've copied something, move to where you want to paste it. Tap and hold in the empty space where you want the text to go. A menu will appear with a Paste option. Tap Paste and the text will appear in that spot.

This works in most apps on your iPad, including Mail, Notes, Safari, and most messaging apps. The process is the same whether you're copying a single word or multiple sentences.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold on text until a menu appears, then tap Copy to copy it to your clipboard.
  • To paste, tap and hold in the space where you want the text, then tap Paste from the menu.
  • You can select multiple lines or paragraphs by dragging the blue handles that appear after you tap and hold.
  • If you don't see a Paste option, the app may not support pasting, or your clipboard may be empty.
  • The iPad clipboard holds only one copied item at a time, so copying something new replaces what you copied before.

Selecting more than one word or line

When you tap and hold on text, blue handles (small circles) appear above and below the word. You can drag these handles to select more text. Drag the top handle backward to include words before your starting point, or drag the bottom handle forward to include words after it.

If you want to select an entire paragraph or block of text quickly, try double-tapping a word first, then dragging the handles. Some apps also let you triple-tap to select an entire paragraph at once, though this varies by app.

Once you have selected the amount of text you want, the Copy option will appear in the menu. Tap it, and all the selected text goes into your clipboard.

Copying and pasting between different apps

The iPad clipboard works across all your apps. If you copy text from Safari, you can paste it into Notes, Mail, or any other app that accepts text. The process is the same: copy in one app, switch to another app, and paste.

This is useful when you're researching something in Safari and want to save a quote in Notes, or when you want to email a web address to someone. Just copy the text or link in Safari, open Mail, tap where you want to paste, and tap Paste.

Keep in mind that the clipboard only holds one item. If you copy something new, it replaces what you copied before. If you need to keep multiple pieces of text, paste them all into a Notes document first, then copy them one at a time as you need them.

Copying images and links

You can copy images the same way you copy text. Tap and hold on an image until a menu appears, then tap Copy. You can then paste the image into Notes, Mail, or any app that accepts images.

Links work the same way. Tap and hold on a link in Safari or in an email, and you'll see options to copy the link. Once copied, you can paste it into a message, email, or document. This is faster than typing out a web address by hand.

Some apps also let you copy other things, like contact information or calendar events. The menu that appears when you tap and hold will show you what options are available for that particular item.

What to do if copy and paste isn't working

If you tap and hold but no menu appears, try tapping a bit longer — sometimes the menu takes a moment to show up. Make sure you're tapping directly on the text or image you want to copy, not on empty space nearby.

If the Paste option is grayed out or missing, it usually means your clipboard is empty. Go back to what you want to copy, tap and hold, and tap Copy again. Then return to where you want to paste and try again.

Some apps don't support copying or pasting. If you're in an app and the copy menu never appears no matter how long you hold, that app may not have this feature built in. Try copying the same text in a different app to see if the problem is with that specific app or with your iPad.

Using the iPad keyboard shortcut for copy and paste

If you have an external keyboard connected to your iPad, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of tapping. Select text by clicking and dragging with the trackpad or mouse, then press Command + C to copy and Command + V to paste. This works the same way as on a Mac or Windows computer.

If you're using an iPad keyboard case, you can also use these shortcuts. This is much faster than tapping and holding if you're doing a lot of copying and pasting. The keyboard shortcut method works in almost all apps that support copy and paste.

Clearing your clipboard and managing copied items

Your iPad doesn't have a built-in way to see what's currently in your clipboard or to clear it manually. The clipboard is cleared automatically when you restart your iPad, or when you copy something new (which replaces the old item).

If you're concerned about privacy and want to make sure something you copied is no longer in your clipboard, the safest method is to copy something harmless instead — like a space or a period. This replaces the old item with something that doesn't matter.

Some third-party apps offer clipboard managers that let you see and manage multiple copied items at once. These apps are optional and not needed for basic copy and paste, but they can be useful if you frequently need to switch between multiple pieces of copied text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between my iPad and my iPhone?

Yes, if both devices are signed into the same iCloud account and have Handoff turned on. Copy something on your iPad, then switch to your iPhone and paste it. This feature is called Universal Clipboard and works automatically — you don't need to set it up beyond having the same iCloud account on both devices.

What happens if I copy something and then turn off my iPad?

The clipboard is cleared when you restart your iPad. Anything you had copied will be gone. If you need to save something you copied, paste it into Notes or another app before restarting your device.

Why can't I paste into a certain app?

Some apps don't support pasting, or they only accept certain types of content. For example, an app might accept pasted text but not pasted images. If pasting doesn't work in one app, try pasting the same item into a different app to see if the problem is with that specific app.

Can I copy text from a PDF on my iPad?

Yes. Open the PDF in the Books app or Safari, tap and hold on the text you want to copy, then tap Copy. You can then paste it into any other app. Some PDFs have copy protection, which prevents this — if you can't copy from a PDF, the document itself may have restrictions.

Is there a way to copy multiple things at once without losing the first one?

The standard clipboard only holds one item at a time. To keep multiple pieces of text, paste them all into a Notes document first, then copy them one at a time as you need them. Alternatively, you can download a clipboard manager app from the App Store that lets you save and manage multiple copied items.