The fastest way to copy an image on a Chromebook

Right-click the image and select Copy image from the menu that appears. The image is now in your clipboard and ready to paste into another program — open a document, email, or chat window, right-click where you want it, and select Paste. This works for images on websites, in Gmail, in Google Drive, and in most other places where images appear on your screen.

If right-clicking does not work on your Chromebook (some trackpads require a two-finger tap instead), hold down the Alt key and click the image once. The same menu will appear. On older Chromebooks or external mice, you may need to click and hold for a moment before the menu shows up.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any image and select Copy image to place it in your clipboard, then paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or the paste command.
  • If right-click does not work, try Alt+click or a two-finger trackpad tap, depending on your Chromebook model.
  • You can copy images from websites, Gmail, Google Drive, and most other web-based sources without needing to download them first.
  • Pasting works in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Google Chat, and any other web application that accepts images.
  • If an image is blocked from copying, you may need to download it instead using the right-click menu option Save image as.

Copying images from different sources on your Chromebook

The copy-and-paste method works the same way across most of the web, but the source matters for what you can do next. Images in Google Drive, Gmail attachments, and Google Photos all copy the same way — right-click and select Copy image — but images embedded in a website may have different permissions set by the site owner.

If you are copying an image from a website and want to keep it permanently, use Save image as instead of Copy image. This downloads the file to your Chromebook's Downloads folder, where it stays even if the website removes the image later. Right-click the image, select Save image as, choose where to save it, and give it a name if you want to change the default.

Using keyboard shortcuts to copy faster

Once you right-click and the menu appears, you do not have to use your trackpad to select Copy image. Press the down arrow key to highlight it, then press Enter. This is faster if you copy many images in a row.

After you copy an image, paste it with Ctrl+V in most programs — Google Docs, Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Slides all respond to this shortcut. In some older web applications or less common programs, you may need to right-click and select Paste from the menu instead, but Ctrl+V works in nearly all modern tools.

What to do if you cannot copy an image

Some websites block the right-click menu entirely or prevent copying through code. If right-clicking does nothing, try taking a screenshot instead. Press Ctrl+Shift+S on your Chromebook to open the screenshot tool, select the area around the image, and the screenshot saves to your Downloads folder. You can then open it and crop it to just the image you need.

Another option is to download the image using Save image as even if you cannot copy it. Right-click and look for this option — it often works even when Copy image is disabled. Once downloaded, you can open the file from your Downloads folder and copy it from there.

Pasting images into Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

After you copy an image, open the Google document or presentation where you want it. Click where you want the image to appear, then press Ctrl+V or right-click and select Paste. The image appears immediately — Google's apps handle image pasting faster than most other web tools.

In Google Docs, you can also use the menu: click Insert, then Image, then Paste from clipboard. This gives you the same result as Ctrl+V but takes more steps. In Google Sheets and Slides, Ctrl+V is the quickest route.

Copying images from Gmail and Gmail attachments

Images that arrive as email attachments can be copied the same way as any other image — right-click and select Copy image. The image goes into your clipboard and you can paste it into a document or another email right away.

If you want to keep the attachment, you can also right-click and select Save image as to download it, or click the download arrow next to the attachment name in Gmail. Copying is faster if you just need to use the image once; downloading is better if you want to store it or send it to someone else later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy images from Google Images search results?

Yes. Right-click any image in Google Images and select Copy image. Keep in mind that most images are owned by someone else, so copying them for your own use is fine, but republishing them online may violate copyright. Always check the image's license or source before sharing it publicly.

What if my Chromebook trackpad does not have a right-click?

Use Alt+click instead — hold Alt and click once on the image. The right-click menu will appear. On some older Chromebooks, you can also try clicking with two fingers at once. If neither works, check your Chromebook's settings under Trackpad to make sure right-click is turned on.

Does copying an image use data if I am on Wi-Fi?

Copying an image that is already loaded on your screen does not use additional data — the image was downloaded when the page loaded. If you copy an image and then paste it into a new tab or window, no extra data is used unless you are uploading it somewhere.

Can I copy multiple images at once?

No, the clipboard holds only one image at a time. Copy one image, paste it, then copy the next one. If you need many images, download them all using Save image as and then open them from your Downloads folder.