The basic method works the same on most tablets
Copy and paste on a tablet uses the same three steps as on a computer: select the text or image you want, copy it, then paste it somewhere else. The main difference is that you use your finger instead of a mouse, and the menu appears as a floating toolbar rather than a right-click menu. On both iPad and Android tablets, the process takes about the same number of taps.
The speed and ease depend partly on what app you are using. Some apps — like Notes, Mail, and web browsers — support copy and paste fully. Others, especially older games or specialized tools, may not let you copy at all. If you cannot see a copy option when you select text, that app probably does not support it.
Key Takeaways
- Select text by tapping and holding until a menu appears, then drag the blue handles to expand your selection.
- Tap Copy from the floating menu, then move to where you want the text and tap Paste.
- On iPad, you can also use the keyboard shortcuts Command+C to copy and Command+V to paste if you have a physical keyboard attached.
- Copying images works the same way — tap and hold the image, then choose Copy from the menu that appears.
- If you cannot see a copy option, the app may not support copying, or you may need to select the text differently.
How to select and copy text on iPad
Tap and hold your finger on the word you want to copy. After about half a second, the word highlights in blue and a menu appears above it with options including Copy. If you only need that one word, tap Copy and you are done — the word is now in your clipboard.
If you need more than one word, do not tap Copy yet. Instead, you will see two blue circle handles — one at the start of the word and one at the end. Drag these handles to expand your selection to include all the text you want. Drag the left handle backward to include words before the first word, and drag the right handle forward to include words after. Once your selection covers everything you need, tap Copy.
Some apps let you triple-tap to select an entire paragraph at once, which is faster than dragging handles. Try triple-tapping a paragraph and see if it highlights the whole thing. If it does, tap Copy immediately.
How to select and copy text on Android tablets
The process on Android is nearly identical to iPad. Tap and hold your finger on the word you want to copy until it highlights and a menu appears. You will see the same blue handles at the start and end of the selection. Drag them to expand your selection to include all the text you need.
Once your selection is correct, tap Copy from the menu. The text is now in your clipboard and ready to paste. On some Android tablets, the menu may say "Copy to clipboard" instead of just "Copy" — either way, it does the same thing.
If the menu disappears before you can tap Copy, tap and hold again on the selected text. The menu should reappear.
How to paste text you have copied
Open the app or document where you want to paste the text. Tap and hold your finger in the spot where you want the text to go. A menu will appear with a Paste option. Tap Paste, and the text you copied will appear at that location.
On iPad with a keyboard attached, you can also press Command+V instead of using the menu. On Android, if you have a keyboard attached, you can press Ctrl+V. These keyboard shortcuts are faster once you get used to them, but the tap-and-hold menu works just as well.
If you do not see a Paste option in the menu, either you have not copied anything yet, or the app does not support pasting. Try copying something again and then returning to paste.
Copying and pasting images on tablets
Copying an image works almost exactly like copying text. Tap and hold your finger on the image until a menu appears. Look for an option that says Copy, Copy Image, or sometimes just the image icon. Tap that option and the image is copied to your clipboard.
To paste the image, open the app where you want it — such as Mail, Notes, or a messaging app — and tap and hold in the area where you want to place it. Tap Paste from the menu, and the image will appear. Not all apps support pasting images, so if you do not see a Paste option, that app may not allow it.
Some apps let you copy images in a different way. In a web browser, for example, you might need to tap and hold the image and choose "Copy Image" from a menu that specifically mentions images. The exact wording varies by app, but the result is the same — the image goes into your clipboard.
What to do if copy and paste is not working
If you tap and hold but no menu appears, try waiting a full second before lifting your finger. Some tablets need a longer press to trigger the menu. If a menu appears but you do not see Copy as an option, the app may not support copying — this is common in games and some specialized tools.
If you can copy but cannot paste, make sure you are in an app that supports pasting. Notes, Mail, Messages, and web browsers all support paste. Some apps, like certain games or read-only document viewers, do not. Try pasting into a different app to see if the problem is with the app or with your clipboard.
If nothing works, try closing the app completely and opening it again. Sometimes a glitch will prevent copy and paste from working until you restart the app. On iPad, swipe up from the bottom to see all open apps, then swipe up on the app you want to close. On Android, open your recent apps and swipe the app away.
Using keyboard shortcuts for faster copying and pasting
If you have a physical keyboard connected to your tablet, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of the tap-and-hold menu. On iPad, select the text you want and press Command+C to copy. Then move to where you want to paste and press Command+V. These shortcuts work in almost every app that supports copy and paste.
On Android tablets with a keyboard, use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. The process is the same — select, press Ctrl+C, move to the destination, and press Ctrl+V. Keyboard shortcuts are faster once you remember them, but they are optional — the menu method works just as well without a keyboard.
Some tablets also support a three-finger swipe gesture for copy and paste. On iPad, you can swipe left with three fingers to undo, swipe right with three fingers to redo, and pinch with three fingers to copy. Check your tablet's settings to see if these gestures are turned on, as they are not enabled by default on all models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy text from a website on my tablet?
Yes. Open the website in your browser, tap and hold the text you want to copy, and tap Copy from the menu. You can then paste it into Notes, Mail, or any other app that supports pasting. Some websites may prevent copying for copyright reasons, in which case you will not see a Copy option.
What is the difference between copy and cut?
Copy leaves the original text where it is and puts a duplicate in your clipboard. Cut removes the text from its original location and puts it in your clipboard. Both work the same way on tablets — tap and hold, then choose either Copy or Cut from the menu. Use Cut when you want to move text from one place to another.
Can I copy and paste between different apps?
Yes. You can copy text from a web browser and paste it into Notes, or copy from Mail and paste into a messaging app. Your clipboard holds whatever you last copied, regardless of which app you copied it from, so you can move between apps freely.
Why does my pasted text look different from the original?
When you paste text, the new app may apply its own formatting — different font, size, or color. This is normal. If you want to paste text without any formatting, some apps offer a "Paste and Match Style" option that makes the pasted text match the surrounding text instead.
Can I copy multiple things at once?
No. Your clipboard holds only one item at a time. When you copy something new, it replaces what you copied before. If you need to copy several things, copy the first one and paste it immediately, then go back and copy the next one.