The basic method: tap, hold, and drag

To copy text on a Samsung tablet, tap and hold your finger on the word you want to copy. A menu will appear with a blue highlight box around that word. Drag the edges of the blue box left or right to select more text — the box expands to cover everything you want. When you have selected the text you need, tap Copy from the menu that appears above the highlighted text.

To paste that text somewhere else, tap and hold in the space where you want it to go. A menu will appear. Tap Paste. The text you copied will appear at that location. This works in email, text messages, web browsers, notes apps, and most other places where you can type.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap and hold on a word to select it, then drag the blue selection box to include more text before tapping Copy.
  • Paste by tapping and holding where you want the text to go, then selecting Paste from the menu.
  • You can copy and paste between different apps — text copied in a web browser can be pasted into an email or note.
  • If the Copy or Paste option does not appear, try tapping and holding for a full second before releasing.
  • Samsung tablets store only one copied item at a time, so copying something new replaces what you copied before.

Selecting text with your fingers instead of dragging

If dragging the selection box feels awkward, you can select text a different way. Tap once to place your cursor where you want to start. Then tap and hold at the end of the text you want to select. The blue highlight box will appear and expand backward to your cursor point. This method works better if you are selecting a large block of text or if your fingers are large.

On some Samsung tablets, you can also triple-tap a paragraph to select the entire block at once. This is faster if you need to copy a whole sentence or paragraph without adjusting the selection box.

Copying and pasting links and images

Links work the same way as text. Tap and hold on a link in a web browser or email, and a menu will appear with options including Copy link. Paste it into an email, message, or note the same way you would paste text.

Images cannot be copied the same way as text. Instead, tap and hold on an image in a web browser or app. A menu will appear with options like Copy image or Save image. Tap Copy image to copy it. You can then paste it into email, messaging apps, or photo editing apps by tapping and holding and selecting Paste. Some apps do not support pasting images, so the Paste option may not appear in those places.

Using the clipboard to see what you copied

Samsung tablets have a clipboard — a temporary storage space for everything you copy. On most Samsung tablets, you can view your clipboard by opening the keyboard and looking for a clipboard icon, usually shown as a small rectangle or document symbol. Tap it to see recent items you have copied.

The clipboard typically stores only your most recent copy. Once you copy something new, the old item is replaced. Some Samsung tablets with newer software versions may keep a history of multiple copied items, but this varies by model and Android version. If you need to save something you copied, paste it somewhere permanent like a note or email draft right away.

What to do if copy and paste is not working

If the Copy or Paste options do not appear when you tap and hold, try these steps. First, make sure you are tapping and holding for a full second — a quick tap will not bring up the menu. Second, check that the app you are using actually supports copying and pasting. Some apps, especially games or specialized tools, do not allow text selection.

If copy and paste still does not work, try closing the app completely and opening it again. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see all open apps, then swipe up on the app you were using to close it. Wait a few seconds, then open it again. If the problem continues across multiple apps, restart your tablet by holding the power button until a menu appears, then tap Restart.

Copying and pasting between your tablet and other devices

Samsung tablets can sync copied text with other Samsung devices like phones or computers if you have a Samsung account set up. This feature is called Samsung Flow or Clipboard sync, depending on your tablet model. To turn it on, open Settings, tap Advanced features, and look for an option related to clipboard or cross-device sharing. Enable it and sign in with your Samsung account.

Once enabled, text you copy on your tablet can be pasted on your phone or computer, and vice versa. This only works if all devices are signed into the same Samsung account and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you do not have a Samsung account or do not want to set up syncing, you can still copy and paste within your tablet using the standard method described above.

Keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste

If your Samsung tablet has a physical keyboard attached or paired via Bluetooth, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of tapping and holding. Select text using your mouse or trackpad, then press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. These shortcuts work in most apps and are often faster than the tap-and-hold method.

On-screen keyboards do not support these shortcuts — you must use the tap-and-hold method with the touchscreen. If you use your tablet for a lot of typing or document work, connecting a physical keyboard can make copying and pasting much quicker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between my Samsung tablet and an iPhone or iPad?

Not through Samsung's built-in sync feature. Samsung Flow only works between Samsung devices. However, you can manually copy text on your tablet and paste it into an email or message to send to an iPhone user, or use cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox to share text between different device types.

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

The copied text will be lost when you turn off the tablet. The clipboard is temporary storage that clears when the device shuts down. If you need to save something you copied, paste it into a note, email draft, or document before turning off the tablet.

Why does the paste option appear grayed out sometimes?

A grayed-out Paste option means the app does not allow pasting in that location, or you have not copied anything yet. Try copying text again and make sure you are tapping and holding in a text field where typing is allowed. Some apps restrict pasting for security reasons.

Can I copy multiple items at once without losing the first one?

Standard Samsung tablets store only one copied item at a time. However, some newer Samsung tablets with recent Android versions have a clipboard history feature that saves multiple items. Check your Settings under Advanced features to see if this option is available on your model.

Does copy and paste work the same way in all apps?

Most apps follow the same tap-and-hold method, but some specialized apps like games or certain productivity tools may not support copying and pasting, or may have their own way of doing it. If the standard method does not work in a specific app, check the app's help section or settings for instructions.