The basic method works the same on iPad and Android tablets
To copy and paste on a tablet, you select the text or image you want, tap the copy command, move to where you want it, and tap paste. The exact steps depend on whether you're using an iPad or an Android tablet, but both follow the same principle: hold your finger on the content, choose copy from the menu that appears, then hold your finger where you want to paste and choose paste.
The process takes about five seconds once you know where to look. Most tablets don't have a right-click menu like a computer does, so the long-press (holding your finger down) is what brings up the copy and paste options instead.
Key Takeaways
- On both iPad and Android, hold your finger on text or an image until a menu appears, then tap Copy.
- Move to the location where you want to paste, hold your finger until the menu appears, and tap Paste.
- Some apps have their own copy and paste buttons in the toolbar instead of using the long-press menu.
- If copy and paste are greyed out or missing, the app may not support the feature or you may not have permission to edit that content.
How to copy and paste on an iPad
On an iPad, hold your finger on the text or image you want to copy. After about one second, a menu will pop up with options including Copy, Cut, and sometimes Look Up or Share. Tap Copy. The content is now saved to your clipboard.
Next, open the app or document where you want to paste the content. Hold your finger on the spot where you want it to go. A menu will appear with Paste as one of the options. Tap Paste, and the content appears when ready. If you want to paste the same thing multiple times, you only need to copy it once — the clipboard keeps it until you copy something else.
If you're copying text from a website or document and want to select only part of it, hold your finger on the first word, then drag the blue handles that appear to the left and right until you've highlighted exactly what you need. Then tap Copy.
How to copy and paste on an Android tablet
The process on Android tablets is nearly identical to iPad. Hold your finger on the text or image until a menu appears. You'll see options like Copy, Cut, Share, and sometimes Select All. Tap Copy to save it to your clipboard.
Move to where you want to paste it. Hold your finger on that spot until the menu appears, then tap Paste. On some Android tablets, the paste option may say "Paste" or "Insert" depending on the app you're using. If you don't see a Paste option, the app may not support pasting in that location, or you may need to tap in a text field first.
To select only part of the text, hold your finger on the first word until selection handles appear, then drag them to highlight what you need. Some Android tablets also let you double-tap a word to select just that word, then drag the handles to expand the selection.
Copying and pasting images and links
Copying images works the same way as text. Hold your finger on the image until a menu appears, then tap Copy. You can then paste it into another app, email, or document. Some apps let you copy images directly to your clipboard, while others may ask you to save the image first.
To copy a link (the web address of a page or article), hold your finger on the link itself, not the text around it. A menu will appear with options like Copy Link or Copy URL. Tap that option, then paste the link wherever you need it — in an email, a message, or a note-taking app.
If you're trying to copy something from a website and the long-press menu doesn't appear, try holding your finger longer, or try a different spot on the content. Some websites block copying to protect their content, in which case the copy option straightforward won't show up.
When copy and paste don't work
If you hold your finger on text but no menu appears, the app may not support copying. Some apps, particularly games and certain social media platforms, disable the copy function for security or design reasons. Try closing the app and reopening it, or restart your tablet if the problem persists across multiple apps.
If the Copy option appears but Paste is greyed out or missing, you may be trying to paste into a location that doesn't accept text — for example, a search field that only accepts numbers, or a read-only document you don't have permission to edit. Check whether the app or document allows editing before you try to paste.
On iPad, if copy and paste stop working suddenly, check Settings > General > Keyboard and make sure "Shortcuts" is turned on. On Android, go to Settings > Apps and clear the cache for the app you're having trouble with, then try again.
Using the clipboard history and paste options
Both iPad and Android tablets keep your most recent copy in the clipboard, but they don't store a history of multiple copies the way some computers do. Once you copy something new, the previous item is replaced. If you need to keep multiple pieces of text, paste them into a notes app first so you can access them later.
Some tablets and apps offer a clipboard manager — a separate tool that saves multiple copies so you can choose which one to paste. On iPad, you can access recent items you've copied by holding your finger in a text field and looking for a Paste option with a dropdown arrow. On Android, some devices have a clipboard app in the settings, though this varies by manufacturer.
If you're copying the same text repeatedly, consider using a notes app to store it. Most tablets come with a built-in Notes app (Apple Notes on iPad, Google Keep on Android) where you can save frequently used text and copy it whenever you need it.
Copy and paste in different apps
Most apps follow the standard long-press method, but some have their own copy and paste buttons in the toolbar or menu. Email apps like Gmail often have a copy button in the message itself. Document apps like Google Docs or Microsoft Word may have Copy and Paste buttons in the top toolbar instead of using the long-press menu.
In messaging apps like WhatsApp or iMessage, you can usually copy text by holding your finger on a message, then tapping Copy from the menu. Pasting works the same way — hold your finger in the text field where you want to paste and tap Paste.
If an app has its own copy and paste buttons, they typically work faster than the long-press method because you don't have to wait for the menu to appear. Look for a three-dot menu icon or an Edit option in the app's toolbar to find these buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between different apps on my tablet?
Yes. When you copy something in one app, it goes to your tablet's clipboard and can be pasted into any other app that supports pasting. This works across email, messaging, notes, documents, and most other apps. The only exception is when an app doesn't support pasting, which is rare.
What's the difference between copy and cut?
Copy leaves the original text or image where it is and creates a duplicate to paste elsewhere. Cut removes the original and moves it to your clipboard so you can paste it in a new location. Use Cut when you want to move something, and Copy when you want to keep the original and make a duplicate.
Why does my tablet paste the wrong thing?
Your tablet pastes whatever was most recently copied to the clipboard. If you copied something else after the item you wanted, that newer item will paste instead. To avoid this, paste when ready after copying, or use a notes app to store text you plan to use later.
Can I copy and paste between my tablet and my computer?
Not directly through the clipboard — tablets and computers don't share a clipboard by default. However, you can use cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to copy text into a document on your tablet, then access that document on your computer. Email also works: copy the text, email it to yourself, and paste it on your computer.
How do I select all the text in a document to copy it?
Hold your finger on the text until the menu appears, then tap Select All. This highlights all the text in that field or document, and you can then tap Copy. On some apps, you can also use a keyboard shortcut: press Ctrl+A on Android or Command+A on iPad if your tablet has a connected keyboard.