The basic method works the same on most tablets
To copy and paste on a tablet, tap and hold the text you want to copy until a menu appears, then tap "Copy". Navigate to where you want to paste it, tap and hold again, and select "Paste". The exact wording and position of these options varies slightly between iPad and Android tablets, but the tap-and-hold action is the same on both.
This method works in most apps — email, messaging, notes, web browsers, and documents. Some apps have their own rules, which we'll cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Tap and hold on text until a menu appears, then tap "Copy" to copy it to your tablet's clipboard.
- Tap and hold in the location where you want to paste, then select "Paste" from the menu that appears.
- On iPad, you can also use the three-finger swipe gesture: swipe left with three fingers to undo, swipe right to redo, and pinch with three fingers to copy.
- Some apps like Google Docs and Microsoft Word have their own copy and paste buttons in the toolbar, which may be easier than the tap-and-hold method.
- If paste is greyed out or doesn't appear, the app may not support pasting, or your clipboard may be empty.
How to copy text on iPad
On an iPad, tap and hold directly on the word or phrase you want to copy. A blue highlight will appear around the text, and a menu will pop up above it. Tap "Copy" from that menu. If you need to select more than one word, tap and hold, then drag the blue handles at either end of the selection to expand it before tapping "Copy".
You can also select all text in a document or text field by tapping and holding, then tapping "Select All" from the menu. This copies everything at once.
How to copy text on Android tablets
On Android tablets, the process is nearly identical. Tap and hold on the text you want to copy until it highlights in blue. A toolbar will appear above or below the selection with options including "Copy". Tap "Copy" to add the text to your clipboard.
If you need to select more text, drag the blue handles at the edges of the selection outward. Some Android tablets show a "Select All" option in the same menu if you want to copy everything at once.
How to paste on both iPad and Android
Once you've copied text, open the app or document where you want to paste it. Tap and hold in the location where you want the text to appear — usually in a text field or document. A menu will pop up with a "Paste" option. Tap "Paste" to insert the copied text.
If "Paste" is greyed out or doesn't appear, it usually means either the app doesn't support pasting, or your clipboard is empty (you haven't copied anything yet). Try copying something again and then attempting to paste.
Keyboard shortcuts for faster copying and pasting
If your tablet is connected to a keyboard, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of tap-and-hold. On both iPad and Android, Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on iPad) copies selected text, and Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on iPad) pastes it. First select the text by tapping and dragging, or by triple-tapping to select a paragraph, then use the keyboard shortcut.
These shortcuts work in most apps, including email, notes, web browsers, and document editors. They're much faster than the tap-and-hold method if you're doing a lot of copying and pasting.
Copying and pasting in specific apps
Some apps like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Apple Pages have their own copy and paste buttons in the toolbar at the top or bottom of the screen. Look for scissors (cut), overlapping squares (copy), or a clipboard icon (paste). These buttons work the same way as the tap-and-hold method but may be easier to find and tap, especially if you're working with formatted text or images.
In web browsers, copying a link is slightly different. Tap and hold on the link itself (not the text around it), and you'll see an option to "Copy Link" rather than "Copy". This copies the URL to your clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere.
What to do if copy and paste isn't working
If you tap and hold but no menu appears, try tapping a bit longer — some apps require a longer hold before the menu shows up. If the menu appears but "Paste" is greyed out, your clipboard is empty. Copy something first, then try pasting again.
If an app consistently doesn't let you paste, it may not support the feature. Some apps restrict pasting for security reasons (like password managers) or because they're designed to only accept input in a specific way. Try a different app or contact the app's support team if you think it's a bug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste images on a tablet?
Yes. Tap and hold on an image until a menu appears, then tap "Copy Image" or "Copy". Navigate to where you want to paste it, tap and hold, and select "Paste". This works in most apps, though some may only let you save the image instead of pasting it directly.
What's the difference between copy and cut?
Copy leaves the original text where it is and puts a duplicate on your clipboard. Cut removes the text from its original location and puts it on your clipboard. When you paste, both look the same — the text appears in the new location. Use cut when you want to move text, and copy when you want to keep the original.
Can I copy text from a website on my tablet?
Yes. Open the website in your browser, tap and hold on the text you want to copy, and tap "Copy" from the menu. Then navigate to where you want to paste it and use the paste function. Some websites may prevent copying for copyright reasons, in which case the copy option won't appear.
How do I know if something is on my clipboard?
You don't get a notification, but if you tap and hold in a text field and "Paste" appears (not greyed out), something is on your clipboard. If "Paste" is greyed out, your clipboard is empty and you need to copy something first.
Can I copy and paste between my tablet and my phone?
On iPad, you can use Universal Clipboard if both devices are signed into the same iCloud account — copy on one device and paste on the other. On Android, this feature isn't built in, but some apps like Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote let you sync copied text across devices.