The basic method works the same on most tablets
To copy and paste on a tablet, you select the text or image you want, tap the copy option, then tap where you want it and select paste. The exact steps depend on whether you are using an iPad, Android tablet, or another system, but the principle is identical: highlight what you need, copy it, move to a new location, and paste it there.
Most tablets let you copy from one app and paste into another. You can copy text from a web browser and paste it into an email, or copy an image from a photo app and paste it into a document. The clipboard — the tablet's temporary storage space — holds what you copied until you copy something else or restart the device.
Key Takeaways
- On most tablets, you select text by tapping and holding until a menu appears, then tap copy, navigate to where you want the text, and tap paste.
- iPad uses a three-finger pinch gesture to undo and redo, which is useful when pasting goes wrong.
- Android tablets let you long-press text to select it, and the copy-paste menu usually appears automatically.
- If paste is greyed out or missing, the app you are using may not support pasting, or you may need to select text first.
- Copying images works the same way as copying text on most tablets — tap and hold the image, then select copy from the menu.
How to copy and paste text on an iPad
On an iPad, tap and hold the text you want to copy until a menu appears. You will see options including copy. Tap copy, then navigate to the app or location where you want to paste the text. Tap and hold in the empty space where you want the text to go, then tap paste from the menu that appears.
If you want to select more than a few words, tap and hold at the start of the text, then drag to the end. The text will highlight in blue. Once it is highlighted, tap copy. This method works in Safari, Mail, Notes, and most other built-in iPad apps.
If you make a mistake after pasting, use three fingers to pinch the screen to undo. Pinch again to redo if you change your mind. This gesture works across most iPad apps and is faster than hunting for an undo button.
How to copy and paste text on an Android tablet
On an Android tablet, long-press the text you want to copy. The text will highlight, and a toolbar will appear above it with options including copy. Tap copy. Then open the app or location where you want to paste, long-press in the empty space, and tap paste from the menu.
If you need to select a large block of text, long-press at the start, then drag to the end. The selection handles (small circles at the edges) let you adjust the selection if you went too far. Once the text is highlighted the way you want it, tap copy.
Some Android tablets have a clipboard manager built in, which stores multiple items you have copied. You can usually access it by swiping down from the top of the screen and looking for a clipboard icon, though this varies by tablet brand and Android version.
Copying and pasting images on a tablet
To copy an image, tap and hold it until a menu appears. Select copy from the options. Then navigate to where you want to paste it — a document, email, or messaging app — tap and hold in the space where you want the image, and select paste.
Some apps do not support pasting images directly. If paste is greyed out or missing, try a different app. For example, you may be able to paste an image into Notes or a document editor but not into certain messaging apps, depending on how those apps are designed.
If you want to copy an image from a website, tap and hold the image itself, not the text around it. A menu will appear with options specific to images, such as copy image or save image. Tap copy image to put it on your clipboard.
What to do when copy and paste is not working
If the paste option is greyed out or missing, the most common reason is that you have not selected any text yet. Go back and tap and hold the text or image you want to copy, wait for the menu to appear, and tap copy before moving to the next step.
If you copied something a long time ago and the tablet has been restarted, the clipboard may have been cleared. Copy the text or image again, then paste when ready. Most tablets keep the clipboard in memory only, so restarting the device erases it.
Some apps do not support pasting. If you are trying to paste into a specific app and paste never appears as an option, that app may not have been designed to accept pasted content. Try pasting into a different app to confirm the copy worked, then choose a different app for that task in the future.
Copying and pasting between different apps
Tablets are designed to let you copy from one app and paste into another. You can copy a link from Safari and paste it into an email in Mail, or copy text from a document and paste it into a note. The clipboard does not care which app you are using — it just holds whatever you copied last.
When you paste text from one app into another, the formatting sometimes changes. For example, if you copy bold text from a web page and paste it into a plain-text note, the bold formatting may disappear. If you need to keep the formatting, look for a paste special option, which some apps offer. Otherwise, accept that the new app will format the text according to its own rules.
Keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste on tablets with keyboards
If your tablet has a physical keyboard attached or a keyboard case, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of tapping menus. On most tablets, Ctrl+C copies and Ctrl+V pastes (or Command+C and Command+V on iPad). First select the text by clicking and dragging with the keyboard and trackpad, then use the shortcut.
Keyboard shortcuts are faster than tapping menus if you do a lot of copying and pasting. They work in most apps, though some older or specialized apps may not recognize them. If a shortcut does not work, fall back to the tap-and-hold method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste between my tablet and my phone?
Not directly through the clipboard — each device has its own separate clipboard. However, you can use cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to share text and images between devices. Copy the text on your tablet, paste it into a cloud document, then open that document on your phone and copy it again.
What happens to my clipboard when I restart my tablet?
The clipboard is erased when you restart. If you copied something important, paste it somewhere permanent — like a note or document — before restarting. Once the tablet shuts down, anything on the clipboard is gone.
Why does my pasted text look different from the original?
Different apps format text differently. When you paste into a new app, it applies that app's formatting rules. If the original text was bold or colored, a plain-text app will strip that formatting. Some apps offer paste special options that let you choose whether to keep or remove formatting.
Can I copy multiple things at once and paste them all later?
Standard tablets keep only one item on the clipboard at a time. When you copy something new, it replaces what you copied before. Some Android tablets have a clipboard manager that stores multiple items, but you have to access it through a menu rather than pasting directly.
Does copy and paste work the same way in all tablet apps?
Most apps follow the same copy-and-paste rules, but some specialized apps do not support pasting. Games, certain creative apps, and some older apps may not let you paste content. If an app does not have a paste option, try a different app designed for that task.