The basic method works the same on most tablets

To copy text on a tablet, press and hold your finger on the word you want to copy until a menu appears. The menu will show options like "Copy" or "Select All". Tap "Copy" to place the text in your tablet's clipboard. Then open the app or document where you want the text to go, press and hold in the empty space, and tap "Paste".

The exact wording of the menu changes between iPad and Android tablets, but the process is identical: select, copy, move, paste. Most tablets let you copy text from emails, web pages, notes, and documents. Some apps restrict copying for security or copyright reasons — you'll know because the menu won't appear or "Copy" will be greyed out.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold on text until a menu appears, then tap "Copy" to save it to your clipboard.
  • Open the destination app or document, press and hold in an empty space, and tap "Paste" to insert the text.
  • You can select a single word, a sentence, or multiple paragraphs by dragging the selection handles that appear after the first press-and-hold.
  • Some apps prevent copying for security reasons, in which case the "Copy" option will not appear in the menu.
  • Your clipboard holds only one item at a time, so copying something new replaces what was previously copied.

Selecting more than one word or line

When you press and hold on a word, your tablet highlights that word and shows two small handles (blue dots or lines) at the start and end of the selection. Drag these handles left, right, up, or down to expand or shrink your selection to include exactly what you need.

On an iPad, you can also double-tap a word to select it, then tap "Select All" from the menu to copy an entire paragraph or document at once. On Android tablets, the process is similar — double-tap to select a word, then drag the handles or use "Select All" if the option appears.

Copying from different apps and sources

Copying from a web browser works the same way: press and hold on the text you want, tap "Copy", then switch to your destination app and paste. Some websites block copying to protect their content — if the menu doesn't appear, try selecting the text a different way or copying a smaller section.

Copying from email, notes, or documents uses the same method. In email apps like Gmail or Outlook, you can copy the sender's address, the subject line, or the body text. In note-taking apps like Notes or OneNote, you can copy text you've written or text from shared documents. The clipboard works across all apps, so text you copy in one app can be pasted into any other app that accepts text input.

What to do if copy and paste isn't working

If the menu doesn't appear when you press and hold, the app may not support copying, or you may not have pressed long enough. Try pressing for a full second or two before lifting your finger. If the menu appears but "Copy" is greyed out or missing, the app or website is blocking the action — this is common on banking apps, password managers, and some news sites.

If you copied text but "Paste" doesn't appear in the destination app, that app may not accept pasted text. Some apps only let you type manually. Try opening a different app — Notes, Messages, or Email — to test whether your clipboard is working. If paste works in one app but not another, the problem is with that specific app, not your tablet.

Copying images and other content

The same press-and-hold method works for images. Press and hold on a photo in your browser, email, or photo app until a menu appears, then tap "Copy" or "Copy Image". You can then paste the image into Notes, Mail, Messages, or any app that accepts images. Some apps show "Save Image" instead of "Copy" — that saves the image to your photo library rather than your clipboard.

You cannot copy and paste video files, audio files, or documents the same way. For those, you'll need to use your tablet's file manager or the sharing tools built into each app. Most tablets let you share files through email, cloud storage, or messaging apps instead.

Using your clipboard history on newer tablets

Some newer iPad and Android tablets keep a history of items you've copied, so you can paste something you copied several minutes ago without copying it again. On iPad, this feature is called the clipboard, and you access it by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, then looking for a clipboard or recent items section (this varies by iPad model and iOS version).

On Android tablets, clipboard history is less consistent — it depends on your tablet's manufacturer and Android version. Samsung tablets, for example, may have a clipboard manager in the settings or keyboard app. Check your tablet's settings or keyboard app to see if clipboard history is available. If it's not built in, you can read a third-party clipboard manager from your tablet's app store, though most people find the single-item clipboard sufficient for everyday use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between my tablet and my phone?

Not directly through the standard clipboard — each device has its own clipboard. However, you can use cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud to share text between devices. Copy the text on your tablet, paste it into a note in your cloud storage, then open that note on your phone and copy it again.

What happens if I copy something new before pasting the old text?

The new text replaces the old text in your clipboard. You lose access to what you copied before. If you need to keep multiple items, paste the first one into a note before copying something else, or use a clipboard manager app that stores multiple items.

Why does paste appear greyed out in some apps?

The app doesn't allow pasting in that location, or it doesn't support pasted text at all. Some apps only let you type manually for security reasons. Try pasting in a different app to confirm your clipboard is working, then contact the app's support if you believe pasting should be allowed.

Can I copy text from a PDF on my tablet?

Yes, if you open the PDF in a standard PDF reader like Apple Books or Google Play Books. Press and hold on the text, tap "Copy", then paste it elsewhere. Some PDFs are locked to prevent copying — if the menu doesn't appear, the PDF creator has restricted that action.

Does copy and paste work the same way on all tablets?

The basic method is the same on iPad and Android tablets: press and hold, tap "Copy", then press and hold and tap "Paste". The menu wording and exact location of buttons may differ slightly, but the process is identical. Older tablets may have slightly different menu designs, but the principle remains the same.