The basic method: highlight, copy, paste

To copy and paste on a Samsung device, you highlight the text or image you want, tap the copy option, then tap where you want it to go and select paste. The steps are the same whether you're using a phone or tablet, and whether you're working inside an email, a text message, a web browser, or a notes app.

Start by pressing and holding your finger on the text or image for about one second. A menu will appear with options like "Copy", "Cut", or "Select All". Tap "Copy" to save it to your clipboard — that's the temporary storage area on your device that holds what you've copied.

Now open the app or document where you want to paste it. Press and hold in the spot where you want the text or image to go. A menu will appear with a "Paste" option. Tap it, and the copied content appears in that location.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold on text or an image until a menu appears, then tap "Copy" to save it to your clipboard.
  • Open the destination app or document, press and hold where you want the content, and tap "Paste".
  • You can copy and paste across different apps — for example, copy text from a web page and paste it into an email.
  • If you copy something new, the old content in your clipboard is replaced, so paste before you copy something else.
  • Samsung's clipboard history feature (on some models) lets you see and reuse items you copied recently without re-copying them.

Copying text from websites and documents

When you're reading a web page or a document and want to copy a sentence or paragraph, press and hold on the first word of the text you want. Your device will highlight that word, and blue handles will appear at the start and end of the selection.

Drag those handles to expand the selection to include all the text you need. Once the right text is highlighted, tap "Copy" from the menu that appears. The text is now in your clipboard and ready to paste anywhere.

If you want to copy the entire page or document, look for a menu button (usually three dots in the corner) and search for an option like "Select All" or "Copy All". Not every app has this, but browsers and document readers usually do.

Copying and pasting images

To copy an image on your Samsung device, press and hold on the image itself until a menu appears. You'll see options like "Copy", "Copy Image", or "Save Image". Tap "Copy" to put the image in your clipboard.

Open the app where you want to paste the image — a message, email, or notes app. Press and hold in the area where you want the image to appear, then tap "Paste". The image will be inserted at that location.

Be aware that some apps don't support pasting images. If you press and hold and don't see a "Paste" option, that app may not allow image pasting. In that case, look for an attachment button or image icon instead, which lets you upload or insert an image from your device's storage.

Using cut instead of copy

The "Cut" option works like "Copy", but it removes the original text or image after you paste it elsewhere. This is useful when you want to move something rather than duplicate it — for example, moving a sentence from one paragraph to another in a document.

Press and hold on the text or image, tap "Cut", then open the destination and paste. The content will appear in the new location and disappear from the original spot. If you change your mind before pasting, the cut content is still in your clipboard and won't be lost until you cut or copy something else.

Accessing your clipboard history on Samsung

Some Samsung devices include a clipboard history feature that shows you the last several items you copied. To access it, open your keyboard (by tapping in a text field) and look for a clipboard icon — it usually appears at the top of the keyboard or in the toolbar above the keys.

Tap the clipboard icon to see a list of recent items you've copied. You can tap any item in that list to paste it without having to copy it again. This is especially handy if you need to paste something you copied several steps ago but have since copied other things.

Not all Samsung models have this feature, and it may be turned off by default. If you don't see a clipboard icon on your keyboard, check your keyboard settings by going to Settings > General Management > Keyboard List and Default, then selecting your keyboard and looking for clipboard or history options.

Copying and pasting between different apps

One of the most useful features of copy and paste is that it works across apps. You can copy text from a web browser and paste it into an email, or copy a link from a message and paste it into a notes app. The clipboard doesn't care which app you're using — it just holds whatever you copied last.

This means you can gather information from multiple sources and combine it in one place. Copy a sentence from a news article, paste it into a document, then go back to your browser, copy a different sentence, and paste it below the first one. Each time you paste, you're using the most recent item in your clipboard.

Troubleshooting copy and paste problems

If you press and hold on text but don't see a "Copy" option, the app you're using may not support copying. Some apps lock their content to prevent copying, or they may have a different method. Try tapping a menu button (three dots) in that app to see if there's a copy option there.

If you copied something but the "Paste" option doesn't appear when you press and hold, the destination app may not support pasting. Try tapping a menu button or looking for an attachment or insert option instead. Some apps, like certain messaging platforms, only let you paste text but not images, or vice versa.

If your clipboard seems to have disappeared — for example, you copied something but can't paste it — try copying something again. Your clipboard only holds one item at a time, so if you copied something new, the old content is gone. Also, restarting your device clears the clipboard, so if you restart and then try to paste, you'll need to copy again first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste between my Samsung phone and my computer?

Not directly through the standard copy-and-paste method. Your phone's clipboard and your computer's clipboard are separate. However, you can use cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud to save text or images on one device and open them on another. Some third-party apps also sync clipboards across devices, but they require setup.

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

Your clipboard is cleared when you turn off your device. When you turn it back on, the clipboard is empty, so you won't be able to paste what you copied before the shutdown. If you need to save something important, paste it into a document or notes app before turning off your phone.

Why can't I paste an image into a text message?

Some messaging apps don't support pasting images directly. Instead, look for an attachment button, paperclip icon, or plus sign in the message composer. Tap that button to insert an image from your device's storage. If your messaging app does support image pasting and it still doesn't work, try restarting the app or checking for updates.

Can I copy and paste passwords on my Samsung device?

Yes, you can copy and paste passwords the same way you copy and paste text. However, for security reasons, it's safer to use your device's password manager (like Samsung Pass or Google Password Manager) to fill in passwords automatically rather than copying and pasting them manually. This reduces the risk of someone seeing your password on screen.

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

The standard clipboard only holds one item at a time, so copying a second item replaces the first. If your Samsung device has clipboard history enabled, you can access recent items from the clipboard menu on your keyboard. Otherwise, paste the first item before copying the second one, or open multiple windows side by side so you can see both sources and destinations at the same time.