The basic method: select, copy, paste

To copy and paste on a Samsung tablet, you select the text or image you want, tap the copy option, then tap where you want it and select paste. The process works the same way across Samsung tablets running Android, whether you're working in an email, a document, a web browser, or a messaging app.

Start by pressing and holding your finger on the text or image for about one second. A menu will appear with options including Copy. If you're selecting text, you'll see blue highlight handles appear on either side of the word you touched. Drag these handles to expand your selection to include everything you want to copy.

Once your selection is highlighted in blue, tap Copy from the menu. The content is now stored in your tablet's clipboard. Navigate to where you want to paste it — a different part of the same document, a new email, a text message, anywhere — then press and hold in that location and tap Paste.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold on text or an image for one second to open the selection menu, then tap Copy.
  • Drag the blue highlight handles to select multiple words or lines at once.
  • Press and hold where you want to paste, then tap Paste from the menu that appears.
  • You can copy and paste between different apps — text from a web page into an email, for example.
  • Your clipboard holds only one item at a time, so copying something new replaces what was previously copied.

Selecting text with precision

If you need to select a large block of text, the drag handles make it easier than trying to hold your finger steady. After you press and hold to open the menu, look for the blue handles at the start and end of the selected word. Drag the left handle backward to include text before that word, and drag the right handle forward to include text after it.

For a single word, you can double-tap it instead of pressing and holding. This selects just that word and opens the menu when ready. This is faster when you only need one or two words copied.

If you want to select all the text in a document or text field, press and hold, then tap Select All from the menu. This highlights everything at once, which you can then copy.

Copying and pasting images

The same press-and-hold method works for images. Press and hold on a photo or graphic, and a menu will appear with Copy as one of the options. Tap Copy to store the image in your clipboard.

When you paste an image, the process depends on where you're pasting it. In most apps like email or messaging, you press and hold in the text area and tap Paste. Some apps have a dedicated button or menu option for inserting images — look for a paperclip icon, a plus sign, or an attachment button. If Paste doesn't work in the location you chose, try using that app's built-in image insertion method instead.

Copying from web pages and links

When you're reading a web page in Samsung Internet or another browser, press and hold on the text you want to copy. The same selection menu appears. You can also press and hold on a link itself to copy just the web address without copying the link text.

Press and hold on a link and you'll see options including Copy Link or Copy Link Text, depending on what you need. This is useful when you want to share a URL in an email or message without including the surrounding text from the page.

Using the clipboard history feature

Some Samsung tablets include a clipboard history feature that stores multiple items instead of just the last one you copied. To access it, open your keyboard by tapping in a text field, then look for a clipboard icon — usually a small rectangle or document symbol near the space bar or in the keyboard menu.

If your tablet has this feature, tapping the clipboard icon shows a list of the last several items you copied. You can tap any of them to paste that item instead of the most recent one. This is helpful when you need to go back and paste something you copied several steps ago.

Not all Samsung tablets have this feature — it depends on your model and Android version. If you don't see a clipboard icon in your keyboard, your tablet likely stores only the most recent copied item.

Troubleshooting when copy and paste isn't working

If the Copy option doesn't appear when you press and hold, the app you're using may not support copying that type of content. Some apps restrict copying for security or copyright reasons. Try a different app or a different piece of content to see if the feature works elsewhere.

If Paste is grayed out or doesn't appear, make sure you actually copied something first. Open a different app and try copying text there, then return to where you want to paste. If Paste still doesn't work, try closing and reopening the app you're using.

If your tablet is running very slowly or you've had it on for a long time without restarting, a restart can sometimes fix clipboard problems. Hold the power button until the power menu appears, then tap Restart or Power Off and turn it back on.

Copying text from images and screenshots

If you have a screenshot or photo that contains text, you can copy that text directly from the image on newer Samsung tablets. Press and hold on the image, and if your tablet supports this feature, you'll see an option like Extract Text or Copy Text. Tap it to copy the words from the image so you can paste them as regular text elsewhere.

This feature is available on Samsung tablets running Android 11 or later. If you don't see this option, your tablet either doesn't support it or you're using an older Android version. You can still take a screenshot of the text and paste the image itself, but you won't be able to extract and copy just the words.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Not directly through the standard clipboard — each device has its own separate clipboard. However, if you use Samsung's Clipboard Sync feature (available on some newer models), you can sync copied items between your Samsung devices. Check your Settings under Advanced Features to see if Clipboard Sync is available on your tablet.

What happens if I copy something new before I paste the old thing?

The new item replaces the old one in your clipboard. You lose access to what you copied before, unless your tablet has clipboard history enabled. That's why it's a good idea to paste something when ready after copying it if you know you'll be copying other things soon.

Why can't I copy text from some websites?

Some websites and apps disable copying to protect their content. This is a restriction set by the website owner, not your tablet. You can still take a screenshot of the content, but you won't be able to copy the text directly. If you need the information, contact the website owner or look for a different source that allows copying.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for copy and paste on a Samsung tablet?

If you connect a physical keyboard to your tablet, you can use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste, just like on a computer. Without a keyboard, you must use the press-and-hold menu method. Some apps also have their own keyboard shortcuts — check the app's settings or help section to see what's available.

Can I copy and paste between different types of files?

You can copy text from any app and paste it into another app that accepts text. Copying images works the same way — paste them into email, messaging, documents, or photo editing apps. However, some file types don't transfer well between apps. For example, copying a formatted document from one app and pasting it into another may lose the formatting.