The basic way to copy and paste a picture

To copy a picture on a Chromebook, right-click on the image and select Copy image from the menu that appears. Then open the app or document where you want to paste it — Google Docs, Gmail, a Google Slide, or any other program — right-click in the blank space, and select Paste. The picture will appear where your cursor is.

This works for pictures you find online, pictures in email, or pictures already on your Chromebook. The keyboard shortcut for paste is Ctrl+V if you prefer not to use the right-click menu.

If right-clicking does not show a Copy image option, the website or app may have blocked copying. In that case, you can take a screenshot of the picture instead and paste the screenshot.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any picture and select Copy image, then right-click where you want it and select Paste or press Ctrl+V.
  • Copying works in Google Docs, Gmail, Google Slides, and most other Chromebook apps, but some websites block image copying.
  • If a picture cannot be copied, take a screenshot with Ctrl+Shift+Show Windows key and paste that instead.
  • You can also drag and drop pictures directly into documents without copying and pasting.

Using drag and drop instead of copy and paste

Dragging and dropping is often faster than copying and pasting. Click and hold on the picture, then drag it to the document or app where you want it. Release the mouse button and the picture drops into place.

Drag and drop works in Google Docs, Google Slides, Gmail, and most other Chromebook apps. It does not work on all websites — some sites prevent you from dragging images out — but it is worth trying first because it is one motion instead of three.

Copying pictures from your Files app

If the picture is saved on your Chromebook, open the Files app from the shelf at the bottom of the screen. Find the picture file, right-click it, and select Copy. Then go to the app where you want to paste it and press Ctrl+V.

You can also drag the picture file directly from the Files app into a document. This is often simpler than copying and pasting the file itself.

Taking a screenshot when copying is blocked

Some websites and apps do not allow you to copy images directly. When that happens, take a screenshot instead. Press Ctrl+Shift and the Show Windows key (the key with four rectangles, usually in the top row). A menu appears with options to capture the full screen, a window, or a portion of the screen.

Select Capture full screen to screenshot everything, or Capture region to select just the part with the picture you want. The screenshot is copied to your clipboard automatically. Open your document and press Ctrl+V to paste it.

Screenshots are saved to your Downloads folder as well, so you can paste them later if you need to.

Pasting pictures into Google Docs and Slides

Google Docs and Google Slides both accept pasted pictures. In Docs, right-click where you want the picture and select Paste, or press Ctrl+V. The picture appears inline with your text.

In Slides, click on the slide where you want the picture, then press Ctrl+V. The picture appears in the center of the slide. You can then drag it to move it or grab the corners to resize it.

Both apps let you right-click the picture after pasting to adjust it — you can crop it, add a border, or change how text wraps around it in Docs.

Pasting pictures into Gmail

To add a picture to an email in Gmail, click Compose to start a new message. In the compose window, look for the attachment icon (a paperclip) near the bottom. Click it and select Upload to choose a picture from your Files app, or paste a picture you have already copied by pressing Ctrl+V in the message body.

You can also drag a picture directly from the Files app into the Gmail compose window. The picture attaches to the email automatically.

What to do if paste is not working

If you copy a picture but pasting does not work, first check that you are in an app that accepts images. Google Docs, Slides, Gmail, and most other Chromebook apps do. Some text editors or older websites may not.

If the app should accept images but paste is still not working, try these steps: close the app completely and reopen it, or restart your Chromebook. If you copied the image a long time ago, copy it again — the clipboard only holds one item at a time, and it clears when you copy something else.

If nothing works, take a screenshot instead. Screenshots almost always paste successfully because they are created on your Chromebook itself rather than copied from somewhere else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy a picture from a website and paste it into Google Docs?

Yes. Right-click the picture on the website, select Copy image, then open Google Docs, right-click where you want it, and select Paste. The picture appears in your document.

What is the keyboard shortcut for copy and paste on a Chromebook?

Ctrl+C copies and Ctrl+V pastes. Right-clicking and selecting from the menu also works if you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts.

Can I drag a picture from one Google Doc into another?

Yes. Open both documents side by side, then click and drag the picture from one Doc to the other. It copies automatically without removing it from the first document.

Why does some websites not let me copy pictures?

Websites can block copying to protect images from being reused without permission. When this happens, take a screenshot instead — the website cannot block screenshots because they happen on your device, not through the website.

Does copying a picture use storage space on my Chromebook?

Copying puts the picture in your clipboard temporarily, which does not use storage. It only uses storage if you save the picture to your Files app or download it. Pasting into Google Docs or Gmail stores it in those services, not on your Chromebook itself.