The basic steps for copying and pasting text
Copying means selecting text and saving it to your clipboard — a temporary holding space in your device's memory. Pasting means inserting that text somewhere else. On a computer, you highlight the text you want, press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac), then click where you want it and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac). On a phone, you tap and hold the text until a menu appears, tap Copy, then tap and hold where you want it and tap Paste.
The clipboard holds only one thing at a time. When you copy something new, it replaces what was there before. Text stays in your clipboard until you copy something else or restart your device — on most phones, it clears when you turn the device off.
Copying and pasting works across most programs on your device. You can copy text from a web page and paste it into an email, or copy from a document and paste into a message. Some programs restrict pasting for security reasons — you may not be able to paste into a password field, for example.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste; on Mac, use Command+C and Command+V.
- On phones, tap and hold the text until a menu appears, then tap Copy; tap and hold where you want it and tap Paste.
- Your clipboard holds only one copied item at a time, and copying something new replaces what was previously saved.
- Copying and pasting works between different programs — you can copy from a website and paste into an email or document.
How to copy and paste on Windows
Click at the beginning of the text you want to copy and drag your mouse to the end of it. The text will highlight in blue. Once it is highlighted, press Ctrl+C on your keyboard. You have now copied the text to your clipboard.
Click in the document, email, or other location where you want the text to appear. Press Ctrl+V. The text will paste at that location. If you want to paste the same text in multiple places, you can press Ctrl+V as many times as you need — the clipboard keeps the text until you copy something else.
A faster way to select text is to double-click a word to select just that word, or triple-click to select an entire paragraph. You can also click at the start of the text, hold Shift, and click at the end to select everything in between.
How to copy and paste on Mac
Click at the beginning of the text you want to copy and drag to the end. The text will highlight. Press Command+C on your keyboard. The text is now in your clipboard.
Click where you want to paste the text and press Command+V. The text will appear at that location. Like Windows, you can paste the same text multiple times by pressing Command+V repeatedly.
Mac also lets you double-click a word to select it, or triple-click to select a paragraph. You can click at the start, hold Shift, and click at the end to select a range of text.
How to copy and paste on iPhone and iPad
Tap and hold your finger on the text you want to copy. A menu will pop up with options including Copy. Tap Copy. The text is now in your clipboard.
Tap and hold in the location where you want to paste the text. A menu will appear with a Paste option. Tap Paste and the text will appear. On some apps, you may see a Paste button appear automatically after you copy something — you can tap it directly without the tap-and-hold step.
If you want to copy a larger block of text, tap and hold, then drag the blue handles that appear at the start and end of the selection to expand it to include more text. This is easier than trying to select precisely with your finger.
How to copy and paste on Android
Tap and hold the text you want to copy. Selection handles (small circles or squares) will appear at the start and end of the text. Drag these handles to select more or less text as needed. Once you have selected what you want, tap Copy from the menu that appears.
Tap and hold in the location where you want to paste the text. A menu will appear — tap Paste. The text will appear at that location. Some Android apps show a Paste button automatically after you copy, so you can tap it without the tap-and-hold step.
On Android, you can also select all text in a document by pressing Ctrl+A (if your device has a keyboard connected) or by using the menu option Select All if the app offers it.
What to do when copy and paste is not working
If you copy text but nothing happens when you paste, the first step is to try copying again. Make sure the text is fully highlighted before you press Ctrl+C or Command+C. On a phone, make sure the Copy option actually appeared in the menu — sometimes the tap and hold does not register on the first try.
Some websites and apps block copying for security or copyright reasons. If you cannot copy text from a particular website, try copying from a different part of the page, or try a different browser. Password fields and some banking websites intentionally prevent copying and pasting to protect your account.
If copy and paste stops working across your entire device, restart it. On a computer, close all programs and restart. On a phone, turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This clears the clipboard and resets the copy-paste function.
Copying and pasting formatted text
When you copy text that has formatting — like bold, italics, colors, or different fonts — the formatting usually comes along with it. If you paste into a program that does not support that formatting, the text will appear in plain format instead.
Most programs offer a "Paste Special" option that lets you paste text without its formatting. On Windows, this is usually Ctrl+Shift+V. On Mac, it is Command+Option+Shift+V. This pastes only the plain text, removing any bold, colors, or font changes. This is useful when you want the text to match the formatting of the document you are pasting into.
Some programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs show you formatting options right after you paste, letting you choose whether to keep the original formatting or match the destination document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy and paste images the same way as text?
Yes. Right-click an image on Windows or Control+click on Mac, then select Copy Image. Click where you want it and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac). On a phone, tap and hold the image until a menu appears, tap Copy, then tap and hold where you want it and tap Paste.
What happens to my clipboard when I turn off my device?
The clipboard clears when you shut down your device. Anything you copied will be gone. If you need to save text for later, paste it into a document or note-taking app instead of relying on the clipboard.
Can I copy and paste between my phone and computer?
Not directly through the standard clipboard. You would need to use a cloud service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or a note-taking app that syncs across devices. Copy the text on one device, paste it into the cloud app, then open that app on your other device and copy from there.
Why can't I paste into some password fields?
Websites and apps block pasting into password fields as a security measure. This prevents malware from automatically filling in passwords, and it encourages you to type your password rather than copying it from somewhere else, which could be less secure.