The basic steps for copying and pasting on Facebook

Copying and pasting on Facebook works the same way it does anywhere else on your device. To copy text, tap and hold the words you want (or click and drag on a computer), then select "Copy" from the menu that appears. To paste, tap and hold in the text box where you want the content to go, then select "Paste."

The process is slightly different depending on whether you're using Facebook on a phone, tablet, or computer, but the principle stays the same: select, copy, then paste into a new location. Most people use this to share quotes, links, or information from one post into a comment or message.

Key Takeaways

  • On phones and tablets, tap and hold text to select it, then choose "Copy" from the menu that appears.
  • On computers, click and drag to highlight text, then right-click and select "Copy" or use Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac).
  • Paste by tapping or clicking where you want the text to go, then selecting "Paste" or using Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
  • Facebook's share button is faster than copy-paste if you want to repost someone else's content to your own timeline.
  • Some text from Facebook posts won't copy if the original poster has restricted sharing, though you can usually copy from comments and messages.

Copying text on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or Android phone, open the Facebook post or message containing the text you want to copy. Tap and hold directly on the words until a menu appears with options like "Copy," "Cut," or "Share." Tap "Copy" to save the text to your clipboard.

If you're trying to copy a longer section, tap once at the start of the text, then drag to the end to highlight it all before tapping "Copy." Some phones show a small toolbar above the selected text instead of a menu — look for the copy icon, which usually looks like two overlapping squares.

Copying text on a computer

On a desktop or laptop, click at the beginning of the text you want to copy and drag your mouse to the end to highlight it. Once the text is highlighted in blue, right-click and select "Copy" from the menu. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on a Mac.

If you're copying a link from a Facebook post, you can right-click directly on the link and select "Copy link" instead of selecting the surrounding text. This copies just the URL without any extra words.

Pasting text into Facebook

To paste text you've copied, tap or click in the text box where you want it to appear — this could be a comment box, a message, or a new post. On a phone, tap and hold in the empty space until a menu appears, then select "Paste." On a computer, right-click in the text box and select "Paste," or use Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).

The text will appear exactly as you copied it, including line breaks and formatting if the original had them. If you're pasting into a comment or message, Facebook will show you a preview before you send it, so you can check that everything looks right.

Copying links from Facebook posts

To copy the link to a Facebook post itself, tap or click the three dots in the top right corner of the post. Select "Copy link to post" from the menu. This copies the full URL of that specific post, which you can then paste into a message, email, or another app.

If you want to copy a link that's shared within a post (like a news article or website), tap and hold directly on that link. A menu will appear with options including "Copy link." This gives you the URL of the external website, not the Facebook post.

When copy and paste doesn't work on Facebook

Some Facebook posts can't be copied because the original poster has turned off sharing. If you try to copy text from a post with restricted sharing, you may see a message saying the content isn't available or the copy option won't appear. In this case, you can usually still copy text from the comments section below the post.

If copy and paste isn't working at all, try closing and reopening the Facebook app, or refreshing the page if you're on a computer. Clearing your browser cache can also fix copying issues. If the problem continues, check that you have the latest version of the Facebook app installed.

Using Facebook's share button instead of copy-paste

If you want to repost someone else's content to your own timeline, Facebook's built-in share button is faster than copying and pasting. Tap or click the share icon (usually an arrow pointing outward) on the post, then select "Share to your timeline." This keeps a link to the original post and credits the person who posted it first.

Sharing is different from copying because it shows your friends that you're resharing existing content rather than posting it as your own. The original poster can also see that you shared their post. If you copy and paste instead, it looks like you created the content yourself, which is why sharing is the better choice when you want to spread someone else's post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy and paste images from Facebook?

On a phone, tap and hold an image and select "Copy" or "Save image." On a computer, right-click the image and select "Copy image" or "Save image as." You can then paste the image into another app or save it to your device. Keep in mind that copying someone else's image doesn't give you the right to use it however you want — respect the original poster's ownership.

Why can't I paste into a Facebook comment box?

Make sure you've actually tapped or clicked inside the comment box first — the cursor should be blinking there. If pasting still doesn't work, try closing the app and reopening it, or refresh the page on a computer. Some browser extensions can also block pasting, so try disabling them if the problem continues.

Does copying a Facebook post remove it from my clipboard?

No. Once you copy something, it stays in your clipboard until you copy something else. You can paste it as many times as you want in different places. When you copy new text or an image, it replaces the old content in your clipboard.

Can I copy text from a Facebook video caption?

Yes. Tap and hold the caption text below the video and select "Copy," just as you would with any other text on Facebook. Video captions are treated like regular text, so the same copy-and-paste rules apply.

What's the difference between copying and sharing on Facebook?

Copying lets you take text or a link and paste it anywhere — into another app, an email, or another post. Sharing uses Facebook's built-in tool to repost content to your timeline while keeping a link to the original. Sharing gives credit to the original poster; copying doesn't.