How to Copy and Paste a Text or Messages on Android

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A beginner's guide to copy and paste any text on Android phones or tablets
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Similar to the copy and paste feature on a computer, you can copy and paste text on your Android phone or tablet. This takes any highlighted text or text message and copies it to a new location. Here are the easiest ways to copy and paste text on an Android.

Using the Copy and Paste Feature

To copy and paste any text on an Android, tap and hold the text. Tap Copy from the pop-up menu. Navigate to the place you want the text and tap the field. Tap Paste to paste the selected text.

Section 1 of 3:

Copy and Paste Selected Text

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    This will select the text.
    • If you want to copy more than one word, drag the handles on either end of the text to highlight all the text.
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    This is in the pop-up menu. The text will be copied to your Android's clipboard.
    • The clipboard is a temporary spot on your device where text and images are stored before they get pasted.
    • If you don't see the menu, tap the highlighted word(s).
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    This could be a messaging app, notes app, or another location.
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    A pop-up menu will appear.
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    The copied text will be pasted in the new location. [1]
    • You can also cut and paste if you want to delete the text from the original location and paste it to another.
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Section 2 of 3:

Copy and Paste a Text Message

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    This could be Google Messages or Samsung Messages.
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    Tap and hold the text message . A pop-up menu will open.
    • In some apps, you'll need to manually highlight the text inside of the bubble. If it doesn't automatically highlight, long-tap on the text and drag the handles on either end to highlight the entire message.
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    This is in the pop-up menu. The text will be copied to your Android's clipboard.
    • If you don't see the menu, tap the highlighted word(s).
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    This could be another messaging app, notes app, or another location.
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    A pop-up menu will appear.
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    The copied text will be pasted in the new location.
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Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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    If the text can't be copied , this most likely means the text is protected by the website hosted on or the program it's opened in. You'll need to receive the proper permissions to do so.
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    If your Android phone or tablet freezes often, consider restarting it to give the system a quick refresh. You can restart your Android by holding the Power button and selecting Restart .
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Connect-Android-Auto-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Connect-Android-Auto-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Connect-Android-Auto-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Connect-Android-Auto-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Keeping your device up-to-date is a good way to fix common errors and glitches.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/docs/answer/161768?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Long press on the text you want to copy and select 'Copy' or 'Cut' from the given options. Now, go to the place where you wish to paste it and long press on the text box, select 'Paste' to paste the copied text.

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