To copy on a Samsung phone or tablet, touch and hold the text or content, adjust the selection handles if needed, tap Copy, then touch and hold where it should go and tap Paste. To reuse something you copied earlier, open Samsung Keyboard and use its Clipboard panel. Sending a copied item to a different Galaxy device or a computer is a separate job that needs its own setup, covered below.
Menu names and screens differ between models, regions and One UI versions, so if a label on your phone doesn’t match what is written here, treat the wording as a guide and look for the closest equivalent.
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Copy and paste on one Samsung phone or tablet
This works in any app that allows text selection, including browsers, Messages and Notes.
- Touch and hold the text or content you want. Most content is selected this way.
- If selection handles appear, drag them so they cover exactly the portion you need.
- Tap Copy.
- Open the receiving app or field, such as a message box or a note.
- Touch and hold the spot where the content should go, then tap Paste.
Samsung’s cross-device guidance uses the same sequence with destinations such as Samsung Notes and Messages, which is a useful test if a particular app behaves differently.
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Reuse an earlier copied item from the Clipboard
The clipboard panel that keeps previously copied items belongs to Samsung Keyboard. It is not a system-wide feature of every keyboard, so the steps below apply only when Samsung Keyboard is your active keyboard.
- Tap a text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the Clipboard icon on the keyboard.
- Tap the item you want to paste. It is inserted at the cursor.
Samsung’s Japanese support guide describes this workflow and notes that screens differ by device and One UI version. If you use a third-party keyboard, its own help pages will describe the equivalent panel, if it has one.
Copy from one Galaxy device to another
Cross-device sharing sends content between Galaxy devices signed into the same Samsung account. It is not automatic: both devices need the setting turned on and need to be on the same network.
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- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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Requirements
Samsung’s US setup guidance lists these conditions:
- Both devices are signed in to the same Samsung account.
- Both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Bluetooth is turned on.
- Continue on other devices is enabled on both devices.
- Both devices run One UI 3.1 or later.
Turn the feature on
In Samsung’s US guidance the path is Settings > Connected devices > Continue apps on other devices. Samsung’s materials for other regions call the same setting Continue on other devices, so match the label on your phone to the setting that means the same thing. Repeat this on the second device.
Send the content
- On the source device, copy the text or content as described above.
- Switch to the other Galaxy device and open an app that accepts the content.
- Touch and hold the target field and choose Paste.
What can be transferred
Samsung’s documentation gives examples rather than a complete list, and it states that this workflow works primarily with Samsung apps and that availability may vary by region, model and product.
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| Content | Example Samsung documents | Source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Copy text on one device and paste it into a note or message on the other | Samsung’s US guidance; requires the setup above |
| Image | Copy an image from Gallery and paste it into a note on another device, or into the other device’s album | Samsung’s India guide; depends on region and model |
| URL | Copy a web address in Internet and open it on a second device | Samsung’s India guide |
| Video and files | Listed as shareable between signed-in Galaxy devices when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on | Samsung’s Japanese guide; no step-by-step path given in the same source |
Other ways to move copied content between devices
Continue on other devices is only one option. The workflows below solve different problems, and their requirements are not interchangeable.
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| Method | Best for | Stated requirements or limits |
|---|---|---|
| Continue on other devices | Copy and paste between two Galaxy phones or tablets | Same account, same Wi-Fi, Bluetooth on, feature enabled on both, One UI 3.1 or later (Samsung US) |
| Multi control | Using one Galaxy phone or tablet with a connected keyboard and mouse to paste text or move files to another Galaxy device | One UI 5.1 or later, same account, same Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Samsung Singapore guide for phone and tablet instructions) |
| Samsung Flow clipboard | Copying on a phone and pasting on a connected laptop or tablet | Requirements for this feature not stated in Samsung’s Flow clipboard guidance; activate the Clipboard control on the receiving computer or tablet first |
| DeX for PC | Copy and paste between a phone or tablet and a Windows PC | Not supported on Galaxy S25 series or other models updated to One UI 7 or later; Samsung recommends Link to Windows for those devices |
Multi control
Multi control lets you use a connected keyboard and mouse across supported Galaxy devices. Samsung’s US guidance describes copying files with Ctrl+C and pasting them with Ctrl+V. A Bluetooth keyboard is optional here and is never needed for ordinary touchscreen copying.
Samsung Flow
On the receiving laptop or tablet, activate the Clipboard control, then copy on the phone and paste on the receiving device. Samsung also describes the reverse direction. Flow is the right choice when the target is a computer rather than another phone or tablet.
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- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
DeX for PC
DeX for PC can copy and paste between a phone or tablet and a PC. Check the software version before choosing it: Samsung states it is not supported on Galaxy S25 series devices or other models updated to One UI 7 or later, and for those devices it points to Link to Windows.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting when copy or paste fails
Paste does not appear
Confirm that you touched and held the destination field rather than tapping it, and that the copied selection was actually made. Some apps restrict pasting into certain fields.
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Cross-device paste is missing on the receiving device
Check the requirements listed above on both devices: the same Samsung account, the same Wi-Fi network, Bluetooth turned on, Continue on other devices enabled, and One UI 3.1 or later. A mismatch in any one of these is the most common reason the option is absent.
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The Clipboard icon or history is missing
The Clipboard panel belongs to Samsung Keyboard. Switch to Samsung Keyboard as your active keyboard and try again. If you use a third-party keyboard, check that keyboard’s settings.
The menu path does not match
Labels and screens depend on the model and One UI version. Search your phone’s Settings for “Continue” or “Connected devices” to locate the option, or check Samsung’s support page for your model and region.
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