How to Copy and Paste Pictures: Windows, Mac, iPhone, + Android

Trying to copy and paste a photo on your computer or smartphone? The process is pretty easy! This wikiHow guide shows you how to copy images from one place and paste them into a different location on a Windows or Mac computer, as well as on an iPhone, iPad, or Android mobile device. We'll also cover how to copy and paste images in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Copying and Pasting Images on Any Device

On Windows and Mac, right-click the image and select Copy to copy an image. Right-click where you want to paste the image and select Paste.
You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy, and Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac) to paste.
On iPhone and Android, long-press the image and tap Copy in the pop-up menu to copy an image. Long-press where you want to paste and tap Paste.

Method 1

Method 1 of 6:

On Windows

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1
Right-click the picture using your mouse or trackpad. If using a trackpad, depending on your computer's settings, you can perform a right-click by either using two fingers to click the trackpad or by tapping the far-right side of the trackpad with a single finger.
- You can copy pictures from your web browser or from image files stored on your computer.
- If you're copying an image file, left-click it using your mouse or trackpad to select it first.
- If you want to copy more than 1 image file, select multiple files by holding down Ctrl and clicking on those you want to select.
2
Click Copy or Copy Image. The image or file will be copied to the Clipboard (a type of temporary storage) on your computer.
- If you’re using Windows 11, you’ll see the Copy option in the row of buttons at the top of the context menu when you right-click an image on your computer.
- Alternatively, press Ctrl+C after selecting the image or file. In many applications, you can also click Edit in the menu bar, then click Copy.
- Note that copying an image in your browser will save the image to the clipboard, but it won’t directly download the image to your computer. If you want to save the image file, right-click it and select Save image as… instead.
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3
Right-click in the document or location where you want to paste the image. This will open the right-click options menu.^{[1]
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- For files, right-click in the folder where you want to place them. You can also click your desktop and press Ctrl + V to paste a copy of an image there.
4
Click Paste. The image will be inserted into the document or field at the place where you put the cursor.
- Alternatively, press Ctrl+V. In many applications, you can also click Edit in the menu bar, then click Paste.

Method 2

Method 2 of 6:

On Mac

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1
Right-click or Ctrl-click the picture using your mouse or trackpad. If using a trackpad, depending on your computer's settings, you can perform a right-click by either using two fingers to click the trackpad or by tapping the far-right side of the trackpad with a single finger.
- You can copy pictures from your web browser or from image files stored on your computer.
- If you're copying an image file, left-click it using your mouse or trackpad to select it first.
- If you want to copy more than 1 image file, select multiple files by holding down ⌘ and clicking on those you want to select.
- If you don't have a right-click function, press Control + click on Mac, then click Copy in the pop-up menu.
2
Click Copy or Copy Image. The image or file will be copied to the Clipboard (a type of temporary storage) on your computer.
- Alternatively, press ⌘+C while the image file is selected to copy it to the Clipboard.^{[2]
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- If you’d rather save an image file to your computer from your browser, select Save Image As… from the pop-up menu instead.
For files, click in the folder where you want to place the images. You can also paste an image to your desktop.
5
Click Paste or Paste Item. The image will be inserted into the document or field at the place where you put the cursor.
- Alternatively, ⌘+V. You can also right-click on the mouse or trackpad and select Paste or Paste Item. If you don't have a right-click function, press Control + click, then click Paste or Paste Item in the pop-up menu.^{[3]
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- You can paste the image directly into Photoshop to resize it or edit it!

Method 3

Method 3 of 6:

On iPhone or iPad

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1
Select the image you want to copy in a browser or other app that supports copying. To do so, long-tap the picture until a menu appears. Copy and paste is an essential technology feature, even on smartphones!^{[4]
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- You can copy pictures from your web browser, from other apps that support image copying (like Reddit or Facebook, for example), or from image files stored on your iPhone.
- If you’re copying an image from your library in the Photos app instead of a browser, the process is a little different. Open the image in your library, tap ••• at the top right corner of the screen, and tap Copy.^{[5]
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  - You can also select ••• > Duplicate to instantly create a duplicate copy in your image library.
The exact wording will vary depending on the app you’re using. The image will be copied to the Clipboard (temporary storage) on your device.^{[6]
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3
Long-tap on a document or field where you want to insert the image. An options menu will appear.
- If it's in a different app from the one in which you're copying, open the other app and navigate to where you want to paste the image.
4
Tap Paste. The image will be inserted into the document or field at the place where you put the cursor. You've successfully copied and pasted an image using your iPhone or iPad.^{[7]
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- Next, check out how to copy and paste a link.

Method 4

Method 4 of 6:

On Android

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1
Select the image you want to copy. To do so, long-tap the picture until a menu appears.^{[8]
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- You can copy pictures from your web browser or from image files stored on your smartphone.
2
Tap Copy Image. The image will be copied to the Clipboard (temporary storage) on your device.^{[9]
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Research source} Depending on the app you’re using, this option might be called Copy, Copy Photo, or Copy to Clipboard instead.
- In Google Photos, there is no Copy option. Instead, you’ll have to use the Share option or save the photo to your device storage.^{[10]
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3
Long-tap on a document or field where you want to insert the image. This will open an options menu.
- If it's in a different app from the one in which you're copying, open the other app and navigate to the location where you want to paste the image.
The image will be inserted into the document or field at the place where long-tapped the screen.^{[11]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 6:

In Microsoft Office

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1
Click the picture you want to copy. In a Microsoft Office app like Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, clicking the image will select it.
- You can press Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ (Mac) while clicking on images to select multiple pictures.
2
Click the Home and then the Copy button. It's an icon with two pieces of paper.^{[12]
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Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- You can also press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).
4
Click the Paste button. This is in the Home tab. Doing so will paste the image you copied where you placed the cursor.^{[13]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

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- You can also press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).

Method 6

Method 6 of 6:

In Google Workspace

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This can be an image in any Google Workspace app, such as Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
This will save the image to your temporary storage known as the Clipboard.^{[14]
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4
Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘+V (Mac) to paste the image. It will appear where you placed your cursor.^{[15]
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- If you’re using iOS or Android, you can only copy and paste images in Google Docs. Open the document with the image you’d like to copy, tap the edit icon (it looks like a pencil), and tap the image to select it. Tap Copy in the menu that pops up. Touch and hold where you want to paste and tap Paste.

Expert Q&A

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Question

still i im on the picture and copy the image from the internet but i go to desktop and i left click and the paste button is grey out why please i need that picture on my desktop

Kyle Smith
wikiHow Technology Writer
Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Kyle Smith

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

On Windows or Mac, download the image file to your desktop by right-clicking the original image source > click "Save image as" > select your desktop and click "Save."

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Question

how can I copy a photo file and make it appear as a photo, not a file

Kyle Smith
wikiHow Technology Writer
Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Kyle Smith

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

In Windows, double-click the image to open it in the Photos app. Then, right-click the image and select "Copy." On Mac, double-click the image to open it in the Preview app. Then, go to Edit > Copy in the menu bar to copy the image.

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What do you do if you copy an image but the option paste won't come on your menu bar?

Kyle Smith
wikiHow Technology Writer
Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Kyle Smith

wikiHow Technology Writer

Expert Answer

This can happen if you haven't selected a place to paste the image. Try clicking a blank area in your document, a text cursor should appear. If the paste option still doesn't appear in the menu bar of your Mac, try quitting and reopening the app.

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Not all images from the Web are copyable. Using another person's pictures without permission may violate copyright laws.

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Make sure that you properly credit any images you use.

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