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How to Copy Instagram Comments on iPhone, Android and Desktop
- The fastest way to copy an Instagram comment is to open the post on instagram.com in a computer browser and highlight the text.
- On iPhone, screenshot the comment, open it in Photos, tap the Live Text button, then select the words and tap Copy Text.
- On Android, screenshot the comment and use Copy text or Lens in Google Photos, or use Circle to Search on phones that support it.
- A browser copies emojis, @mentions and symbols exactly, while text scanning from a screenshot can miss them.
- Credit the person who wrote a comment when you share their words, and never share private details they posted by mistake.
Can you copy a comment directly in the Instagram app?
Often, no. In many versions of the Instagram app, pressing and holding a comment opens actions such as reply or report, but no Copy button. Fossbytes reported on January 28, 2026 that the Instagram apps for Android and iOS do not let you select and copy comments.
App versions differ, so a quick test is worth five seconds. Open any post, press and hold a comment, and look for Copy in the menu. If it is there, tap it and the text goes to your clipboard (the short-term memory your phone uses for copy and paste).
If Copy is missing, use one of the methods below. They work on every modern phone and computer, and none of them needs an extra app or your Instagram password.
How to copy a comment on Instagram on iPhone
On iPhone, the easiest way to copy an Instagram comment is to screenshot it and lift the text out of the picture with Live Text in the Photos app. Apple's iPhone User Guide says Live Text recognises text in photos so you can copy, share or translate it.
- Open the Instagram post and scroll to the comment you want.
- Take a screenshot. On iPhones with Face ID, press the side button and volume up together.
- Open the screenshot in the Photos app.
- Tap the Live Text button, then touch and hold the comment text.
- Drag the grab points to cover the whole comment, then tap Copy Text.
- Paste the text into Notes, Messages or wherever you need it.
If nothing happens, check that Live Text is on in Settings, General, Language & Region. Apple notes that Live Text is not available in every region or language.
Use Safari for comments with emojis
Text scanning reads letters well but can skip emojis and unusual symbols. For those comments, copy the post link from Instagram's share menu, open it in Safari, and select the comment text directly. If the mobile site will not let you select it, switch Safari to the desktop website and try again.
How to copy an Instagram comment on Android
On Android, copy an Instagram comment by taking a screenshot and opening it in Google Photos, which offers Copy text or Lens. Many Android phones also offer Circle to Search, which skips the screenshot step.
Method 1: Screenshot and Google Photos
- Open the post and find the comment.
- Take a screenshot (on most phones, power and volume down together).
- Open the screenshot in Google Photos.
- Tap Copy text or Lens. The exact button name depends on your Google Photos version.
- Select the comment text and tap Copy.
Method 2: Circle to Search
- Keep the comment on screen in the Instagram app.
- Press and hold the Home button (3-button navigation) or the navigation handle (gesture navigation).
- Circle, highlight or tap the comment text. If the words are not picked up on their own, look for a Select text button.
- Copy the highlighted words from the options that appear.
Google says Circle to Search works on selected Android models, including Pixel 6 and later, so it may be missing on older phones. Button names can also differ by phone and app version. If Circle to Search is missing, Method 1 works on any Android phone with Google Photos.
How to copy comments on Instagram from a computer
A computer is the simplest place to copy comments on Instagram, because the website shows comments as normal text you can highlight. No screenshot or text scanning is needed.
- Go to instagram.com in Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox and log in.
- Open the post or Reel that has the comment.
- Click and drag over the comment text to highlight it.
- Press Ctrl + C on Windows or Cmd + C on Mac, or right-click and choose Copy.
- Paste it with Ctrl + V or Cmd + V.
Start the highlight just after the username and stop at the end of the comment. If you drag too far, the username, time stamp or reply link gets pasted too.
For long threads, open the replies under a comment first so they load on the page. Folded replies cannot be highlighted until they are open.
Copying comments with emojis, links and @mentions
A phone or computer browser is the most accurate way to copy an Instagram comment that contains emojis, symbols or @mentions. In a browser you copy the real characters, while a screenshot method has to guess them from pixels.
| What the comment contains | Best method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain words | Screenshot + Live Text or Google Photos | Fast and works without leaving the phone |
| Emojis or symbols | Browser on a phone or computer | Copies the real characters, not a scan of them |
| @mentions or #hashtags | Browser | Keeps the exact spelling of usernames and tags |
| Very long comments | Computer browser | Easier to select the full text in one go |
| Another language | Live Text or Google Lens | Both can translate the text as well as copy it |
If you plan to tag the same people again, check the copied @usernames carefully. Our guide on how to tag someone in an Instagram comment explains how to make sure a mention links to the right account.
What to do when press-and-hold does not offer Copy
When pressing and holding an Instagram comment shows no Copy option, switch to a workaround instead of reinstalling the app. A missing Copy button is how many app versions work, not a fault on your phone.
- Check for an app update. Update Instagram in the App Store or Google Play, then test press-and-hold again.
- Use the screenshot method. It works on any modern iPhone or Android phone.
- Open the post in a browser. Copy the post link, paste it into Safari or Chrome, and select the text.
- Use a computer. instagram.com on a laptop is the most reliable option for long or tricky comments.
Skip copy apps that ask you to log in to Instagram through them. You never need to hand over your password to copy a comment, and an app with your login can act on your account.
If the comment you want is not visible at all, it may be hidden, filtered or deleted. Our guide to Instagram comments not showing explains each cause.
Why people copy Instagram comments
People copy Instagram comments to quote them, translate them, save useful answers or collect questions from followers. Each reason works best with a slightly different method.
- Saving tips or answers: Paste helpful comments into a notes app so you can find them later.
- Translating: Live Text and Google Lens can translate a comment as well as copy it.
- Quoting in a post or Story: Credit the writer with an @mention, and ask first if the comment is personal.
- Customer service: Brands copy questions from comments into their support inbox so nothing is missed.
- Planning content: Creators gather common questions from comments to plan their next posts.
Copying a comment is fine. Posting someone else's words as your own is not. Give credit, and never share private details such as phone numbers or addresses that someone posted by mistake.
Getting more comments worth copying on your own posts
If you copy comments because you admire how other accounts get lively discussions, the real goal is more comments on your own posts. Clear questions in your caption and quick replies to every comment do most of the work.
For prompts and examples, see our guide on how to get more comments on Instagram and our list of funny Instagram comments to leave on friends' posts.
Some brands also buy Instagram comments that they write themselves, one per line, so a new post does not sit empty. Bought comments add social proof to a post. They do not create real fans or sales by themselves, so they work best alongside genuine replies and strong content.
Questions people also ask
Why can't I copy a comment on Instagram?
Many versions of the Instagram app do not include a Copy option when you press and hold a comment. The menu shows actions like reply or report instead. To copy the text, take a screenshot and use Live Text on iPhone or Google Photos on Android, or open the post on instagram.com in a browser and highlight the comment. Both methods work on any device.
How do I copy an Instagram comment on iPhone?
Take a screenshot of the comment and open it in the Photos app. Tap the Live Text button, touch and hold the comment text, drag the grab points over the full comment, and tap Copy Text. For comments with emojis, open the post in Safari and select the text directly, which copies the exact characters.
How do I copy an Instagram comment on Android?
Screenshot the comment, open the image in Google Photos and tap Copy text or Lens, then select the words and tap Copy. On supported phones you can use Circle to Search instead: touch and hold the Home button or navigation handle, tap or circle the comment, and copy the selected words without saving a screenshot.
Can I copy all the comments on an Instagram post at once?
Instagram has no button that copies every comment on a post at once. On a computer, open the post, load the replies you need, and highlight several comments together, then paste them into a document. Avoid outside export tools that ask for your Instagram password, because you never need to share your login to copy text.
Does the person know if I copy their Instagram comment?
No. Highlighting and copying text happens on your own device and does not post anything on Instagram. If you share their words in your own post or Story, credit them with an @mention, and ask first if the comment is personal. That keeps you fair to the writer and avoids awkward moments.
Why do emojis disappear when I copy a comment from a screenshot?
Text recognition in iPhone Photos and Google Lens is built to read letters and numbers from an image. Emojis and decorative symbols are often skipped or turned into the wrong characters. To keep emojis exactly as written, open the post in a browser on your phone or computer and copy the comment text directly.