Can't copy text from a website? Occasionally, you might come across web pages that block you from copying and pasting their content. Even switching to a different web browser (like Google Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge) won't enable you to copy the text. The reason you can't copy text from a website is typically because the site has implemented restriction settings to disable standard copying methods. But fear not! We have seven practical tips to help you overcome this issue.

Translation into English:

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Method 1. Copy through Print Right-click the web page that won't let you copy...Full steps
Method 2. Copy from Source Code Right-click the current web page you cannot copy...Full steps
Method 3. Drag and Drop to Paste Right-click on the mouse and don't let go...Full steps
Method 4. Copy in the Search Box Select the text to be copied, right-click on the...Full steps
Method 5. Disable Javascript Firefox users can press F12, then F1 to open the...Full steps
Method 6. Convert Image to Text You can use the Print Screen button to take a...Full steps
Method 7. Install a Plugin Extension Most plugins are available to enable selection...Full steps
Copy Files to Make a Backup Support Disk/partition backup, File backup...Full steps
* This is a professional article included in our tools backup and recovery tutorials and guides, as copying files/texts is related to the file backup topic. Disabling JavaScript or applying plugins to bypass website copy restrictions might introduce new issues to your computer. For safety, it's recommended to create a disk/partition backup using free backup software, to back up important data files, programs, and browser configurations for disaster recovery.

Method 1: Copy via the Print Option

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆

Effect: ★★★☆☆

Step 1. Right-click the webpage that prevents you from copying the full text and choose "Print." For instance, in Google Chrome, the highlighted circle in the screenshot below represents the Print option.

copy text from print setting

Step 2. In the preview window, unselect printing and opt for copying the pages instead. If you don't mind including unnecessary text from headers and footers, press Ctrl+A to select all content on the pages, and then press Ctrl+C to copy everything. Following that, create a new text document and press Ctrl+V to paste all the text into it.

Step 3. Remove the unwanted texts after copying and pasting.

Method 2: Copy from the Source Code

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Effect: ★★★☆

Step 1. Right-click on the current web page where you can't copy any content, and select "View source code" (Ctrl+U is the shortcut key to open the source code in Google Chrome).

copy from source code

Step 2. Programmers frequently use source code, which may appear somewhat unfamiliar to us due to the numerous lines of code we don't understand. However, we can still locate the main content we're interested in by using Ctrl+F to search for our preferred content area. For instance, enter an initial phrase or sentence in the "Find" box and press Enter. The exact text will be highlighted. Follow the highlighted text and drag your mouse to select all the text you need, then choose "Copy."

Method 3: Drag and Drop to Paste

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Effect: ★★☆☆☆

This is the quickest and simplest method, but it works differently on web pages. I tested this approach and it worked on my office computer, but wasn't effective on my home laptop. It's still worth a try since it's easy and fast.

Step 1. Right-click on the mouse and hold down, then move the cursor to highlight the text you wish to copy.

Step 2. Drag the selected text to the location where you want to paste it.

Method 4: Search for Text and Copy from the Search Box

Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Effect: ★★☆☆☆

Most popular web browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Google Chrome, have a built-in Search function. This copy and paste method can generally help you bypass restrictions on most websites. Let's take Google Chrome as an example.

Step 1. Select the text you want to copy, right-click on the highlighted content, and choose "Search Google for..." If there's too much text to copy, you can repeat this process for several phrases.

copy text through search

Step 2. The search page will open in a new window. You can then double-click the search box area to select all the text. Press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste it into a new document.

Method 5: Disable Javascript in the Browser

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Effect: ★★★☆☆

JavaScript is commonly employed to disable mouse functionality on many websites. Typically, websites that utilize JavaScript can block the ability to click with the mouse and prevent visitors from copying any or all of the displayed text onto their clipboard. By temporarily disabling JavaScript on a site, you'll be able to copy any text that appears on the page. Here's how to do it:

    Firefox users can press F12, then F1 to open preferences and verify if JavaScript is disabled on the opened page. Chrome users can disable JavaScript in the Content settings: chrome://settings/content Internet Explorer users can disable JavaScript by navigating to Internet Options > Security > Zone > Custom Level > Active Scripting Opera users can disable JavaScript under Websites in the Opera settings: opera://settings/
Important
More than 90% of websites heavily rely on JavaScript, including popular ones such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon. Disabling JavaScript may cause issues when browsing most sites. Hence, remember to revert the JavaScript setting and enable it for a seamless internet experience.

Method 6: Capture a Screenshot and Convert Image to Text

Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Effect: ★★★★☆

If none of the aforementioned methods assist you in overcoming the copy and paste restriction, your final option is to take a screenshot of the entire page or a specific section, and then utilize an image-to-text converter to transform the image into editable text.

You'll need to utilize some online software or extensions/plugins to make it work.

Step 1. Capture a screenshot on Windows. You can use the Print Screen key to take a screenshot of the entire screen. Alternatively, install a Chrome extension called GoFullPage to capture a lengthy screenshot of a webpage.

Step 2. Crop the screenshot image and retain only the desired text.

Step 3. Utilize an image-to-text converter to recognize the text within the image, and then automatically translate it into words. Some online chatting applications like QQ and WeChat offer users a free option to translate text within images.

Step 4. You might need to do some proofreading after the conversion. Most apps can accurately recognize the text in the image.

Method 7: Install a Plugin Extension for Copy and Paste

Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Effect: ★★★★☆

Most plugins are available to enable selection on no-copying sites and allow copying and pasting on prohibited pages. One plugin that we tested to be effective is called SuperCopy. Click the link to add it to Chrome and give it a try.

SuperCopy

Install plugin to copy text

How to Copy Files for Creating a Backup

Todo Backup is a reliable and robust Windows backup and recovery solution, equipped with disk/partition cloning and OS migration features, appealing to millions of global users for download and installation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on How to Copy Text That Cannot be Copied 1. **Why can't I copy certain text?** Certain texts, like those on secure websites or PDFs, might have restrictions in place to prevent unauthorized copying due to copyright or security concerns. 2. **Can I still copy protected text manually?** Yeah, you can type the text out by hand into a document or take screenshots and then transcribe the content. 3. **What's another way to copy uncopyable text?** Use a screen capture tool like Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch (for Windows), or Grab (on Mac) to grab the text and then paste it into a text editor. 4. **How do I use "Inspect Element"?** Right-click the text, select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element," locate the text in the code, and copy it from there. This usually works for web pages. 5. **Is there software that can get around copy protection?** Yeah, some software, like PDF editors, let you copy text from protected PDFs. But it might not work in every case and could violate the service terms. 6. **Can I copy text from scanned docs or images?** Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software can turn scanned images or text-containing PDFs into editable, copyable format. 7. **Is it legal to bypass copy protection?** It depends on the situation. Make sure you're abiding by copyright laws and respecting ownership rights. 8. **What if the text is in a video or presentation?** You could transcribe the audio yourself or use automated transcription tools, though their accuracy might vary. 9. **Are there online tools to help with copying uncopyable text?** Yeah, sites like Online OCR or Copyfish can assist in extracting text from images or web pages. 10. **What about smartphones?** On mobile, you can use built-in screen recording or third-party apps to capture the text, then transcribe it manually or utilize mobile transcription tools. Always remember to respect copyright laws and the terms of service when trying to copy protected or restricted text.

How do I copy text that is protected?

As mentioned in the post, you can copy text that is protected through printing, copying from source code, using drag and drop to paste, copying in the search box, disabling JavaScript, installing a plugin extension, and so on.

Translating the question into English: "How can I copy text from a PDF that cannot be copied?"

There might be instances when you encounter a PDF document from which you're unable to copy text. Here are some strategies that could assist you:

    1. Use a PDF Editor: A PDF editor enables you to select the text you wish to copy and then copy it conventionally. We recommend using PDFelement, as it is a robust and user-friendly PDF editor. 2. Utilize a Screen Capture Tool: Tools like Snagit allow you to capture a screenshot of the PDF document, after which you can copy the text from the image. 3. Employ OCR Technology: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is a technology that facilitates extracting text from images and PDF documents.