A Better Way to Copy, Paste, and Undo Text on iPhone
The iOS 13 comes with manyawesome features, includingsystem-wide dark mode, sleek volume interface,controller support for Arcade gamesand much more. But one feature that doesn’t get enough attention is the improved copy-paste gestures. While the usual copy-paste method still exists, you can do it much effectively with new gestures option in iPadOS and iOS. Let’s see how those work on the iPhone.
A Better Way to Copy, Paste and Undo on iOS 13
1. Copy text on iPhone
The usual method to copy the text on your iPhone goes something like this, you tap on a word, wait for the pop-up to appear and then select a portion of the text. Once done, again tap on Copy option.
Now, if you were to use the new gesture to copy the text, you would tap on the text to select the text as usual and thenuse three fingers and do a pinching motion like you’re grabbing salt with your fingerslikethe Salt Bae.
You may find it jarring at first but as you start using it along with other gestures, you’ll get the hang of it.
2. Paste text on iPhone
Now, you’ve copied the text by doing the picking up gesture using your three fingers, to paste the copied text simplyuse your three fingers and act like you’re sprinkling salt on the screen. I use the salt example to keep the gesture easy to understand but if it makes more sense try andpinch out with three fingers on the screenand that’s the new paste gesture on iOS 13. The best part of this gesture is that you don’t have to wait for any pop-up if you have a cursor blinking on the screen, the gesture will work just fine.
3. Undo Gesture on iPhone
Shaking your iPhone like a mad man to undo whatever you just entered as a text was just weird, and too much, not to mentionfull of false positives.I never use this feature like ever but like I said false positives, I was texting last night and accidentally shook my iPhone and unlike the regular undo pop-up, I got the pop-up to use the gesture. If I’m being honest, it makes much more sense to double-tap with three-fingers to undo what I just typed.
Here is what it looks like in action, doesn’t it feel more natural?
This is all you need to know about the new gestures for the iPhone. I admit there is a slight learning curve but using these gestures is so much more efficient in the long run. What do you think of these gestures, do you like it or hate it, let me know in the comments below?
Works as an in-house Writer at TechWiser and focuses on the latest smart consumer electronics. Closely follows the latest trends in consumer IoT and how it affects our daily lives. You can follow him on Twitter. Yes, he sometimes speaks in Third Person.
10 iPhone 17 Pro Features – Finally Apple Gives What…
We Found Hidden iOS 26 Clear Icons Feature in Accessibility…
Apple’s Dynamic Island Update – 6 Features We Want to…
How to Downgrade from iOS 26 Beta to iOS 18.5…
7 New iOS 26 Features Revealed at WWDC 2025
Apple is Planning to Bring the Revamped AI-Powered Shortcuts App
Is Apple Working on New Solid-State Haptic Buttons for iPhones,…
Is Apple Launching Its First Smart Glasses in 2026?
13 Underrated iOS Apps You Should Download Now (August, 2025)
All iPhone Secret Codes – Tested and Working (August 2025)
You must belogged into post a comment.
