How to save selected text from any app on Android

Short answer: long-press to select the text, then pick an app's entry (for example "Save to Clipjar") from the floating menu above the selection. Android hands the selected words straight to that app, so it works even where copying to the clipboard wouldn't be remembered.

Why the selection menu works when background saving doesn't

Android 10 stopped apps from reading the clipboard in the background. The text selection menu is different: you choose to send the words, so Android passes them to the app directly. That makes it the most reliable way to keep a line of text without leaving what you're reading.

Step by step

  1. Long-press a word and drag the handles to cover what you want.
  2. In the menu above the selection, look past Copy, Share and Select all.
  3. If you only see a few items, tap the three dots (⋮) or the arrow to expand the menu.
  4. Tap the save option. A short confirmation appears and you stay on the same page.

The option isn't in the menu

Good things to save this way

A delivery address from a chat, a booking code in an email, one paragraph of a long article, a command from a help page. Each goes in with one menu tap instead of copy, switch, paste, switch back.

Doing it with Clipjar

Clipjar adds "Save to Clipjar" to the selection menu. The text lands at the top of your list with no confirm pop-up; later you can put it in a group like Address or Work and tap it to copy it again.

Get Clipjar on Google Play

← See Clipjar