Messages: copy/paste individual words

[Brien]

It seems that I can only copy entire text messages... I could've sworn you could copy individual words in previous versions. Is there some new gesture or setting I'm unaware of that lets me copy individual words?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kjung7]

I think this was back when copy and paste was first introduced into iOS . I don't know why you can't anymore

 

[beernut]

I just checked on iOS 8 (on an iPad) and the options are the same there. You get 'copy' and 'more' where 'copy' copies the whole message. The only difference is on the old iOS, the "copy | more" menu appears above the message but on iOS 10 it's on a layer at the bottom (to make room at the top of the message for those stupid little quick reply thingies)

 

[BrianBaughn]

iOS 9 is the same...copy/select entire message only for previous messages. You can select a single word in the composing field.

Messages on a Mac can select a single word in previous messages.

 

[simon lefisch]

3D Touch (hard press) the word and it will select the word only.

 

[foxconn]

3D Touch (hard press) the word and it will select the word only.

Doesn't work in messages

 

[simon lefisch]

Doesn't work in messages

Yes it does. At least, it does on my 6s+.

 

[beernut]

Yes it does. At least, it does on my 6s+.

are you jailbroken? because there's no force touch action on those messages (at least on my 6S, ios 10.0.2). only action is long press or double tap to bring up those stupid little quick replies.

 

[C DM]

Best way is basically to copy the message and paste it into the message field and then copy whatever part of the message that you might need.

 

[simon lefisch]

are you jailbroken? because there's no force touch action on those messages (at least on my 6S, ios 10.0.2). only action is long press or double tap to bring up those stupid little quick replies.

Apologies. I misread the OP. I thought they were talking about when writing a message, not a message that was already sent. My bad.

 

[Kjung7]

Yeah I don't know why Apple doesn't allow this. It's really inconvenient especially when you have to get the code several sites send you for activation of your account or something along those lines.