Select text · with a demonstration

Trackpad 6

macOS Extend a selection to a distant point Shift-click the endpoint ▷ Watch

macOS Select a text range by clicking and dragging ▷ Watch Try here

macOS Select a word or paragraph Double-click / triple-click Double-click a word to select it, or triple-click within a paragraph to select that paragraph. The text must be selectable in the app. ▷ Watch Try

macOS Triple‑Tap = Select Paragraph ▷ Watch

macOS Shift + Trackpad = Extend Selection ▷ Watch

macOS Three‑Finger Drag (Optional) ▷ Watch

Keyboard 3

macOS Select to a line boundary ⇧⌘← / ⇧⌘→ · Shift–Command–Arrow ▷ Watch

macOS Select all ⌘A Focus the editable text field or document, then press Command-A to select its text. On iPad, use a connected physical keyboard. ▷ Watch Try

macOS Extend selection by words ⇧⌥← / ⇧⌥→ · Shift–Option–Arrow Place the cursor in editable text. Hold Shift and Option, then press Left Arrow or Right Arrow to extend the selection word by word. App behavior can vary. ▷ Watch Try

iOS / iPad 2

iOS/iPadOS Select text by tapping and adjusting selection handles ▷ Watch Try

iOS/iPadOS Copy selected text Three-finger pinch inward Copy, cut, and paste with three-finger pinch gestures. ▷ Watch Try