Usually, copying and pasting is a very simple action that can be performed by anyone, but sometimes you need to copy text from a website that does not allow it.

Can’t copy text from a website? Bypass website copying restrictions with these tips

  • If a browser will not allow you to copy and paste, the website you’re visiting disabled text selection.

  • You can easily fix the text selection problem if you switch to a different browser.

  • Disabling Javascript by following our method will also allow you to copy text from a website that does not allow it.

  • Easy migration: use the Opera assistant to transfer exiting data, such as bookmarks, passwords, etc.

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  • Download Opera

This can get pretty frustrating, especially if you need large chunks of text from a site for research purposes. For more info on how to do that, check the steps below.

Also, if you find that you can’t copy paste anything in Windows 10, we have this already covered in a separate article.

These solutions also cover the following error variations:

  • How to copy and paste on websites that don’t allow it Chrome, Safari, Firefox
  • How to copy and paste when it won’t let you
  • How to copy text from web page that cannot be copied online
  • How to copy text from a website that won’t let you Mac
  • How to copy text from a website that don’t allow right click
  • Enable copy paste in restricted websites – how to copy paste from websites that don’t allow
  • Copy text from protected website online
  • How to enable text selection in web page

Why can’t I copy text from a website?

In most cases, the website is preventing you from copying text by using a certain script. However, you can circumvent that by disabling specific browser components.

Alternatively, you can rely on extensions to help you get the text from a website. So be sure to keep on reading to find out how to enable copy-paste on a website.

Quick tip:

Not many browsers out there can brag about their excellent flexibility like Opera. There are more than 1,000 ways to customize Opera with the add-ons catalog at your discretion.

And about your copy-paste problem, in Opera, you can set your own key combinations for almost any browser action so you don’t need to rely on the precision of your mouse. That also means fast action!

How can I copy from websites that won’t let me?

1. Disable JavaScript

Chrome

  • Click the Menu button and then select Settings.
  • Navigate to Privacy and security.
  • Go to Site settings.
  • Next, navigate to JavaScript.
  • Select Don’t allow sites to turn Javascript.
  • Go back to your page and refresh it.

If copy and paste is not working in Chrome, disabling the JavasScript might help.

Opera

With Opera, you can customize your keyboard shortcut as you please so you won’t have any more copy-paste issues.

  • Why can’t I copy text from a website?
  • How can I copy from websites that won’t let me?
    1. Disable JavaScript
  • Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Opera
  • Edge
    1. Use the Print to PDF feature
    1. Create a screenshot of the website page that prevents you from copying text
    1. Use the Inspect element feature
    1. Allow copy-paste Chrome extension
  • Chrome
  • Firefox

Firefox 

  • Type the following line in the address bar and confirm if any message appears: about:config
  • Then you will see a list of Firefox preferences.
  • In the search box at the top of the page type: javascript.enabled
  • Then double-click it to change its value from true to false.

Opera

  • Start Opera, then open the Easy Menu and then select Go to full browser settings.
  • Search for Javascript.
  • After, go to Site settings, then select Javascript.
  • Select Allowed to disable/enable it.

Edge

  • Click the Menu button in the top right and select Settings.
  • Search for javascript. Then select Javascript from the list of results.
  • Disable the Allowed option.

Remember to re-enable JavaScript after you copied the content you need. Some sites rely on it, so to avoid future problems, enable it back.

2. Use the Print to PDF feature

  • Open the page that doesn’t allow you to copy text.
  • Now press Ctrl + P.
  • A print dialog will appear. Set Destination to Print to PDF.
  • Now click Save.
  • Set the destination and file name.
  • Open the PDF file and you should be able to paste text without issues.

This is a simple workaround, so you might want to try it out.

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  • How to Add & Customize Quick Links in Edge [Windows 11 Guide]

3. Create a screenshot of the website page that prevents you from copying text

  • Visit a page that doesn’t allow you to copy text.
  • Take a screenshot of a page.
  • Save the file to your PC.
  • Now visit any image to text converter website and upload your screenshot to convert it.

4. Use the Inspect element feature

  1. Open the website page from which you want to copy text.

  2. Select the text that you want to copy.

  3. Right-click on it to bring up a menu with multiple options.

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  1. Select the Inspect option.

  2. The Inspect menu will open. Hover your mouse over the code section for the text you want to copy and right-click on it. Another menu will open.

  3. Click on Copy > Copy element.

  4. Paste the copied text onto a document of your choice. You will notice that you copied the text along with its associated code. You need to manually remove the code parts from it.

Another method you can use involves the usage of the Inspect element feature. This solution is quite similar to that of copying text from the source code. It works in the same way.

However, the window that opens is much smaller and not as easy to navigate on. You need to perform multiple clicks for this to work.

After this, you can copy the content from the source code as following:

  • Press Ctrl + U on the desired page and you should see its code.
  • Use Ctrl + F to navigate and find exactly what you need.
  • Copy the content that you want.

5. Allow copy-paste Chrome extension

  • Visit the Disable JavaScript page.
  • Click on Add to Firefox.
  • Once the extension is installed, click on it and configure it. The extension is available on other browsers as well, so be sure to try it.

There are extensions available that allow you to copy text even from websites that block it. They will force the website to enable right-clicking and allow you to copy content.

You can choose any of these extensions:

  • Absolute Enable Right Click & Copy
  • Enable Right Click for Google Chrome

Firefox

  • Absolute Enable Right Click & Copy
  • Allow Right-Click

That’s it. Hope that one of these solutions helped you copy text from a website that doesn’t allow copy and paste.

Your browser isn’t the only application affected by this issue, and many users reported that copy and paste aren’t working in Remote Desktop.

In case you don’t know how to work the clipboard, we have a great guide on how to open Clipboard on Windows 11, so be sure to check it out.

If you’re aware of another method to copy content from websites that don’t allow it, share it in the comments section below along with any other questions you may have.

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