Here are some workarounds that allow you to copy and paste plain text into the Mail app hassle free...
The modern world is a busy place. Navigating it can feel like a constant balancing act. For one reason or another you may find yourself working on-the-go. It could be a normal workday where you end up doing an impromptu school-run to pick up your unwell child. You could be sunning yourself on holiday but suddenly find yourself fighting fires poolside, dealing with a work emergency back at home. There are scenarios when you will need to work but don’t have your laptop to hand.
Emailing on-the-go is fine when you are firing off quick, off-the-cuff replies. However, sometimes a more detailed response is required. This may involve copying and pasting in some stats, quotes or information, from other sources (documents or apps). Tricky… when you are using the iPhone's Mail app.
The Mail app on iPhone does not allow you to paste plain text. What do we mean by that? Well, anything you copy and paste in from another source will retain its original formatting i.e. font, size, colour. It is not “plain” text. As a result, your email can start to look like a scrapbook. One line is in Times New Roman, another is outrageously huge and the other is in a garish yellow! Not ideal and certainly doesn’t scream “professional!”
Manually formatting the text within the Mail app is not a task for the faint-hearted; it is impossibly fiddly to do! But good news! Rather than persevere and get mega frustrated, there are some workarounds that allow you to copy and paste plain text into the Mail app hassle free.
Method 1: Use the ‘share’ option
For this method, all you need is your iPhone. To copy and paste plain text into your Mail app:
- Open the relevant app or source that has the text you want to copy and paste into your email.
- Select or highlight the text.
- Press the "share" button which is the icon in the top right-hand corner that is a square with rounded corners and an arrow pointing upwards.
- The “share sheet” will appear at the bottom of your screen.
- Swipe up and select “Copy.”
- Open up the Mail app.
- Click “Compose” email.
- Hit “Paste.”
Method 2: Use the ‘Plain Text Paste’ app
If you tried the above method and it didn’t work for you or you didn’t have the option of a “share button,” why not try using the "Plain Text Paste" app.
- Open the relevant app or source that has the text you want to copy and paste into your email.
- Select or highlight the text.
- Press Copy.
- Open up the “Plain Text Paste” app.
- A prompt will appear on the screen. Select “Allow paste.”
Please note: at this point, the app will automatically paste and recopy the new plain text for you.
- Open up the Mail app.
- Click “Compose” email.
- Hit “Paste.”
Rather than manually “Allow paste” every time, you can tweak the app’s settings so that the prompt doesn’t appear every time.
- Go to your iPhone Settings > Plain Text (list is alphabetical so near the bottom of the list) > Paste from Other Apps > Allow.