How To Copy And Paste On Sites That Wont Let You

When browsing the web, you may encounter websites that restrict copying and pasting text, often using JavaScript to prevent these actions. However, there are several effective methods to bypass these restrictions, ensuring you can copy and paste the content you need.

Disabling JavaScript in Your Browser

One of the most straightforward methods to regain the ability to copy and paste is by disabling JavaScript for the specific website. Here’s how to do it in Google Chrome:

• Open Chrome Settings: Click on the three-dot icon next to your Chrome profile picture in the top-right corner, then select "Settings" from the drop-down menu.
• Navigate to Site Settings: In the settings menu, select "Privacy and security" and then click on "Site settings."
• Disable JavaScript: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "JavaScript." Click the "Add" button to block the website from using JavaScript. Enter the URL of the website you want to disable JavaScript for and click "Add."
• Refresh the Page: Go back to the website and refresh the page. You should now be able to copy and paste text.

Copying Content from Source Code

If a website allows right-clicking but does not let you select text, you can copy the content from the source code:

• Right-Click and Inspect: Right-click on the text you want to copy and select "Inspect" or press F12 to open the developer tools.
• Navigate to the Element: In the developer tools, find the HTML element containing the text you want to copy.
• Copy the Element: Right-click on the code section corresponding to the text and select "Copy > Copy Element."
• Paste and Clean Up: Paste the copied element into a text editor and manually remove any HTML code to get the plain text.

Using Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can restore right-click functionality and enable copying from restricted sites:

• Install an Extension: Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for extensions like "Enable Right-Click for Google Chrome." Install the extension and activate it.
• Activate the Extension: Click the extension button below the navigation buttons and select the extension to activate it. This should allow you to right-click and copy text on websites that previously blocked it.

Printing to PDF

Another method involves printing the webpage to a PDF, which often allows more freedom in copying text:

• Open Print Layout: Press Ctrl + P to open the print layout box.
• Save as PDF: Select the pages and set the destination to "Save as PDF." Click "Save" to download the PDF.
• Copy Text from PDF: Open the PDF file and copy the text as needed.

Using Bookmarklets

Bookmarklets can be used to disable JavaScript that prevents copying:

• Install a Bookmarklet: Create or use an existing bookmarklet that disables the JavaScript preventing copying. For example, you can use the following JavaScript code:

  javascript:void(function(){var elems=document.getElementsByTagName("*"),attrs=["onpaste","oncopy","oncut"];for(i=0;i<elems.length;i++)for(j=0;j<attrs.length;j++)elems[i].getAttribute(attrs[j])&&elems[i].setAttribute(attrs[j],elems[i].getAttribute(attrs[j]).replace("return false","return true"))})();
  

  Drag this code into your bookmarks bar and click on it when needed.

Drag and Drop Method

For some websites, you can use the drag and drop method to copy text:

• Highlight Text: Left-click on the text and without letting go, move the cursor to highlight the text.
• Drag to Destination: Drag the highlighted text to a document or any other place where you want to paste it and drop it to paste.

Using Developer Tools to Modify JavaScript

You can use developer tools to modify the JavaScript code directly:

• Open Developer Tools: Press F12 to open the developer tools.
• Inspect and Modify: Navigate to the JavaScript code that prevents copying and modify it to allow copying. This method requires some technical knowledge but can be very effective.

Ethical Considerations

When using these methods, it's crucial to consider the ethical implications and respect copyright and user agreements. Always ensure that your actions comply with the website's terms of service and do not violate any copyright laws.

Additional Tools and Methods

• Cyotek WebCopy: This tool can download web pages for offline viewing, allowing you to access the content without restrictions.
• Google Translate: Sometimes translating the page can bypass restrictions.
• Manual JavaScript: You can manually run JavaScript code in the console to disable the interfering code.
• Mozilla Firefox Config: You can disable clipboard events in Mozilla Firefox by changing the dom.event.clipboardevents.enabled setting to false in the about:config menu.

By using these methods, you can effectively bypass restrictions on copying and pasting text from websites, ensuring you can access and use the information you need.