New iOS 26 feature lets you copy parts of iMessage texts

Apple’s Messages app is getting a handy update with iOS 26, making it easier to copy just a piece of a text message. Before, you had to copy the whole message bubble on your iPhone, which wasn’t ideal. People found workarounds, like dragging the message to the text field to pick out what they needed or using screenshots and text recognition tools.

Now, iOS 26 simplifies things. To copy part of a message, press and hold the message, then tap “Select” from the menu that pops up. You can then highlight the exact text you want and choose options like Copy, Look Up, or Translate. There’s also an arrow for more choices, such as searching the web, reading the text aloud, or sharing the selected part. This update makes iMessage more like other apps, such as Telegram and WhatsApp, which recently added a similar feature.

This change saves time and makes messaging more flexible. It’s a small but welcome improvement, especially for those who often need to grab specific details from texts, like addresses or phone numbers. The feature is available in the iOS 26 beta, with a full release expected in September 2025. While it’s not super obvious yet, Apple might tweak it in future updates to make it even smoother.