How to Select All in the Google Docs iPhone App

Selecting everything in a document is a one-shortcut job on a computer, but in the Google Docs app on an iPhone there’s no Select All button on the toolbar. The option is hidden in the pop-up menu that appears when you touch and hold in the document, and it only shows up in editing mode. This guide shows exactly how to reach it, what to do with the selected text, and fixes for when the option doesn’t appear.

Quick Answer

Open the document, tap the pencil (Edit) button, then touch and hold anywhere in the text (or tap once on a blank spot) and choose Select all from the pop-up menu. If you only see Select, tap the arrow in the menu to find more options.

How to Select All in the Google Docs iPhone App

1. Open the Google Docs app and open your document.
2. Tap the blue pencil button in the bottom-right corner to start editing. (If the keyboard is already up, you’re in editing mode.)
3. Tap once in the text to place the cursor, then tap the cursor again, or touch and hold on the text until the menu appears.
4. Tap Select all. If the menu shows only a few options, tap the small right arrow to see more.
5. The whole document body is highlighted in blue, and a new menu offers Cut, Copy, Paste and more.

What You Can Do After Selecting Everything

• Copy it: tap Copy, then paste into another app such as Notes, Mail or Messages.
• Change the formatting: tap the A (Format) icon at the top to change font, size, color, alignment, line spacing or list style for the entire document at once.
• Clear formatting: in the Format panel, choose Clear formatting to reset text to the default style.
• Delete it: press the Delete key on the keyboard. Use the Undo arrow at the top if you make a mistake.

Use a Keyboard Shortcut

If you use a Bluetooth or Magic Keyboard with your iPhone or iPad, press Command + A while editing to select all. On an iPad you can also use the same pop-up menu steps as on iPhone.

Select Only Part of a Document

• A word: double-tap it.
• A paragraph: triple-tap inside it on current iOS versions, or double-tap a word and drag the blue handles.
• A custom range: touch and hold a word, then drag the start and end handles. Drag slowly near the top or bottom of the screen to scroll while selecting.

Select All Isn’t Showing? Try This

• Make sure you’re editing. In view mode the menu only offers Copy and a few other options. Tap the pencil first.
• Check your access. If the document is shared with you as View only or Commenter, you can’t enter editing mode. You can still select and copy by touching and holding and dragging the handles, unless the owner turned off copying for viewers and commenters.
• Tap in text, not in a table or image. Inside a table cell, Select all may select just that cell. Tap in a regular paragraph instead.
• Update the app. Update Google Docs from the App Store, then force close and reopen it.
• Try the Suggesting mode toggle. If you’re in Suggesting mode, selecting and deleting creates suggestions instead of edits. Switch back to Editing from the three-dot menu if you need to change the text directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Select all include headers, footers and footnotes?

Usually not. It selects the main body text. Headers, footers and footnotes need to be edited separately.

Can I select all in Google Sheets or Slides on iPhone?

In Sheets, tap the blank corner box above row 1 and left of column A to select every cell. In Slides, select all works inside a text box you’re editing.

Why does my selection lose formatting when I paste it?

Some apps accept only plain text. Pasting into another Google Docs document or into Mail usually keeps formatting.

Can I select all on the Google Docs website in a phone browser?

Mobile browsers usually open the document in a limited view or redirect you to the app. Use the app, or request the desktop site in the browser menu.

Summary

1. Open the document in the Google Docs app.
2. Tap the pencil to edit.
3. Touch and hold in the text.
4. Tap Select all.