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Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 brings a highly anticipated quality-of-life improvement to the Messages app: the ability to copy just a portion of a message instead of the entire bubble. This seemingly small change addresses a long-standing frustration among iPhone users who’ve struggled with limited text selection options in iMessage. Let’s dive into what this update means and why it’s an important step forward for Apple’s messaging experience.
Introduction: Why This Small Change Matters
For years, iPhone users have faced an inconvenient limitation when copying text in Messages. Unlike on Mac or other messaging platforms, you couldn’t highlight specific parts of a message bubble—you had to copy the entire message. This created extra steps and inefficiencies, especially for longer texts containing lists, detailed instructions, or selective quotes. The upcoming iOS 26 update changes that by allowing users to select and copy only the text they want, making conversations smoother and more user-friendly.
the Update
Before iOS 26, copying text in iMessage meant grabbing the entire message bubble with no option to select only a snippet. Users often had to resort to clunky workarounds like dragging the full message into a new compose window or using screenshots with OCR tools to extract specific text. This update introduces a new interaction: long-press a message, tap Select, then highlight the exact portion of text you want to copy. Additional options include Lookup, Translate, and even sharing or searching the web for the selected segment.
This feature aligns iMessage with popular messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, which have already implemented similar selective text copying. Apple’s implementation is subtle and currently tucked away in the beta interface, but it promises to be a smooth addition in the official release expected this fall, with a public beta launching in July.
What Undercode Say: The Real Impact of Selective Copy in iOS 26
This small but significant update marks a meaningful improvement in everyday iPhone usability. Messaging is one of the most frequent activities on smartphones, and the ability to efficiently interact with message content can dramatically enhance user experience. Here’s why this change matters from a practical and analytical perspective:
- Streamlined Communication: Being able to copy just the relevant part of a message cuts down on unnecessary steps, saving time and reducing frustration. For professionals sharing instructions, URLs, or specific information, this feature makes communication cleaner and more efficient.
Bridging the Gap with Competitors: Apple’s iMessage has long been a favorite for its privacy and integration, but the inability to select partial text lagged behind apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. This update closes that usability gap, reflecting Apple’s responsiveness to user feedback and competitive pressure.
Improved Accessibility: With options like Lookup and Translate directly accessible from the selection menu, iOS 26 enhances accessibility. Users can quickly understand foreign phrases or get definitions without leaving the app, empowering more inclusive and versatile messaging.
Potential for Further Enhancements: Introducing partial text selection lays groundwork for more sophisticated message interactions—like selective reactions, quoting specific message fragments, or advanced search functionalities. Apple could build on this foundation in future updates.
Subtle UI Improvements: Although the feature is currently not immediately visible, the long-press and select workflow is intuitive and fits naturally within Apple’s minimalist design ethos. This careful approach maintains the clean Messages interface while adding powerful functionality.
User Adaptation and Beta Feedback: As the public beta rolls out, user feedback will likely influence refinement and discoverability of this feature. Apple’s iterative development process may introduce enhancements such as easier access or gesture shortcuts to further improve text selection.
Overall, this update is a welcome step in making iMessage a more versatile and user-centric messaging platform. By addressing a long-standing limitation, Apple is enhancing its ecosystem and reaffirming iMessage’s relevance in an increasingly competitive messaging landscape.
Fact Checker Results ✅❌
✅ iOS 26 allows copying part of a message, not just the entire bubble.
✅ Similar functionality exists in WhatsApp and Telegram.
❌ No official date yet beyond a general fall release, but public beta expected in July.
Prediction 🔮
Selective text copying in iOS 26 is likely just the beginning. We predict Apple will continue to enhance message interactions by integrating features like selective quoting, improved reactions, and richer context menus. These changes will strengthen iMessage’s position against rival platforms, attracting more users who value seamless communication combined with Apple’s trademark privacy and design standards. Additionally, this update may encourage developers to create more powerful messaging extensions and integrations, opening new possibilities for productivity and social interaction on iPhones.
References:
Reported By: 9to5mac.com
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