How to copy text from a notification on Mac
Press ⌘ ⇧ 2 while the notification is on screen and drag over it; the text is copied when you let go. The screen freezes, so a banner that is about to slide away stays put. If it has already gone, click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center and capture it there.
How to do it with Copyable
Catch the banner or open Notification Center
A banner stays a few seconds. Missed it? Click the date and time in the menu bar to see recent notifications.
Press ⌘ ⇧ 2 and drag over the text
Long notifications are cut short. Expand it first if it has more to show.
Paste it
The text is in your clipboard the moment you let go, and the panel next to your selection shows it. A code, a link or a phone number can be copied on its own from the panel.
Without Copyable
The free ways, and where they stop working. If one of them covers what you need, you don’t need an app.
Open the app
Click the notification to open the message in its app, where the text is often selectable.
Where it stops: Not every app lets you select its text, and some notifications don’t open anything.
Verification codes
For one-time codes sent by Messages, and by Mail on macOS 14 Sonoma and later, macOS can offer to fill the code in for you.
Where it stops: Only codes, and only from Messages and Mail.
Tips for notifications
- For apps whose notifications you often need to copy, set their style to Alerts in System Settings → Notifications. Alerts stay on screen until you close them.
- Notification Center keeps notifications until you clear them, so you can come back and capture one later.
Questions
Can I copy a verification code from a notification?
Yes. Press ⌘ ⇧ 2 and select the code. For codes from Messages, macOS can often fill them in for you anyway.
Does it work with iPhone notifications on my Mac?
Yes, when they appear on your Mac, as they can with iPhone Mirroring on macOS 15. They are on screen like any other notification.
Is the notification text stored?
Only in Copyable’s history in the menu bar, as text, and only if history is on. You can turn it off in Settings.
Copy text from anything on your screen
Copyable reads the text in any area you select with ⌘ ⇧ 2, on your Mac, without uploading anything. $4.99 once, plus tax where it applies. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later, Apple silicon or Intel.
Buy for $4.99