This wikiHow teaches you how to select all selectable content at once on your computer, phone, or tablet. Although the amount of content that can be selected will depend on what is displayed on the screen and the device used (eg a computer or mobile phone), using the "Select All" command is usually straightforward.
Step
Method 1 of 4: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Use keyboard shortcuts
On any screen, window, or page on your computer, you can select all selectable content by pressing several buttons at the same time:
- Click the window or page that you want to select.
- Press the Ctrl and A keys at the same time.
Step 2. Use Windows Explorer
If you are in a File Explorer window (eg the Documents folder or “ This PC ”), you can use the menu options in the upper-left corner of the window to select all content:
- Click the folder containing the content you want to select on the left side of the window.
- Click the tab " Home ” in the upper-left corner of the window.
- Click " Select all ” in the "Select" alignment bar segment at the top of the window.
Step 3. Use the right-click menu
If your mouse is equipped with a right-click button, you can right-click almost any text or web page to display a custom drop-down menu and select the option “ Select All ”.
If your device or mouse doesn't have a right-click button, use two fingers to press the trackpad button or touch the trackpad with two fingers at the same time to display the drop-down menu
Method 2 of 4: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Use keyboard shortcuts
On any screen, window, or page on your computer, you can select all selectable content by pressing several buttons at the same time:
- Click the window or page that you want to select.
- Press the Command and A keys at the same time.
Step 2. Use the Edit menu
To use it, go to the page whose content you want to select, then click the “ Edit ” in the upper left corner of the screen and select “ Select all ” from the drop-down menu.
If the option " Select all ” appears blurry, you can't use this option on the opened page.
Method 3 of 4: On iPhone
Step 1. Open the text writing app
You can't use the "Select All" option or the all selector on a regular iPhone screen/window (eg in the settings app or home screen), but you can select all text on the Notes or Word app page.
This step can also be done on the text in the messaging application (Messages)
Step 2. Touch the page
After that, the cursor will be placed on the page.
Step 3. Touch and hold the text
After that, a magnifying glass will be displayed after a while.
Step 4. Release the finger
Once the magnifying glass appears, you can remove your finger from the screen. At this point, a pop-up bar will appear above the text.
Step 5. Touch Select All
This option is displayed on the pop-up bar. After that, all the text on the page will be selected.
Method 4 of 4: On Android Device
Step 1. Open the app that displays the text field
You can only use the select all or "Select All" feature on your own writing.
For example, you can open a Word document
Step 2. Touch the text field
After that, the cursor will be placed on the column.
Step 3. Touch and hold the text you want to select
After a while, a menu will appear at the top of the screen (or above the text).
Step 4. Touch Select all
It's at the top of the screen. After that, all the text on the page will be selected.
- Sometimes, the button “ Select all ” resembles four squares arranged into a large square.
- Some applications will display a different contextual version of “ Select all ”.
