Why is copy-paste between apps such a pain on Android?
You are reading an article in Chrome or another app. You see one paragraph worth saving. The usual path is copy, switch apps, wait for your notes app to load, paste, save, then switch back. By the time you are reading again you have lost your place.
Android already has a better path for apps that expose selected text through the system share sheet. Instead of copying and pasting manually, you can send the selected plain text straight into a notes app that registers as a text share target.
How does the Android share sheet work?
The share sheet is the system menu that appears when you tap a Share icon or choose Share from a long-press menu. Android lists apps that can handle the type of content being shared. For SnapTask, that means plain text.
SnapTask registers itself for text/plain on install. When another app sends selected text through Android's share sheet, SnapTask can receive it and save it as a note.
How do I share selected text to SnapTask?
- Long-press a word to start text selection in a compatible app
- Drag the handles to cover the paragraph or sentence you want
- Tap Share in the floating selection menu
- Choose SnapTask from the share sheet
That is it. If the sending app provides the selected text as plain text, it lands in your SnapTask inbox immediately. The main SnapTask screen does not need to open.
What kind of shared content does SnapTask support?
SnapTask is intentionally narrow here. It accepts shared plain text up to 10 KB. That is useful for quotes, short paragraphs, copied snippets, addresses, phone numbers, short instructions, and small pieces of text you do not want to lose.
It does not import images, PDFs, audio, arbitrary attachments, or every .txt file from every file manager. Some file managers share a text file as text, and some share it as a file attachment. SnapTask supports the first case, not the second.
Does this work from Chrome, Gmail, WhatsApp, Reddit, and other apps?
Sometimes, yes. The exact behavior depends on the sending app. If the app exposes selected text through Android's Share menu, SnapTask can receive it. If the app only shares a link, media file, screenshot, or attachment, SnapTask will not turn that into a note.
Good examples to try:
- Browsers and readers: selected quotes or short paragraphs when Share is available
- Email apps: selected plain text from a message body, if the app exposes Share
- Messaging apps: message text when the app sends it as plain text
- File managers: only when a text file is shared as text, not as a file attachment
The safest way to think about it: if Android is sharing actual text, SnapTask can save it. If Android is sharing a file or media object, SnapTask is not the right target.
Does SnapTask save the text silently or open a screen?
SnapTask uses a transparent activity that accepts the shared text, writes it to your local database, and finishes immediately. The first time you open SnapTask afterwards, the saved text is at the top of your inbox.
This is intentional. The whole point is to remove every micro-interruption between intent and saved.
Save shared plain text without copy-paste.
Free on Google Play. No account. Works offline. Android 7.0 and above.
Get on Google PlayFrequently asked questions
How do I save selected text to a notes app on Android?
If the app supports sharing selected text, long-press the text, tap Share, then choose SnapTask. The text is saved to your inbox without opening the main SnapTask screen.
Can SnapTask import text files?
Only if the sending app shares the file contents as plain text. If a file manager shares the .txt file as an attachment or URI instead, SnapTask will not import it.
Does SnapTask support images, PDFs, or attachments?
No. The share target is for plain text only. SnapTask does not import images, PDFs, audio, screenshots, or arbitrary file attachments.
Can I add a reminder when sharing text?
Yes. If the shared text ends with a supported date shortcut like "tomorrow", "+2d", or "15/03/2026", SnapTask parses it and schedules a reminder.
Is there a length limit on shared text?
SnapTask accepts up to 10 KB of plain text per share. This is enough for notes, short paragraphs, addresses, instructions, and other small text snippets.