Some web pages don’t let you right-click because they use certain methods to stop people from copying text. There are multiple ways to keep your content safe and prevent right-clicking. CMSs offer various plugins/addons for this purpose, while hosting and CDNs include features like server-side exclusions and link protection.
Using content-protection tactics can seriously degrade the user experience. Still, website owners put these restrictions in place even though they know it might hurt the user experience. Some popular sites use duplicate content but still rank well.
Keep in mind:
If you copy content from a restricted site without permission, you are likely violating copyright. Respect digital property rights and comply with the creator’s terms. You must obtain permission and comply with the terms before using any text or content.
Here are a few solutions to copy text from restricted websites:
1. Extracting Text From Images
Optical text recognition lets you quickly turn images into text. I recommend this approach because it is easy for beginners to use. Take a screenshot of the text you want to copy from a protected website. After that, use an online optical character recognition tool to turn the image into plain text, a DOC file, or another format.
Most browsers allow you to use online OCR to copy text from restricted websites. You can also extract text from PDFs or images without installing additional software.
For example, I captured a screenshot of text from a website with content protection. And, Onlineocr offers an easy-to-use OCR with just a few steps.
I’ll upload my screenshot to the platform. You’ll see different options and languages, so make sure to choose the right language. Output formats include docs, Excel files, and plain text. I chose plain text, and it finished in 10 seconds, which was just what I expected. You can see this in the screenshot.
The process involves four simple steps: upload, set the language, convert, and download. That’s why I said this is a beginner-friendly and fast approach.
Alternatively, search Google or other search engines for “OCR tools.” Many websites offer services that convert images to text using optical character recognition.
2. Using Chrome Extensions
Chrome is the most widely used web browser, with over 2 billion users. There are several methods to copy text from web pages in Chrome. Some extensions allow you to copy text from protected websites. I’ve tested a few, and most of them work.
I’ll show you some. Allow Copy Select & Enable Right Click is a nice extension with over 100K users. It lets you enable context menus on restricted websites and copy options on all pages, even when a website doesn’t allow right-clicking.
I’m going to test this add-on on a website that doesn’t allow right-clicks. I can’t use shortcuts or drag images with this page, so I’ve installed the “Allow Copy” extension and enabled the option “Enable Copy.” It works; you can see it here:
If you don’t like the first one, consider Enable Right-Click, another fine extension that acts separately in each tab. It has received many positive reviews. The Chrome Web Store offers several extensions that allow users to copy text from protected websites.
3. With Reading Mode in Browsers
Before proceeding, clear your browser cache. Most browsers offer a read mode, which lets you copy text from secure web pages.
I will explain how to use read mode in various browsers.
Google Chrome
The newest version of Chrome now includes reading mode by default. To use it, just right-click and choose “open in reading mode.” Chrome’s reading mode lets you change fonts, colors, and other settings, but it does not always work as expected.
It isn’t perfect. At times, things can go wrong, especially if a site disables right-click. If you can still right-click but can’t copy, try using Chrome’s reading mode.
Mozilla Firefox
I have used Firefox to copy text from several protected websites; however, I am not comfortable using it as my primary browser. Firefox’s integrated reading mode simplifies navigation of content-protected pages. So, you can open Firefox reading mode by pressing the “F9” key on the keyboard or from the address bar icon.
You can usually use read mode in Firefox without an extension to copy text from content-blocked websites. At times, it doesn’t work because in WordPress and other CMSs, some security and cache plugins implement text protection techniques.
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge is a widely used browser that has improved considerably in recent years. Similar to Firefox, it offers a practical reading mode and enables users to copy text from restricted sites. Press the “F9” shortcut on the keyboard to open Microsoft Edge reading mode. You can access it by clicking the icon in the address bar.
A handy feature that doesn’t require extensions. This image shows how I open the Reading View in Edge when a website does not allow right-clicking.
See how simple it is… From what I’ve seen, this method usually works on most websites that block right-click. If not, we can try other solutions.
Opera
Opera browser has a smaller user base than Chrome and Safari. Opera is smooth and customizable, which makes it a strong alternative to other options.
It’s got many features, and Opera’s “Read Mode” is as good as Firefox and MS Edge. Go to the website where you want to copy text. Look for the reader mode icon in the address bar and click it to adjust the settings.
I can’t name every browser or show how to copy text from a web page that blocks copying for each one, because there are too many. Your browser usually has a reader mode. See the Safari user guide for more on Reader View for Mac users.
4. With the Page Source Code
I recommend this approach only if you are familiar with HTML, as it involves some technical steps. So, this isn’t a tactic to use often. In many browsers, you can view the source code of a page.
If you use Chrome, visit the page where you want to copy the text. To view the page source, right-click on the page and select “View Page Source,” or press Ctrl + U.
You’ll see something like this:
On some websites, you can scroll down to see more content or use the right side of the page to navigate. When you peer at the source code of a page, recognize content with “P” for paragraphs and “H” for headings. See an example here:
Some add-ons can disable source code views; this won’t work if the content utilizes those approaches. See how to open Page Source Code in other browsers:
- Firefox: Open-source web browser. To view the page source, press Ctrl+U or right-click and select “View Source.”
- Edge: The approach is the same as Microsoft Edge. Select Inspect Element by right-clicking on the page (Ctrl+U also works).
- Opera: Press “Ctrl+U” to open the source code of the selected page. Or click on the right-click menu and choose “page source.”
- Safari: Click “Develop” in the menu bar, then select Show Page Source—Web Inspector from the options menu.
- Brave/Vivaldi/Tor: Right-click to view the source or press Ctrl+U.
Using the methods above, you can view the page’s text, scripts, and other elements. You can copy text from a web page even if it can’t be copied from the page source, but this isn’t always the best approach. It is barred in some cases, but you can try it if other methods do not work.
5. Using the Print Feature in Your Browser
Browsers usually have a printing feature; otherwise, you can convert a page to a PDF. This can help you copy text from secure web pages, but some add-ons can block the Print or PDF option.
I’ve had good results with Firefox and Edge using this method. Often, Chrome’s Print to PDF feature works well, but some sites are not compatible with this functionality.
So, what are the steps involved?
- When right-click is enabled, right-click and select Print.
- If right-click does not work, press “Ctrl+P” to access the PDF feature.
Okay, here’s a practical example: access to certain content on this site is restricted.
So, I’m going to convert this page to a PDF document using Chrome.
The method lets you download the PDF to your computer or save it as a PDF. I suggest using the earlier techniques to copy specific text sections.
6. Using the Save Web Page Feature
Some websites don’t disable right-clicking; however, you can’t copy text. You can then use the feature to save the web page. In most browsers, you can save the page to your device by pressing Ctrl+S. You can see it as ‘Save as’ in Chrome.
The process saves the entire web page, including images and CSS, for offline viewing. Once complete, open the file in any browser to access the content. Occasionally, it’s just an HTML file; media and other resources won’t be saved, and may appear to be broken. If it is successful, it is a simple way to copy content from locked web pages.
Final Thoughts
I think you’ve found tips on copying text from protected websites. Each step is distinct, and these strategies are valuable for legitimate purposes.
There are likely other methods, but most of those above are easy to execute. You can use them without much effort, even as a rookie.
And it is easy to unlock, click, select, and copy features on any website.
Copying content from locked web pages is a bit like looking at your birthday presents before it’s time. Websites lock their content for a reason. If you are tempted to copy and paste, focus on creating original content. Do not use or modify someone else’s work without proper attribution. Ensure the creator receives proper acknowledgment.
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