Copy and save · 4 min read
How to Copy, Paste, and Save Arabic Text Correctly
Arabic letters are Unicode text, not pictures. Copying them should preserve the characters, but the destination app controls how it lays out right-to-left paragraphs, punctuation, fonts, and mixed English-Arabic text.
Copy into the app you need
Finish the phrase in harf, select Copy text, and paste it into your message, form, note, or document. If the text looks reversed or punctuation appears in an odd position, set the destination paragraph direction to right-to-left. Do not retype the phrase until you have checked that setting.
When Arabic and English appear on the same line, select the direction for the paragraph or the specific text run if the editor supports it. A URL, email address, or Latin product name can change how nearby punctuation is displayed.
Save a plain-text copy
The Download control saves a plain-text file encoded as UTF-8, which supports Arabic characters in common text editors. Choose a filename that helps you recognize the note. A plain-text file does not preserve bold text, colors, page layout, or a document’s paragraph-direction setting.
If you need formatting, paste the text into a word processor and save it in that application’s document format. Reopen the saved file once to make sure the characters and paragraph direction look as intended.
Keep private text private
Typing, copying, and downloading in harf happen in your browser. The optional translation tool is different: when you request a translation, the selected phrase is sent to the online translation provider. Avoid translating passwords, financial details, health information, or other sensitive content.
For more detail about typed text, advertising, and analytics, read the Privacy page before using the tool for sensitive work.
Put what you learned into practice.
Open the harf keyboard and try a short phrase. Click the letters or use your physical keyboard.
Open the keyboard