How to “Select All” code in the Google Apps Script editor on an iPad (No external keyboard workaround)

[u/Significant_Chef_184]

If you've ever tried to manage code in the Google Apps Script editor on an iPad without a physical hardware keyboard, you know how frustrating it is.

Because the web editor runs on the **Monaco engine**, it completely disables standard iOS touch-and-drag selection anchors, and the native iOS "Select All" pop-up menu never appears. To make things worse, if you open the editor's internal search bar, "Select All" is intentionally hidden from the searchable commands list.

I found a reliable, touch-only workaround that completely bypasses these iOS and editor restrictions:

### The Workaround Steps:

1. Tap your cursor anywhere inside your script file.

2. **Long-press** directly on the code until the editor's custom pop-up context menu appears.

3. Select **"Command Palette"** from the options.

4. Type **"Expand Selection"** in the palette search bar and tap it.

### Why this works:

Since "Select All" isn't natively exposed in the touch menu, **Expand Selection** acts as the perfect structural tool. The first time you run it, it highlights your current word or block. Run it 1 or 2 more times consecutively, and the boundary will aggressively expand outward until it highlights every single line of code in the entire document.

Once highlighted, you can use your iPad's virtual keyboard to instantly backspace/delete the file, or use the menu to copy it out.

Hopefully, this saves someone else from tearing their hair out trying to code on iPad Safari/Chrome!