Applies ToWindows 11 Windows 10

Using the clipboard

When you copy content on your PC, it’s automatically copied to your clipboard for you to paste. You can paste multiple items from your clipboard history, and you can also pin the items you tend to use all the time and sync your clipboard history to the cloud.

Here are some answers to questions you might have about your clipboard.

To turn your clipboard on for the first time, select Windows logo key  + V, and then select Turn on.

To sync clipboard items to your PC, you'll need to make sure the sync feature is on.

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. Set the Clipboard history across your devices toggle to On.

You can quickly clear everything—except pinned items—on your device and the cloud.

  1. Select Start Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. In the Clear clipboard data area, select Clear.

You can also clear your device clipboard history by selecting Windows logo key + V and then selecting the Clear all option at the top.

You can clear any specific item on your clipboard.

  1. Select Windows logo key + V.

  2. Next to the item in question, select See more (...) and then select Delete .

Troubleshooting the clipboard

Make sure you’ve turned on clipboard history. To turn your clipboard on for the first time, select Windows logo key + V and select Turn on.

Clipboard history gets cleared each time you restart your PC, except for the items you’ve pinned.

You can choose to have your copied items sync automatically to your other devices.

Note: The sync feature is tied to your Microsoft account or your work account, so remember to use the same login information on all your devices. 

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. In the Clipboard history across your devices section, set the toggle to On.

  3. Select Automatically sync text that I copy.

    Note: The Manually sync text that I copy option would mean you'd need to open your clipboard history (Windows logo key + V) and manually select the sync button on the clipboard item. Then the text would be uploaded to the cloud and synced to other devices.

Your size limitations are 4 MB per item. Text, HTML, and Bitmap file formats are supported.

Your clipboard history is limited to 25 copied entries. Older items—unless they're pinned—are removed automatically to make room for new clipboard items.

Using the clipboard

When you copy content on your PC, it’s automatically copied to your clipboard for you to paste. Not only can you paste multiple items from your clipboard history, but you can also pin the items you tend to use all the time and sync your clipboard history to the cloud.

Here are some answers to questions you might have about your clipboard.

To turn your clipboard on for the first time, select Windows logo key  + V, and then select Turn on.

To sync clipboard items to your PC, you'll need to make sure the sync feature is on.

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. Under Sync across devices set the toggle to On.

You can quickly clear everything—except pinned items—on your device and the cloud.

  1. Select Start Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. In the Clear clipboard data area, select Clear.

You can also clear your device clipboard history by selecting Windows logo key + V, selecting the ... icon, and then selecting Clear all.

You can clear any specific item on your clipboard.

  1. Select Windows logo key + V.

  2. Next to the item in question, select the ... icon, then select Delete.

Troubleshooting the clipboard

Make sure you’ve turned on clipboard history. To turn your clipboard on for the first time, select Windows logo key + V and select Turn on.

Clipboard history gets cleared each time you restart your PC, except for those items you’ve pinned.

Syncing your clipboard items across your Windows 10 devices requires you to be running the latest Windows 10 update. For more information on updating, see Windows Update: FAQ.

You can choose to have your copied items sync automatically to your other devices.

Note: The sync feature is tied to your Microsoft account or your work account, so remember to use the same login information on all your devices. 

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard .

  2. In the Sync across devices section, set the toggle to On.

Your size limitations are 4 MB per item. Text, HTML, and Bitmap file formats are supported.

Your clipboard history is limited to 25 copied entries. Older items—unless they're pinned—are removed automatically to make room for new clipboard items.

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