If you often find yourself copying and pasting multiple snippets of text or images, Clipboard History in Windows 11 is about to become your new best friend. This handy feature stores everything you copy — from text and links to images — allowing you to easily access and paste them whenever you want. No more switching back and forth or re-copying the same info!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to activate, use, and manage Clipboard History on your Windows 11 PC. Let’s dive in!
What Is Clipboard History in Windows 11?
Clipboard History is a built-in tool that remembers your recent copied items — up to 25 entries. Instead of only pasting the last thing you copied, you can access a whole list and pick exactly what you need.
How to Enable Clipboard History on Windows 11
By default, Clipboard History is turned off. Here’s how to switch it on:
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Open Settings
Click the Start button and then the gear icon, or press Win + I to open the Settings app. -
Go to Clipboard Settings
In the Settings window, select System on the left pane, then click Clipboard. - Turn On Clipboard History
Find the toggle labeled Clipboard history and switch it to On.
How to Use Clipboard History: Step-by-Step
Once enabled, using Clipboard History is simple and intuitive:
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Copy Something
Use Ctrl + C or right-click and select Copy on any text or image. -
Open Clipboard History
Press Win + V on your keyboard. This shortcut opens your Clipboard History window, showing the most recent items you’ve copied. -
Select What to Paste
Scroll through the list then click the snippet you want to paste. The item will be inserted into your current document or field. - Pin Important Items
To keep frequently used items handy, click the three dots (…) next to the entry and choose Pin. This saves it permanently until you remove the pin, even if you restart your PC.
Tips to Get the Most out of Clipboard History
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Clear Your Clipboard History
If you want to declutter or protect sensitive data, in the Clipboard settings, click Clear under Clear clipboard data to erase everything except pinned items. -
Sync Across Devices
Clipboard History can sync across your Windows 11 devices if you sign in with a Microsoft account and enable Sync across devices in the Clipboard settings. This makes copying on one device and pasting on another a breeze! - Use Clipboard as a Productivity Booster
Copy text from websites, snippets from documents, or even images and quickly access them without jumping back and forth between windows.
Troubleshooting Clipboard History Not Working
- Make sure you’ve enabled Clipboard History in Settings.
- Restart your PC if the feature isn’t responding.
- Ensure your Windows 11 is updated, as Clipboard History improvements and bug fixes come with updates.
- Confirm you’re using the shortcut Win + V and not Ctrl + V — the latter just pastes the last copied item.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 Clipboard History is a powerful yet often overlooked feature that can save you tons of time and hassle. Once you start using it, you might wonder how you ever managed without a clipboard that remembers everything you copy! Give it a try today and enjoy smoother, faster workflows.
If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with friends or coworkers who could benefit. Got questions? Drop them below!
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