You’re most likely aware of the Copy perform (and its complementary perform, Paste) and you might have even heard of the Clipboard in Windows 11 (and Windows 10). Clipboard is a short lived storage space the place Windows shops information (like textual content, photographs, and extra) that you’ve got minimize or copied from someplace.
However, you may not know that Clipboard has a hidden function known as Clipboard History which you could entry to see an inventory of your most lately copied information.
Hidden Features
We love hidden function, that performance in your system that won’t essentially be energetic at default however which elevates your expertise (and even your life). This collection explores our decide of them – and you’ll read them all here.
In this week’s Hidden Features highlight, I’ll take you thru the way to allow and use Clipboard History, which is able to make your multitasking and productiveness a lot simpler.
I do know I’ve caught myself eager to hint my previous few steps whereas utilizing my PC, and having to undergo browser tabs and reopen closed home windows to seek out what I’m in search of. Clipboard History can come in useful in moments like these, and when you perceive the way it works, you would possibly end up asking the way it’s not enabled by default.
You would possibly work on duties that require that you just copy over a number of gadgets, particularly from quite a lot of sources, which this may will let you do in chunks quite than going backwards and forwards between sources.
Clipboard History opens up plenty of avenues in your workflow – and even simply on your private initiatives and hobbies.
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How Clipboard History works
Your Clipboard History will likely be made up of entries that you choose and both right-click or press Ctrl + C in your keyboard to inform your laptop to repeat one thing. Clipboard History will retailer the final 25 objects you’ve got chosen, and it will retailer textual content, code, and pictures. You can then open your Clipboard History, and recopy older gadgets to stick them as normal.
Finding one of many final stuff you copied is usually a ache, particularly in case you’ve moved on from the supply you bought it from and closed a window. By merely pasting utilizing Ctrl + V in your keyboard, you solely get the very last item you copied.
With Clipboard History, you do not have to fret as a lot about that, and you’ll navigate your most lately copied gadgets much more simply. You can allow Clipboard History for each Windows 10 and Windows 11, and you’ll pin gadgets to have the ability to carry them up simply in Clipboard History and stop them from disappearing.
You is likely to be involved about your PC’s reminiscence getting plagued by issues you do not have use for, however you do not have to fret about this both – the oldest gadgets disappear when contemporary gadgets are copied, and your Clipboard History will reset every time you restart your system.
How to allow and use Clipboard History in Windows 10
To allow Clipboard History, go to ‘Start,’ then open ‘Windows Settings’ by deciding on the gear icon (which is on the left aspect by default). Alternatively, you may press the Windows + ‘I’ keys concurrently. In Windows Settings, click on ‘System.’ In the left-hand sidebar that opens, choose ‘Clipboard.’ Once in Clipboard Settings, discover the part with the heading ‘Clipboard historical past’ and change the close by toggle on.
This ought to activate Clipboard History and will allow you to make use of it whereas utilizing any utility on Windows 10.
To open Clipboard History, press the Windows + V keys in your keyboard.
This ought to open a small window that may show your lately copied gadgets, with the latest on the prime of the checklist.
To paste any of your beforehand copied gadgets, choose it in Clipboard History, and paste it into the appliance of your alternative.
The ellipses icon to the proper of every merchandise gives you three extra actions you are able to do in Clipboard History:
- Delete the merchandise you at the moment have chosen from Clipboard History.
- Pin an merchandise to your Clipboard History checklist, which is able to preserve this merchandise in Clipboard History even within the occasion of your PC restarting otherwise you clearing Clipboard History totally (utilizing Clear All).
- Clear All to empty your Clipboard History altogether.
How to allow and use Clipboard History in Windows 11
To use Clipboard History in Windows 11, you first need to allow it. You can do that by going to the Windows Start menu and navigating to Settings (represented by a gear icon). Then choose System from the sidebar menu, after which click on on Clipboard. This ought to open the Clipboard menu, and the primary setting that is listed needs to be Clipboard History, which you need to change on.
You may also activate Clipboard History by prompting this setting by urgent the Windows + V keys. If you do not have Clipboard History turned on (which is anticipated by default), this may carry up Clipboard History and ask you to Turn On the function. You’ll need to click on on the Turn on button.
In Clipboard settings, you can even activate the syncing function by switching on the Sync throughout your units toggle. You’ll then have two choices:
- Automatically sync textual content that I copy
This will allow the content material that you just copy to be synced by the cloud and throughout any units which have entry to the related Microsoft account. - Never robotically sync textual content that I copy
This will will let you be extra selective about what copied contents are uploaded to the cloud and made obtainable throughout units.
To open Clipboard History, press the Windows + V keys to carry it up. This will present the latest textual content, HTML, and picture gadgets that you’ve got copied.
Once you might have the function enabled in Windows 11, choose the merchandise you need to copy from the checklist (simply common left-click – this may choose and duplicate it robotically), and paste it into an utility utilizing right-click menu Paste or Ctrl + V.
You may also click on the pin icon which permits you may preserve an merchandise saved in your Clipboard History to stay accessible even in case you restart your PC or in case you select to clear your Clipboard History, wiping it totally.
The ellipses icon to the proper of every merchandise will reveal the trash can icon which you’ll click on to delete an entry in your Clipboard History. This will even present a clipboard icon that may will let you Paste as textual content if the merchandise you’ve got chosen is or accommodates textual content.
If you need to delete all your most lately copied gadgets, click on Clear All towards the highest of this menu.