The clipboard is an essential tool for any Mac user. It allows you to copy and paste text, images, and other content from one place to another. But did you know that you can also manage your clipboard history on your Mac? This feature can be a lifesaver when you're working on a project or task that requires you to copy and paste multiple items. In this guide, we'll show you how to manage your clipboard history on your Mac, making your work more efficient and streamlined.
Understanding the Clipboard on Mac
The clipboard is a temporary storage area for data that you have copied or cut. When you copy something, it goes into the clipboard where it stays until you paste it somewhere else or copy something else. The clipboard can only hold one item at a time, so if you copy something else, the previous item is replaced.
However, with the introduction of MacOS Mojave, Apple has added a new feature called Stacks that allows you to view and manage your clipboard history. This means you can now copy multiple items without worrying about them being replaced.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0343/6291/6996/files/Managing_Clipboard_History_on_Mac_2_480x480.png?v=1715417225)
How to View Clipboard History on Mac: Viewing your clipboard history on Mac is simple and straightforward. Here's how you do it:
- Press the keys Command + Shift + V together. This will bring up the clipboard history.
- You can then scroll through the items in your clipboard history. Click on an item to paste it.
It's important to note that the clipboard history only stores the last 25 items you've copied. If you copy more than 25 items, the oldest items will be removed from the history.
How to Clear Clipboard History on Mac: There may be times when you want to clear your clipboard history. This could be for privacy reasons or simply to declutter your clipboard. Here's how you can clear your clipboard history on Mac:
- Open the Terminal app. You can find this in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder.
- Type in the command "pbcopy < /dev/null" and press Enter. This will clear your clipboard history.
Remember, once you clear your clipboard history, there's no way to recover the items. So make sure you really want to clear your history before you do it.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0343/6291/6996/files/Managing_Clipboard_History_on_Mac_3_480x480.png?v=1715417257)
Using Third-Party Apps to Manage Clipboard History
While the built-in clipboard history feature on Mac is useful, it does have its limitations. For example, it only stores the last 25 items and it doesn't allow you to pin items or search your history. If you need more advanced features, you might want to consider using a third-party app.
There are many clipboard manager apps available for Mac, such as Paste, ClipMenu, and CopyClip. These apps offer features like unlimited clipboard history, the ability to pin items, and a search function. Some of them even allow you to sync your clipboard history across devices.
Before you download a third-party app, make sure to read the reviews and check the privacy policy. Remember, these apps will have access to everything you copy, so it's important to choose an app that respects your privacy.
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0343/6291/6996/files/Managing_Clipboard_History_on_Mac_4_480x480.png?v=1715417349)
Conclusion
Managing your clipboard history on Mac can greatly improve your productivity. Whether you're using the built-in feature or a third-party app, being able to view and manage your clipboard history means you can copy and paste multiple items without worrying about them being replaced. So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your Mac experience?
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