4 tips to make better use of the Windows clipboard
The Windows Clipboard is a powerful tool that can do much more than just copy and paste. From pinning frequent items to syncing them across devices, here are four awesome tips to help you get the most out of your Windows clipboard.
1 Paste clipboard items without text formatting
When you copy text to the clipboard, Windows preserves its original formatting. This can be useful in some cases. However, sometimes it can mess up the look of your document and require extra effort to remove unwanted formatting.
Fortunately, the Windows clipboard offers the option of pasting text without the original formatting.
To do this, you must first enable clipboard history if you haven’t already. Then open the clipboard by pressing Win + V. Find the text you want to paste without formatting.
Now click on menu icon with three dots next to an item and select Paste as text icon.
This option is especially useful when you are gathering information from multiple sources. You can use it to seamlessly integrate copied text into your notes or reports without creating a disjointed look.
2 Pin frequently used clipboard items
One of the best features of the Windows Clipboard is the ability to pin copied items so they remain accessible indefinitely. This is especially useful for snippets of text, URLs, or images that you link to frequently.
For example, if you frequently insert your email address, a specific paragraph, or an important image into documents or forms, pinning these items can save you the effort of repeatedly searching for them or re-copying them each time.
Using this feature is simple. First, copy the item to the Windows clipboard. Then press Win+V open the clipboard history and click on pin icon in the lower right corner of this entry.
Once pinned, the item remains available even if you clear your clipboard history or restart your computer.
3 Sync clipboard history across devices
Windows 10 and 11 offer a handy clipboard synchronization feature that lets you seamlessly share copied text across multiple devices. You can sync your mailbox with your desktops, laptops, and Android phones as long as they’re signed in with the same Microsoft account.
This allows you to copy text, images, and other content on one device and paste it on another, eliminating the need to email notes or retype information on multiple devices.
To enable clipboard synchronization in Windows, open the Settings > System > Mailbox and switch Cross-device clipboard history on.
By default, Windows syncs every item you copy and lets you access it on all connected devices. However, if you prefer more control over what gets shared, you can set it to sync only specific items manually.
Similarly, you need to enable this feature on other Windows devices. If you want to sync your PC’s clipboard history with your Android phone, you’ll need to download the Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboard and enable the clipboard sync feature from the settings menu.
4 Delete unnecessary clipboard items regularly
In addition to pinned items, the Windows Clipboard can store up to 25 items on your device at once. This may not seem like much, but it can quickly fill up your clipboard and force you to scroll multiple times to find the copied items you need. Removing unnecessary items from your clipboard history helps keep it manageable and ensures there’s always room for important items when needed.
You can delete individual items by clicking on three-point menu next to the entry in the clipboard history and by selecting trash icon. Alternatively, you can use Clear all button to instantly clear the entire clipboard history. This will not affect your pinned items, so your core content will remain saved.
The Windows Clipboard is a fantastic productivity tool. It’s something that anyone can benefit from, whether you’re a student, professional, or just trying to stay organized. Use these tips to improve your clipboard, save time, and streamline your workflow. So go ahead, make the most of these features and transform the way you work with Windows.