For decades, the standard Windows clipboard could only remember one thing at a time. If you copied a second item, the first was gone forever. Windows 11 changes this with a powerful feature called Clipboard History, which remembers up to 25 items you have copied (including text, HTML, and images) so you can paste them at any time.
How to Enable Clipboard History
By default, this feature is turned off for privacy reasons. You must enable it before it will start recording what you copy.
- Press the Windows Key + V on your keyboard (instead of Ctrl + V).
- A small panel will pop up on your screen saying “Let’s get started.”
- Click the Turn on button.
Alternatively, you can go to Start > Settings > System > Clipboard and toggle the Clipboard history switch to On.
How to Use Clipboard History
Now that it is on, simply use your computer normally. Whenever you press Ctrl + C, Windows saves that item.
- To Paste an older item: Place your cursor where you want to paste the text or image. Press Windows Key + V. The clipboard panel will appear showing a list of your recently copied items. Simply click on the item you want, and it will instantly paste into your document.
- To Pin an item: Clipboard history clears itself every time you restart your PC. If you have a specific link, email template, or address you paste constantly, you can save it permanently. Open the history panel, click the three dots (…) next to the item, and select the Pin icon.
- To Delete items: To remove a sensitive piece of text (like a password) from your history, click the three dots next to it and click the Trash can icon. To wipe the entire list (except for pinned items), click the Clear all button at the top of the panel.
Sync Across Devices
If you use a desktop PC at home and a laptop at work, you can sync your clipboard between them using your Microsoft Account. Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and turn on “Sync across your devices.” Now, you can copy text on your laptop and press Windows + V on your desktop to paste it instantly.