Getting started

Is Clipboard History free?

Yes. It is free, open source, has no account, trial, ads, or paid upgrade. You can inspect the source on GitHub.

Which Macs does it support?

Any Intel or Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or newer.

How do I open clipboard history on Mac?

Press Shift + Command + V in any application. Type to search, use the arrow keys to select an earlier copy, and press Return to paste it.

You can record a different global shortcut in Settings. See the complete keyboard shortcut guide.

Does it start automatically?

Yes. Clipboard History registers as a login item on first launch so it is ready when you need it. You can disable that in Settings → General.

Privacy and storage

Will it record my passwords?

No. Copies from 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, KeePassXC, Apple Passwords, Keychain Access, and LastPass are skipped. Clipboard content marked concealed or transient is also ignored. Add other applications to the skip list or pause recording from the menu bar.

Does it sync between Macs?

No. Clipboard History is intentionally local-only. Copied text and file references stay on the Mac where they were captured.

Where is my clipboard data stored?

In a local SQLite database:

~/Library/Application Support/Clipboard History/clipboard.sqlite

Read the complete privacy overview for storage, network, and deletion details.

Features and performance

How is it different from the built-in macOS clipboard?

macOS remembers only the last thing copied. Clipboard History keeps 1,000 items by default, adjustable from 100 to 10,000, and lets you search and paste earlier copies. Starred and grouped clips are kept until you remove them.

Does it support copied files and folders?

Yes. Files and folders copied in Finder are saved by reference with a small preview. They paste back as real files, and Command + R reveals the original in Finder. Images copied directly as bitmap clipboard data are not supported yet; copy the image as a file instead.

Can I change the shortcut and appearance?

Yes. Record any global shortcut in Settings → General and choose System, Light, or Dark appearance.

Will it slow down my Mac?

No. The app is about 5 MB and performs one lightweight clipboard check twice a second.

Permissions, updates, and removal

Why does it need Accessibility permission?

Accessibility permission lets Clipboard History paste the selected clip into another application. If you decline, the clip still lands on your clipboard and you can paste manually with Command + V.

How do updates work?

The app checks for signed updates with Sparkle. Every update is cryptographically verified before it installs.

How do I uninstall Clipboard History?

Quit it from the menu bar and move Clipboard History from Applications to the Trash. Follow the uninstall guide if you also want to remove stored history.