Clipboard history on Mac: how to see everything you've copied
For years, a Mac only remembered the last thing you copied. Copy something new and the previous item was gone. That was one of the most common reasons people installed a clipboard manager.
Recent versions of macOS added a clipboard history to Spotlight. Here’s how it works on macOS 27, and when a dedicated app is still worth it.
Open your clipboard history
- Press Command-Space to open Spotlight.
- Press Command-4, or click the Clipboard button to the right of the search field.
The first time, macOS may ask whether to allow search results from the Clipboard. Click Allow.
You’ll see the things you’ve copied, newest first. Type to search through them.
Reuse something you copied earlier
- Select an item and press Command-C (or click the copy button to the right of it).
- Click where you want it and press Command-V.
Turn it on or off, and clear it
In macOS 27, the controls are in System Settings > Spotlight:
- Results from Clipboard turns clipboard history in Spotlight on or off.
- Clear Clipboard History removes everything that’s stored.
You can also clear it from Spotlight itself: open the clipboard view, click the More button to the right of the search field, then choose Clear History.
We didn’t find a setting in macOS 27 for how long items are kept, so if you copy something sensitive, clear the history yourself.
A word on passwords
Apple’s own setting warns that personal and sensitive information may appear in clipboard results. Anything you copy is fair game: a password from a note, a code from a message, an address. If you share your screen or your Mac, that matters. Two habits help:
- Clear the history after copying a password.
- Prefer a password manager’s autofill to copy-and-paste.
When a clipboard manager app still makes sense
The built-in history covers the basic need: “what did I copy ten minutes ago?” Dedicated clipboard managers go further, for example:
- pinning snippets you paste every day,
- keyboard-only pasting without opening Spotlight,
- ignoring password managers and other apps entirely,
- syncing history between Macs.
Maccy is an open-source option that lives in the menu bar (free from its GitHub releases, paid on the Mac App Store); launchers like Raycast include a clipboard history too. If you go down that road, keep your menu bar tidy with our guide on hiding menu bar icons.
Related
- Keep your Mac awake during long downloads, builds and AI agent runs.
- Show free disk space in the menu bar so a full disk never surprises you.
Questions
Does Mac have clipboard history?
Yes, in recent macOS versions it's built into Spotlight. Press Command-Space to open Spotlight, then press Command-4 to switch to your clipboard history.
How do I turn clipboard history on or off?
In macOS 27, open System Settings > Spotlight and use the Results from Clipboard switch. The same settings page has a Clear Clipboard History button.
Is clipboard history private?
It stays on your Mac, but anything you copy can show up in it, including passwords copied from notes or messages. Apple's own text warns that personal and sensitive information may appear. Clear the history after copying something sensitive, or turn the feature off.