How to use Windows 11’s clipboard manager – Guide

If you want to copy a file in Windows 11, right-click and select the copy icon; if you want to paste it somewhere else, right click and select paste icon. If you copy an object to your PC again, Windows will forget about the previous copy. However, Windows 11 does the copy and paste feature to new heights. The history of the clipboard feature is included in the latest operating system. This function, however, is disabled by default. That is, before you can use it, you must first enable it on your computer. Windows 11 will remember images, text, scripts, links, documents and movies under 4MB if you enable clipboard history feature. Windows 11, on the other hand, will only keep a maximum of 25 entries. The last item copied will be removed from the clipboard once it reaches the threshold of number 25. As a result, the oldest items in the clipboard history disappear as new items appear. Also, unless an item is pinned to the clipboard, the clipboard history list will reset every time your computer or laptop is restarted.

What is clipboard history?

Previously, you could only copy one item at a time to the Windows clipboard, which sucked. With this restriction, many users resorted to third-party clipboard manager software to copy various items. Microsoft has finally woken up up and gave users Windows clipboard history feature they were crying out. In 2020 Windows 10 added a clipboard history feature that saves up for 25 copied items. Then you can select which item you want to paste in the clipboard window. So, clipboard history is effectively the clipboard manager of Windows 11. In Windows 10, the clipboard panel just displayed a selection of copied items for you to paste. This now includes additional images, emoticons and symbol guides at the top, making it more useful.

How to Enable Clipboard History in Windows 11

Clipboard history has a Windows key + V hotkey to open it. However, you cannot open clipboard history with this keyboard shortcut if it is not enabled. This is How to enable it feature in Settings. If you want to share copied items between devices, you will need to enable clipboard sync. To do this, press the Start button button to Share option between devices. Then select an email address to verify your identity. Then enter the code you receive for a selected email address and click on the Verify option. You will be able to select two alternative sync options in the clipboard settings. First, choose Automatically sync the text I copy if you want automatic syncing. Otherwise, select the text Sync manually I copy radio button rather than. After enabling clipboard history in Settings, you can open the clipboard window. Press Windows key + V hotkey to bring up up the clipboard manager. Now you can try it feature on the new desktop platform.

How to Copy and select different copied items

Copying text to the clipboard is simple. Select some text to copy in a word processor or web browser by holding the left mouse button button and dragging the cursor over it. After selecting the text, press the shortcut key Ctrl + C. After that, open the clipboard manager with its hotkey. You can see all copied items in the History tab of the clipboard. Select a copied item there. Open a text editor to paste the selected item and press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + V. To copy an image, open the File Explorer window by pressing the folder icon on the taskbar. Then open a folder that includes some photos. Right-click on an image file and select the Copy option. You can also copy images on websites by right-clicking them and selecting the Copy option from the context menu. You can select the copied image in the clipboard history like any text item. Open an image editing application to paste the selected item with a shortcut Ctrl + V.

How to Add emoticons to documents

You can add emoji and kaomoji emoticons to your documents with the Windows 11 clipboard manager. To do this, open any document. Make sure you have clicked inside a document file or text box and open the clipboard manager. Click the Emoji or Kaomoji tab in the clipboard manager. Then select an emoticon to add it to the document, as in the screenshot below. To find a more specific emoticon, enter a keyword like laugh or smile in the search box.

How to Insert symbols from clipboard history

Your keyboard may only include a few keys for symbols and special characters. So, it’s nice that you can add a wide variety of symbols to your documents with the Windows 11 clipboard manager. The clipboard manager includes currency, Latin, geometric, math, and language symbols, among others. To add some symbols, open a document file; and click inside it to enter some text. Open the clipboard manager and select its Symbols tab. Click the left and right arrows at the top of the tab to choose a symbol category. Then select a symbol to insert into the document.

How to Select GIF images for documents

Do you need to add some images to a document or email? In that case, you might find the GIF tab in the Windows clipboard manager useful. This tab includes a plethora of photos to choose from. Open a document in a word processor (or text editor that can handle GIF images). Click where you want to add an image in the document and press the shortcut key Windows + V of the clipboard manager. Then select the GIF tab and choose an image to insert from there. To find more specific image content, enter keywords in the search box.

How to Quickly find recently used items

If you need to select the same emoticons or symbols a lot, look at the Most Recently Used tab of the clipboard manager. This tab includes your recently selected symbols, images, and emoticons. So you can quickly find and select symbols or emoticons that you frequently add to the document from there.

How to Clear clipboard history

Sometimes you may want to clear your clipboard history. You don’t need to restart Windows 11 to do this. Instead, clear the clipboard history via Settings as follows. Alternatively, you can clear copied items from clipboard history. Open clipboard history with its hotkey. Then press the Clear All button button on the History tab of the clipboard. To delete specific copied items from the clipboard, click the See More button (three dots) buttons for them on the History tab of the clipboard. Then you can click Delete options for specific items.

Final note

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