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Your 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 amazing tips that will help you get the most out of the Windows clipboard.
1Paste Clipboard Items Without Text Formatting
When you copy text to the clipboard, Windows preserves its original formatting. This can be helpful in some cases. However, it may sometimes disrupt the appearance of your document and require additional effort to remove unwanted formatting.
Fortunately, Windows clipboard offers an option topaste text without the original formatting.
To do this, you’ll first need toenable Clipboard Historyif you haven’t already. Then, open the clipboard by pressing Win + V. Locate the text you want to paste without the formatting.
Now, click thethree-dot menu iconnext to the item and select thePaste as text icon.
This option is particularly useful when you’re collecting information from multiple sources. You can use it to integrate copied text seamlessly into your notes or reports without creating a disjointed appearance.
2Pin Frequently-Used Clipboard Items
One of the best features of the Windows clipboard is the ability to pin copied items so they stay accessible indefinitely. This is especially useful for text snippets, URLs, or images you frequently reference.
For example, if you often paste your email address, a specific paragraph, or an important image into documents or forms, pinning these items can save you the hassle of repeatedly searching for them or re-copying them each time.
Using this feature is straightforward. First, copy the item to the Windows clipboard. Then pressWin + Vto open the clipboard history and click thepin iconin the bottom-right corner of that entry.
Once pinned, the item will remain accessible, even if you clear the clipboard history or restart your PC.
Screenshot by Pankil Shah – No attribution required
3Sync Clipboard History Across Devices
Windows 10 and 11 offer a handy clipboard sync feature that allows you to seamlessly share your copied text across multiple devices. You can sync your clipboard to your desktops, laptops, and Android phones, as long as they’re signed in with the same Microsoft account.
This lets you copy text, images, and other content on one device and paste it on another, eliminating the need to email notes to yourself or retype information across multiple devices.
To enable clipboard syncing in Windows, openSettings > System > Clipboardand toggleClipboard history across devicesto on.
By default, Windows will sync every item you copy, allowing you to access it on all your connected devices. However, if you’d 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 tosync your PC’s clipboard history with your Android phone, you’ll need todownload Microsoft SwiftKey AI Keyboardon it and enable the clipboard syncing feature from its settings menu.
4Regularly Clear Unnecessary Clipboard Items
In addition to pinned items, the Windows clipboard can store up to 25 items at a time on your device. This might not seem like a lot, but it can quickly clutter your clipboard and force you to scroll several times just 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 thethree-dot menunext to an entry in the clipboard history and selecting thetrash icon. Alternatively, you can use theClear Allbutton to instantlywipe the entire clipboard history. This won’t affect your pinned items, so your essential content remains saved.
The Windows clipboard is a fantastic tool for boosting productivity. It’s something everyone can benefit from, whether you’re a student, a professional, or just trying to stay organized. Using these tips, you can elevate your clipboard experience, save time, and streamline your workflow. So go ahead, make the most of these features, and transform the way you work with Windows.
