How to turn on clipboard history on Windows 11

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Normally the clipboard holds only the last thing you copied. With clipboard history you can copy several pieces of text or pictures and paste them in any order.

These steps are for Windows 11. The pictures are diagrams of the keys to press.

Step by step

1. Press Windows + V

   A small panel opens.

   Done

2. Click Turn on

   You only do this once.

   Done

3. Copy as usual

   Use Ctrl + C. Each copied text or picture is added to the history.

   Done

4. Paste from the history

   Click where you want to paste, press Windows + V and click the entry.

   Done

5. Pin what you use often

   Click the pin on an entry, for example your address or a reply you send often. Pinned entries stay when the rest is cleared.

   Done

Good to know

The history holds up to 25 entries of up to 4 MB each, as text, formatted text or pictures. It is cleared when the PC restarts, except for pinned entries.

To delete one entry, click the three dots next to it and choose Delete. To clear everything except pinned entries, open Settings, System, Clipboard and click Clear.

On the same page, "Clipboard history across your devices" shares copied text between PCs signed in with the same Microsoft account. Leave it off if you copy passwords.

In short: Windows + V, Turn on. Then Windows + V to choose what to paste.