How to copy and paste seamlessly across all your devices

This article has been updated. Originally published January 28, 2020.

Many of us use multiple devices daily – phones, laptops, tablets, and sometimes even smartwatches. Transferring text and images between them can be cumbersome. Fortunately, Apple, Microsoft, and other companies are simplifying cross-device data sharing, provided devices are linked to the same accounts.

Seamless Sharing with Apple Devices

Apple's Universal Clipboard streamlines text and image transfers between Apple devices using the same Apple ID and located within Bluetooth range. While settings are often pre-configured, ensure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled (Settings > Wi-Fi & Bluetooth on iOS/iPadOS; System Preferences > Network & Bluetooth on macOS). Handoff must also be activated (Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff on iOS/iPadOS; System Preferences > General on macOS, check "Allow Handoff"). Standard copy (Cmd C/Edit > Copy on Mac, long-press > Copy on iOS/iPadOS) and paste (Cmd V/Edit > Paste on Mac, long-press > Paste on iOS/iPadOS) commands then work seamlessly. Note that Universal Clipboard retains copied content briefly; new copies overwrite previous ones.

Cross-Device Copying for Non-Apple Devices

For non-Apple devices, several methods exist. Windows users with the same Microsoft account can sync their clipboards (Settings > System > Clipboard > enable "Sync across devices"). While Google Chrome's shared clipboard was once a strong option, it's no longer actively supported.

Several third-party solutions are available:

• Clipbrd (free): A Chrome extension syncing content across Android and desktop Chrome. Use standard copy/paste functions.
• Magic Copy (free): Available for desktop, Android, and iOS. Copy content, then open the Magic Copy app to sync to your cloud clipboard, accessible on all installed devices.
• Pushbullet (free): Works across Android, iOS, Chrome, and Firefox. It's a separate app, not a clipboard manager, but effectively transfers text, images, and links.

If these options don't suit your devices, consider note-taking apps like Google Keep (web, Android, iOS) or Evernote (multi-platform), offering broader cross-device text, image, and note management.

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