This is how you cut, paste and copy with the clipboard

Text, images, parts of web pages, folders, files: you can imagine whether they can be copied or cut in Windows. Then use them elsewhere. So to paste. To make all this possible, the clipboard exists. This is because a cut or copied item is temporarily stored there.

The clipboard contains the last item copied/cut. But since the last update of Windows 10 (version number 1909) and the introduction of Windows 11, it can actually do a lot more. Enabling clipboard history will give you access to all copied/cut items. They remain available until the user turns off the computer or clears the history. Very handy. Because that way you will never lose a cut or copied item again because you forgot to paste it somewhere.

There are a few limitations with clipboard history:

• Files and folders do not end up in the clipboard history.
• There is a limit of 4 MB per item.
• The clipboard history has a maximum capacity of 25 items.

The clipboard opens with a keyboard shortcut.

• Use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key+V.
• If clipboard history is not already enabled, an empty window will first appear. click on Switch.
• In Windows 10, the message ‘The clipboard is empty’ appears. In Windows 11, you will see the text ‘No items here yet’.

Clipboard history is enabled, so you’re good to go.

Cutting or copying texts and the like generally works like this:

• Select what you want to cut or copy.
• Right click on the selection.
• In Windows 10, click To cut or To copy. In Windows 11, click the icon To cut (scissors) or To copy. In Windows 11, you can also click Show more options > To cut or Show more options > To copy.

There are, of course, other ways. For example, via the menus in programs or with the shortcuts Ctrl+X (cut) and Ctrl+C (copy). You can then paste the item elsewhere. This can be done in Windows 10, among other things, via a right-click > To stick. In Windows 11, first right-click and then the icon To stick. In Windows 10 and 11, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V. If you want to paste something that you previously copied or cut, use the clipboard history.

Do you need an item that you have previously copied or cut? Then do the following:

• Use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key+V.
• All items that you copied or cut this computer session are together. This only applies when the Clipboard is enabled. Click on an item.

The clipboard pastes the item directly into the active program. For example in Word or an email.

Do you want to delete everything you cut or copied this computer session? Or do you want to keep something for a longer period of time? That’s how it works:

• Use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key+V.
• All items that you copied or cut this computer session are together. Click on the three dots next to an item.
• Three options will appear. Click on one of the options.
  1. Delete (Windows 10) or Delete (trash icon in Windows 11): The item disappears from the clipboard history.
  2. Pin (pin icon in Windows 11): The item remains in the clipboard history. Even if you restart the computer or if the user deletes all history.
  3. Delete all: All existing items will be deleted. Except the pinned.