Universal Clipboard: The Function That Lets Users Copy and Paste Across Apple Devices

Posted on by

Universal Clipboard is one of the most incredible features of the Apple ecosystem. But many Apple users overlook this feature and don’t know how to use it. 

Most Apple users know the basics of copying and pasting items. For instance, everyone knows that to copy and paste on text or pictures on an iPhone, they must hold the text they want to copy > tap Copy or Cut > tap and hold anywhere on an empty text field and select Paste. To copy pictures, users directly copy the picture from the Photos Library and paste the image into any other application, such as Notes. 

But did you know you can copy and paste items between Apple devices? It is possible to copy text or pictures on an iPhone and paste it on an iPad or Mac, thanks to Universal Clipboard. 

This article explores Universal Clipboard and how to use the feature to up your copy-paste game. 

What is Universal Control?

Apple’s Universal Clipboard is a feature built into iOS and macOS. The feature allows you to copy-paste items from one Apple device to another. You can copy and paste anything using this feature, including images, videos, and texts. 

The feature is handy when working on a project or presentation on your Mac, and you urgently need to transfer some critical pictures from your iPhone to your Mac. Instead of using the indirect method of AirDrop, you can directly copy and paste items between your Apple devices. 

What are the Requirements for the Universal Clipboard Feature To Work?

To run Universal Clipboard, your devices must be:

  • iOS devices running iOS 10 or newer and Macs running macOS Sierra or newer 
  • Signed into iCloud using the same Apple ID 
  • Have Bluetooth enabled 
  • Enable Wi-Fi and be connected to the same network 
  • Enable Handoff and be within about thirty feet of both devices 

How Can You Enable Universal Clipboard on Your Apple Devices?

Set up Universal Clipboard to enjoy this feature’s magic on your Apple devices. This is how you can enable this feature on your Apple device:

  • Ensure your Apple device is running the compatible operating system version 
  • Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID across your Apple devices. Go to Settings > tap your name > iCloud > Sign In on your iPhone. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > Sign In on your Mac. 
  • Turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Ensure your devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. 
  • Turn on Handoff. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > General > check the box next to Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices. On your iPhone, go to the Settings app > tap General > Handoff > move the slider to green. 
  • Place both Apple devices within thirty feet to quickly copy and paste contents between them. 

How To Use Universal Clipboard?

Once you have set up the Universal Clipboard feature, you can seamlessly copy and paste across your Apple devices. Here’s an example of how you can use this feature:

  • You can copy content on your iPhone. The content might be an image, a block of text, a link, or other content. 
  • Once you have copied the content, it will be saved to your iPhone’s clipboard. Also, the content is automatically saved to the Mac clipboard. 
  • You can paste the copied content on your Mac, where it is available the same way you would normally. You can use Command + V to paste the copied content or right-click and choose the Paste option. 

As you can see, copying and pasting content between your Apple device is pretty straightforward. The Universal Clipboard feature makes copying and pasting a seamless process, so you don’t have to use AirDrop or any other complicated method. Thanks to this feature, you can directly copy-paste items and finish your tasks faster. 

What To Do If Universal Clipboard Is Not Working?

Although the Universal Clipboard feature works smoothly, it may sometimes encounter issues. The feature may stop working and cause interruptions in your workflow. The first step to fix this problem is checking whether you have set up the feature correctly on your devices or if your devices meet the requirements of Universal Clipboard. 

If everything looks fine, try the following solutions:

  • Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wait for a few seconds before switching them on again. 
  • Sign out of iCloud on both devices and then sign in again. 
  • Disable Handoff and then enable it again. 
  • Restart your iPad, iPhone, and Mac. 
  • Update your devices. 

The Bottom Line

So, there you have it. You can quickly copy and paste content between your Apple devices. You can simply copy content in one of your Apple devices and paste it on another. With Universal Clipboard, you can boost your productivity and speed up your workflow.