Clipboard history on Mac: built-in options and Momo

Check the built-in option first

Apple provides clipboard history in Spotlight on macOS Tahoe or later. Open Spotlight with Command-Space, then choose Clipboard or press Command-4. You may need to enable history the first time. Apple’s guide explains how to search copied items and clear the history.

If that meets your needs, you may not need another clipboard tool. Momo offers a different access point: clipboard history inside its notch panel, alongside Focus, notes and the file shelf. Momo supports macOS 14 and later.

Reference: Apple: Search your Clipboard history in Spotlight

Enable Momo’s clipboard deliberately

Momo’s clipboard capture is opt-in. Enable it when you want the app to remember copied content; it cannot reconstruct items copied before capture was enabled. Once active, open the Clipboard tool to search stored items and select something to copy again.

For example, while collecting links for a draft, you can copy several references, return to Clipboard, search for the relevant item and copy it back into your document. Pin items you want to keep handy instead of repeatedly searching for them.

Set limits for what you keep

Clipboard contents can include personal information, access tokens or messages. Momo stores its clipboard history locally on your Mac and provides capture pause, app exclusions and retention settings. Review those controls before using it with sensitive work.

Retention applies to unpinned items. Pinned entries are retained separately, and the Clipboard panel’s Clear action removes unpinned history. Do not assume clearing the list also removes everything you pinned. Pause capture when needed and remove sensitive entries explicitly. App exclusions are a useful extra control, not a guarantee that every secret will be detected.

Understand copy versus direct paste

Selecting an item can put it back on the clipboard so you can paste into your chosen app. Optional direct paste needs macOS Accessibility permission. If you prefer not to grant that permission, use the normal copy-and-paste workflow.

Clipboard history is also different from Universal Clipboard, which Apple uses to copy between nearby Apple devices. Momo’s local history is not advertised as cross-device clipboard sync. Choose the tool based on whether you need older items on this Mac or a handoff between devices.

Reference: Apple: Copy and paste between your Mac and other devices

Common questions