Copy and paste. Certainly, using the Windows clipboard is easy. However, it is possible to convert this basic tool into a more advanced one. Therefore, there are many tricks and functions that you can activate in Windows 11 itself. With this in mind, we will tell you all the functions available to you. Stay with us to discover How to get the most out of the clipboard in Windows 11.
Windows 11 clipboard functions
Let’s start talking about the native functions of the Windows 11 clipboard. This way you will know everything you need to make the most of it. They are basic functions that Windows 11 has inherited of its predecessor. In addition, they will allow you to manage many contents that you save in it.
Activates clipboard history
Copy and paste. Certainly, using the clipboard is easy. However, it can be a bit tiring to have to go back and recopy something you did before. Especially in case you are using the clipboard a lot. For these cases, you can activate a clipboard history so that the last items you have copied are saved.
To activate the clipboard history, you have to go into the Windows settings. Remember that you can do this by pressing the Win+I combination. Once there, just go to the System section. There, scroll down the options and click on the Clipboard option. Inside you will see several options, and the first one will be the history. Finally, when you click on the Windows key + V you will see the window with the history of the last things you copied.
Share your clipboard between computers
In the Clipboard options within the Windows 11 System settings, you can also enable the Synchronize on all devices option. This is similar to Apple’s function on their devices. Consequently, when you copy something to the clipboard, the item will be copied to OneDrive.
This allows you to copy things on one PC and paste them on a different computer running Windows 11. In this way, it facilitates the process of working with several computers that are within the Windows ecosystem. When you do so, you will be able to choose between the options of automatically synchronizing the text or having to open the clipboard history with Windows + V. Then right-click on an item to choose to synchronize it.
Synchronize clipboard between Windows and Android
Let’s assume that you have followed the steps in the previous point to enable clipboard synchronization. In that case, we have good news. In fact, this can also help you to synchronize them with Android. All you have to do is download Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard for Android. In it, in the settings, you will be able to activate the clipboard synchronization to be able to add it to the Windows synced ones.
Anchors items to the clipboard
The clipboard history is a complete tool that you will be able to use to manage fragments of text or images that you want to have on hand to use. However, you can always run the risk of losing something important by accidentally deleting it or restarting Windows. This is certainly something you want to avoid.
Therefore, you will be able to pin items to the clipboard by right-clicking on what you want to keep and see the option. Visually, the pinned item will not change. However, they will not be deleted when you perform a general deletion of the clipboard as mentioned above.
Delete history items or the entire history
In this clipboard configuration, you will also have the option to delete items from your clipboard. This will delete all the items you have saved in the history. Consequently, you will be able to wipe the slate clean when you have finished doing a task.
Another thing you can do is to press Windows + V to show the history and delete items from there by right-clicking on them to see the option to delete them. This way, instead of deleting the whole history, you will be able to delete individual items from it. Also, you will be able to keep the ones you want to keep still in the clipboard.
Paste texts without formatting
When you copy text, Windows not only picks up the text itself that you have copied, but also the formatting. This means that bold text, hyperlinks and other formatting elements are also retained. You will probably not always want to paste text with this formatting. Therefore, many applications include the ability to paste unformatted text from the clipboard.
For that, you have to right click on the text field where you are going to write. Then, if the app supports it, you will see different pasting options. Consequently, you will be able to paste with formatting or without formatting. Sometimes you can also combine formatting to respect bold and links but keep the same font you are using in the document. An option you will find for example in Word. In the clipboard history you can also paste as text, which means that you will paste without formatting.
Images are also saved
The clipboard will also save the images you copy. Actually this is something you should not forget. Indeed, it can be a good alternative to move an image from one program to another without having to download it. If you copy an image, it will be saved in the clipboard just like text.
In addition to this, once you save the image to the clipboard you will also have the option of anchoring it so as not to lose it. Therefore, you will interact with it in the same way you interact with the rest of the elements you save.
Don’t forget the screenshots
Windows has several keyboard shortcuts for taking all kinds of screenshots. With them, you can save to the clipboard what is being displayed on your screen. In the same way you will be able to save the images directly in a folder where you can go later to look for the images. These are the main shortcuts for screenshots in Windows 11:
| Shortcut | Function |
| PRT SC | Normal screenshot. It is saved to the clipboard. |
| Alt+ PRT SC | Capture of the active screen (only the window you are using). Saves to the clipboard. |
| Win+ PRT SC | Full screen capture that is automatically saved in a folder. |
Advanced mode for screenshots
We also have a cropping mode that will help you to have more precision when taking screenshots by cropping specific parts of the screen. To launch it, press at the same time the keys Windows + Shift + S. When you press this keyboard shortcut, a series of options will appear at the top of the screen to control what you are going to capture from the screen. Three of these options are for cropping. Consequently, not the whole capture will be shown but only a fragment that you choose. These are the ones you have available.
- Rectangular clipping: When you are going to mark the clipping with the mouse on the screen, it will be done with straight lines and right angles to give it a squared appearance.
- Free-form clipping: You can draw a clipping with the mouse in any shape you want.
- Window crop: You will select not the whole screen, but the window you have active to crop its interior.
- Full screen crop: A conventional screen capture is made, showing everything you see on the screen.
Take a video capture
Windows 11 also has the possibility of making screenshots in video. This way we can create a clip with everything that is happening on your screen. This is useful to record video games. In fact it is an option thought for that, but also to create tutorials or to teach how something is done.
For this you have to click on the shortcut Windows + G to show the Windows game bar. In it, one of the options will be to record screen. and in the same way you will also have the possibility of narrating what is happening in case you want to include your voice. Very well, in this way we have seen How to get the most out of the clipboard in Windows 11. Goodbye!
