A clipboard is a location on your device’s memory that stores copied text items for a short time. Clipboards are designed to store one entry at a time. The moment you copy something on the clipboard, it erases the previous entry. But it doesn’t always have to be this way. Your Android phone can do more with the clipboard and tap into its full potential. Want to know more? Here are the top 4 easy ways to access and manage the clipboard on your Android phone.
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In This Article
Harness the full potential of your Android phone’s keyboard
Many of you may be wondering what’s the purpose of managing the clipboard on your Android device. After all, its sole purpose is to store a piece of text for a small period. While you may be correct about that, the clipboard can do more than just that. Remember how you always need to go back and forth between the notes app and the browser while filling in the key details on an online form? If you knew what your phone’s clipboard was capable of, you wouldn’t have to do that.
Keyboard apps like Gboard and SwiftKey allow users to copy multiple items on the clipboard. You can access these items from the keyboard itself and delete them at any time. Filling out an online form that requires your bank account details, full address, passport-sized photograph and more? Instead of opening the notes app multiple times, you can individually copy these entries to the keyboard and paste them wherever necessary. Yes – even your photographs. If you don’t want to switch to another keyboard, you can use a third-party clipboard app for the same task.
Use the native Notes app on your Android phone
The easiest way to check what’s on your Android phone’s clipboard is by pasting its contents on an empty document. Every Android phone comes with a native ‘Notes’ app that can be used for this task. Here’s how.
Step 1: Launch the native Notes app on your Android phone.
Step 2: Tap the pad and pencil icon at the bottom right corner of the screen to create a new note.
Step 3: Long-press anywhere on the screen and select paste from the popup menu.
The latest entry in your phone’s clipboard will be pasted on the note.
Use Gboard to access the clipboard on your Android phone
If you want to store multiple things in your phone’s clipboard, the Gboard app will come in very handy. But first, you need to enable clipboard history for the keyboard. Here’s how you can do that.
Step 1: Make Gboard the default keyboard on your Android phone.
Step 2: Tap any text box that triggers the keyboard.
Step 3: Hit the menu icon at the top left corner of the keyboard.
Step 4: Select Clipboard.
Step 5: Turn on the toggle switch for the clipboard.
The contents you copy on the clipboard stay there for one hour. You can copy anything from text to links and images on the Gboard clipboard. Follow these steps to access the clipboard on your Android phone.
Step 1: Tap on a text box that triggers the onscreen keyboard.
Step 2: Hit the menu icon at the top left corner of the keyboard.
Step 3: Select Clipboard.
Step 4: Tap on an entry to paste it. Long press an entry to pin or delete it.
Use Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard
Like Gboard, the Microsoft Switfkey keyboard also lets you access and manage your Android phone’s clipboard.
Step 1: Download and install the Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard on your phone from the Google Play Store.
Step 2: Set SwiftKey as the default keyboard on your phone.
Step 3: Tap any text box to trigger the SwiftKey keyboard.
Step 4: Hit the clipboard icon at the top of the keyboard.
Step 5: Tap on an entry to paste it.
Use a third-party app: Clipboard – Copy Paste & Notes
Step 1: Download and install the Clipboard – Copy Paste & Notes app from the Google Play Store.
Step 2: Launch the app and give it permission to display over other apps.
Step 3: Long press any text and select copy.
Step 4: The text will be copied to the clipboard and saved in the Clipboard app for future use. You can copy multiple entries on the app.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I save multiple things on my Android phone’s keyboard?
Use Gboard or Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard to save multiple items on your Android phone’s keyboard. Both keyboards have a special ‘Clipboard’ category that lets you copy multiple entries and access them instantaneously.
Can my Android phone’s clipboard copy images?
Yes, your Android phone’s clipboard can copy any content ranging from text to images and links.
How do I access and manage my Android phone’s clipboard?
Use a third-party app like Clipboard – Copy Paste & Notes to manage your Android phone’s clipboard like a pro. Dedicated clipboard apps make it easier to store and sort through all the items that you have copied in the past.
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Conclusion
These are the top 4 ways to access and manage your Android phone’s clipboard. Most native Android keyboards come with a dedicated clipboard option capable of storing multiple entries. If the default keyboard on your device lacks this feature, you can always switch to Gboard or SwiftKey. If you don’t want to change the keyboard, a third-party clipboard app is your best option. These apps usually require access to your clipboard and permission to draw over other apps to work as intended.
