You tried to locate the clipboard on your iPhone but couldn’t? Don’t worry, the feature is there but hidden.
iPhones come with an inbuilt clipboard that supports the copy-and-paste feature. This clipboard temporarily stores information until a new item is covered, deleting the old one.
So, if you’re asking, “Where is the clipboard on iPhone” or wonderinghow to locate your clipboard and manage its information, this article is for you.
Contents
What Is The Clipboard on iPhone?
A clipboard is also referred to as a pasteboard. It is the memory on a computer or mobile device that temporarily stores cut or copied text or data. As a memory feature, it allows users to store data on devices for a specific period.
Data on the clipboard can be pasted to a new location on the device. The information remains on the clipboard until new information is cut or copied.
Notably, iPhones do not usually have a visible clipboard. However, you can download a clipboard app from the Apple App Store.
I recommend Microsoft SwiftKey as one of these apps you can utilize. Other notable examples are Paste, Clip+, and copy better.
Where Is The Clipboard On iPhone?
IPhones do not have a visible clipboard, unlike android devices. The clipboard is an in-built feature that can store only one copied text at a time. So, if you want to see a clipboard feature on the iPhone, download the app from the Apple App Store.
Here are helpful tips on how to use the clipboard on iPhone devices.
1. Go to any text you want to copy and long-press it to select. Click on the copy option.
2. Next, move to your desired location, like the notebook app; long press and click on paste to paste from your clipboard.
Although you might not see it, this is how the inbuilt clipboard on your device works. You can paste the copied information into your notes app and edit it as you wish.
3. You can install a third-party clipboard app from the Apple App Store to have a mobile version which you can find on your phone menu.
Why Does iPhone Clipboard Disappear?
The iPhone clipboard supports the copy-and-paste feature. It only holds information for a little while until you copy new information. It could be considered a temporary store of data.
If you fail to save the information in another location it will disappear in a short while. So, I would recommend downloading an app for storing snippets if you wish to refer back to the information later. IPhones also come with a notepad where you can copy and paste your information to save it for future reference.
This Apple community thread explains the concept better. IPhone clipboards are not designed to hold onto information for longer periods.
These phones are different from android devices that often retain clipboard information for recall and reuse. So, if you lose copied information on your iPhone, there is nothing wrong with your device.
How Do I Clear My Clipboard On iPhone?
You can clear the clipboard by replacing the item with an empty text since the iPhone stores only one item at a time. You can do this easily by using an app like Notes.
Open the notes app and click on the space on your keyboard. Tap and hold on to the space, then click on Copy.
Confirm that the information is wiped out by opening a new note tapping and holding the plain text field, and selecting Paste.
If the information is wiped out, it will remain blank. It is easy to clear information from your iPhone clipboard since its stores one information set at a time.
Also, you can follow these simple steps:
1. Go to settings on your iPhone
2. Scroll down and click on General.
3. Scroll down to Reset.
4. Click on Reset All Settings at the bottom of the page.
5. Type your passcode when prompted then tap on Reset All Settings again to confirm.
6. Your iPhone will restart and all the data in your clipboard will be wiped.
Clearing your iPhone clipboard is important since some third-party apps attempt to read the contents of your clipboard.
Therefore, you need to clear your clipboard constantly to be on the safe side, especially if you’ve copied passwords recently.
Sometimes passwords and other sensitive information could be on the clipboard and become a target for malicious snooping apps. Clearing your clipboard secures your information from such attacks.
How To View Clipboard History On iPhone?
Currently, there is no way to access the in-built clipboard on your iPhone. You can download a third-party app to keep a detailed history of your clipboard. Paste, for instance, is one such app that you can use to access your clipboard history.
However, to view the last copied item on your iPhone follow these steps:
1. Wake your device or switch it on and swipe to the right. Tap the Search bar and type the keyword Notes.
2. Tap the Notes app icon to launch. Tap the Square and Pencil icon to create a new note.
3. Long press on the screen till text options show up.
4. Select Paste. The text that shows on the screen is the last text you copied.
Best Clipboard Apps For iPhone?
The best clipboard apps for iPhone include Paste, CLIP+, Copy Better, iPaste, and Clipboard among others.
1. CLIP+
CLIP+ is a great clipboard app that comes with interesting functions. It links seamlessly with your Safari browser and connects with Siri. It stores all your saved links on Safari’s shared links tab. Also, the clipboard supports several shortcuts with Siri’s voice feature.
CLIP+ is equipped with iCloud sync, saving your information on several Apple devices. The today widget gives users instant access to the clipboard. Also, you can preview images for URLs as an added benefit.
| Name | CLIP+ |
| Seller | Simon Burbridge |
| Size | 12.2 MB |
| Category | Utilities |
| Compatibility | iOS 13 or higher |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese |
| Age Rating | 4+ |
| Price | $2.99 |
| Version | 2.5.4 |
Pros
- iCloud sync supported
- Works well with Siri and Safari
- Can save information on several Apple devices
- Has a picture preview feature
- The Today’s widget gives users instant access
Cons
- Complicated for beginners
- It is a premium app
2. Paste
Paste is arguably one of the best iOS clipboard management apps available. Its smooth integration with the Apple Ecosystem is one of its more interesting features. It synchronizes user accounts across all Apple devices to protect your information from loss.
It can handle text, links, images, and files, ensuring safe data storage. Also, the at-a-glance feature will give you a preview of texts in a larger frame. Here you can work, edit and effect changes.
| Name | Paste |
| Seller | Paste Team |
| Size | 5.9MB |
| Category | Productivity |
| Compatibility | iOS 15 or higher |
| Languages | English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese. |
| Age Rating | 4+ |
| Price | Free (in-app purchases from $1.99) |
| Version | 3.1.9 |
Pros
- Data protection is guaranteed
- Access to your clipboard information for editing
- Smooth integration with the Apple ecosystem
- Intelligent search feature improves users’ experience
- Can store information for an extended period safely.
Cons
- The subscription model needs to be improved.
3. Copy Better
Copy Better is an easy-to-use iOS clipboard manager that is beginner-friendly. The User-Interface is great and easy to comprehend. You can save and edit data from the app directly, such as images and default text. It is a great app to use on a single iOS device.
Pros
- Simple and easy-to-use interface.
- Clips can be saved to folders and marked as favorites for easy access.
- Highly organized features.
- Equipped with an in-app keyboard making, it is easier to paste clips into different apps.
Cons
- Does not support Siri extension or cloud syncing.
- Cannot operate on multiple iOS devices at once.
| Name | Copy Better |
| Seller | William Wu |
| Size | 2.9 MB |
| Category | Productivity |
| Compatibility | iOS 14 or higher |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish |
| Age Rating | 4+ |
| Pricing | Free ( in-app purchases start from $2.99) |
| Version | 2.2.0 |
FAQs
How can I access my clipboard?
Simply click on the clipboard icon at the top row of the keyboard, close to the settings gear, to view your clipboard when using Gboard.
Tap Turn on Clipboard on the new page that appears.
Note that whatever text or image you copy or cut will be saved to this menu for an hour.
Where can I find things copied to the clipboard?
Your selection is held on the clipboard when you copy something. The copied content stays until you copy something else off your iPhone.
You can paste the information into several programs as many times as you want. However, only the most recent selection you copied is stored on the clipboard.
Does the iPhone clipboard expire?
Currently, the iOS clipboard on iPhone stores copied or cut data until it is either replaced by a new one or until the device is restarted unless you use third-party clipboard software.
When you paste something, the clipboard is not cleared. The clipboard data on modern Macs can survive a reboot.
How can I view the previous copies I made on my iPhone?
On an iPhone, you can view your previously copied item even without viewing your clipboard history.
By using the Notes app, which comes pre-installed on every iPhone, you view your most recent copy.
Are iOS clipboards secured?
No, although it might not be a problem, depending on your threat model.
There are numerous ways for an attacker to view the recent and historical contents of the clipboard, but most of the time, this calls for the presence of malware on your computer.
Conclusion
The simple answer I can give to where is the clipboard on iPhone is that you cannot access the inbuilt clipboard feature on your iphone via the menu. Also, note that the inbuilt iPhone clipboard stores only one data set at a time and overrides the last information when a new one is copied.
Nevertheless, you can download a third-party app like Paste to access the full details of your clipboard. All third-party apps have their benefits as well as downsides. So, proper research is important to check for compatibility. An ideal clipboard should be secured, easily accessible, and functional.
