Installation and compatibility
Check the Download page for current availability and system requirements.
WhatTheClip supports Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later.
Permissions and setup
Use the Permissions Guide when Accessibility, Input Monitoring, clipboard access, file access, Keychain, or launch-at-login behavior is unclear.
Keep WhatTheClip in Applications before approving macOS permissions. Moving the app afterward can make macOS ask for approval again.
The overlay opens but paste does not land
Separate the workflow into these checks:
- Confirm the configured shortcut opens the overlay.
- Confirm arrows or number keys change the selected item.
- Confirm the intended app was active before the overlay opened.
- Confirm Accessibility is granted for automatic paste.
- Release the shortcut keys before completing the selection.
- Test manual Command-V in the destination app.
The destination app can reject automated paste even when WhatTheClip dispatched the standard macOS paste command. The overlay troubleshooting guide explains the diagnostic path in more detail.
New clipboard items are not appearing
On first run, clipboard capture is off until you explicitly enable it. If you previously chose Keep Off or dismissed the consent screen, open WhatTheClip Settings to enable capture later.
If you already enabled capture, check that it is not paused and that the copied content type is supported. The menu-bar indicator distinguishes off, paused, and on. WhatTheClip handles text, links, images, screenshots, and local files.
Global hotkeys and automatic paste are separate settings. Enabling capture does not enable either one.
The history list is configurable and bounded for active work rather than long-term storage.
Images or files are not available
WhatTheClip can keep copied images and screenshots in history. Favourite slots can hold text, images, or local files that you deliberately choose to reuse.
Files can also become unavailable when the original local file was moved, deleted, or is no longer accessible. Clipboard history is a convenience tool, not a durable file backup.
Clear or remove local data
You can remove individual history items, clear favourite slots, delete App Profiles, pause capture, or use Clear Local Data.
Deleting or pruning app data also clears the relevant app-managed database snapshots and managed payload files. If cleanup cannot finish, WhatTheClip reports a warning and offers Retry Cleanup.
Clear Local Data removes history, profiles, favourite slots, managed payload files, custom profile logos, temporary decrypted copies, and app-managed database snapshots. It does not reset macOS privacy approvals.
WhatTheClip cannot remove macOS or third-party backups, content already pasted into another app, exported files, screenshots, or other copies outside its managed storage.
Contact support
Email [email protected] with:
- Your macOS version and Mac architecture.
- The WhatTheClip version shown in the app.
- The app where the workflow failed.
- Whether capture, overlay selection, manual paste, and automatic paste worked.
- A description that does not include private clipboard content.