LesskeysClipboard history on Windows 11: turn it on, use it, fix it
Press Win+V, select Turn on, and Windows keeps your last 25 copies. This guide covers pasting, pinning, clearing and syncing, the limits, and what to check when it does not work.
Windows 10 and 11 · No subscription
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Turn it on
How do I turn on clipboard history on Windows 11?
- Press Win+V: the Windows logo key and the letter V together.
- A panel opens. Select Turn on. You only do this the first time.
- Copy as always with Ctrl+C. Press Win+V to see what you copied.
Paste, pin, clear
Paste, pin and clear
- Paste: press Win+V in any app and click an item.
- Pin: use the pin option. Pinned items stay when the list fills, on clear all and on restart.
- Delete one: select ... next to it, then Delete.
- Clear all: top of the panel; pinned items stay. Settings, System, Clipboard, Clear also clears the cloud copy.
- Sync: same Microsoft or work account on each PC, then turn on Clipboard history across your devices.
When it stops
Why it stops working
- It is off. Press Win+V and select Turn on.
- You restarted. The history clears at every restart, except pinned items.
- It is full. Only 25 entries are kept; the oldest unpinned ones drop off.
- Wrong kind or too big. Text, HTML and bitmap only, up to 4 MB an item.
- A work or school PC. An administrator can turn it off; the Settings switch is grayed out.
Windows 10 has the same steps and limits; Microsoft ended support for it on October 14, 2025.
Sources: Microsoft, Using the clipboard; Policy CSP: Experience.
Next to Lesskeys
Win+V next to Lesskeys
| What | Win+V | Lesskeys |
|---|---|---|
| Items kept | 25; the oldest unpinned drop off | 100 by default; you set 10 to 500 |
| What it keeps | Text, HTML and bitmap, up to 4 MB each | Text, images and copied files |
| After a restart | Cleared, except pinned items | Still there |
| Sync | Across your PCs with a Microsoft or work account | None; it stays on your PC |
| Clearing | A Clear all button | You delete items one by one |
| Opens with | Win+V | Ctrl+Shift+V; you can change it |
The Lesskeys clipboard history is free: you can search it and pin what you paste every day. If 25 items, with the unpinned ones cleared at every restart, are enough for you, stay with Win+V.
Questions
Questions about Win+V on Windows 11
How many items does Win+V keep?
25. When the list is full, Windows removes the oldest items that are not pinned to make room for new ones.
Does Win+V clipboard history survive a restart?
No. Windows clears the history each time you restart the PC. Pinned items are kept.
What can Win+V save, and how big can it be?
Microsoft lists text, HTML and bitmap as the supported formats, with a limit of 4 MB per item.
Can the Windows 11 clipboard history sync between PCs?
Yes, if you sign in with the same Microsoft or work account on each PC and turn on Clipboard history across your devices in Settings, System, Clipboard.
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