To show your clipboard history in Windows 10, simply press Windows logo key + V on your keyboard.
In earlier versions of Windows, the clipboard held only one item at a time, meaning copying something new would overwrite the previous content. However, Windows 10 introduced a feature called "Clipboard History," which allows you to store multiple copied items (text, images, etc.) and access them later. This is what is shown when you press the Windows logo key + V.
Accessing Your Clipboard History
Showing your clipboard isn't about seeing a hidden window with the current copied item, but rather accessing the history of multiple items you've copied. Here’s how to do it:
- Step 1: Make sure you are on your desktop or within any application where you might want to paste.
- Step 2: Press and hold the Windows logo key.
- Step 3: While holding the Windows key, press the V key.
- Step 4: A small window will pop up on your screen, typically near where you are typing or the location of your cursor. This is your clipboard history menu.
This menu displays a list of the items you have recently copied, with the most recent item usually at the top.
Using the Clipboard History Menu
Once the clipboard history menu is open (Windows logo key + V), you can interact with the stored items in several ways:
- Pasting an item: Click on any item in the list to paste it into your current application at the cursor's location.
- Pinning an item: For items you use frequently, you can pin them to the history. Pinned items will remain in the list even after you clear your history or restart your computer. Hover over an item and click the pushpin icon that appears.
- Unpinning an item: To unpin an item, hover over it in the history and click the pushpin icon again.
- Deleting an item: Hover over an item and click the 'X' button to remove it from the history.
- Clearing all: You can clear your entire non-pinned history by clicking the "Clear all" option usually found at the top right of the history window.
Note: If you press Windows logo key + V and nothing appears or you are prompted to turn on the feature, it means clipboard history is currently disabled on your system. You can enable it directly from the pop-up window or via Windows Settings (Settings > System > Clipboard).
By using the Windows logo key + V shortcut, you gain quick access to your clipboard history, making copying and pasting multiple items significantly more efficient.
