Windows Clipboard History (Win+V) Not Working? Fixes and a Better Way
Press Win V. If nothing appears, go to Settings → System → Clipboard and turn on Clipboard history. Windows keeps up to 25 items and clears them when you restart, except pinned ones.
Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in clipboard history, but it's off by default and has a few limits that catch people out.
How to turn on clipboard history
- Open Settings → System → Clipboard.
- Switch on Clipboard history.
- Copy a few things, then press Win V to see them.
Or press Win V straight away and click Turn on when Windows offers.
Win+V not working? Try these fixes
1. Clipboard history is switched off
It's off on new PCs and can be switched off by updates or cleanup tools. Check Settings → System → Clipboard.
2. Your history was cleared by a restart
Windows empties clipboard history every time you restart or shut down. Only items you've pinned survive. Hover over an item in Win V and click the pin to keep it.
3. Your work or school blocks it
Organisations can turn clipboard history off with a policy. If the switch in Settings is greyed out, that's the reason, and only your IT team can change it.
4. The item was too big or in an unusual format
Windows skips items over 4 MB and some formats apps use internally. Plain text, links, HTML and small images work.
5. Restart Windows Explorer
If the panel doesn't open at all, press Ctrl Shift Esc, find Windows Explorer, right-click it and choose Restart.
The limits of Win+V
- 25 items at most. Older items drop off.
- Gone after a restart, unless pinned.
- No search. You scroll through the list.
- No organising. No tags or stars.
A better way: a clipboard manager that remembers
Clippy is the free clipboard manager I make for Windows 10 and 11 (and Mac). It keeps your history after restarts and lets you find things fast:
- Download Clippy from theclippy.live and run the installer. If Windows shows "Windows protected your PC", click More info → Run anyway. The app isn't code-signed yet.
- Copy links as usual. Clippy saves them from the system tray.
- Press Alt Shift V in any app to open your history, search it, and click a clip to copy it back.
| Win+V | Clippy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Built in | Free |
| Survives a restart | Pinned items only | Yes |
| How many items | 25 | As many as you keep |
| Search | No | Yes |
| Tags and stars | No | Yes |
| Protected clips | No | Yes, encrypted |
| Saves by default | Everything | Links (everything if you turn it on) |
Frequently asked questions
How do I see clipboard history on Windows?
Press Windows key + V. If it's empty, turn on Clipboard history in Settings → System → Clipboard.
Why does my clipboard history disappear?
Windows clears clipboard history every time you restart or shut down. Only pinned items are kept. A clipboard manager like Clippy keeps your history across restarts.
How many items does Windows clipboard history keep?
Up to 25. When you copy more, the oldest unpinned items are removed.
Why is clipboard history greyed out?
Usually because a work or school policy has turned it off. Only the organisation's IT team can turn it back on.
Never lose a copied link again
Clippy is a free clipboard manager for Mac and Windows. No account, no ads.