5 Best Free Windows Clipboard Managers in 2026 (Plus Win+V)
The Windows clipboard is probably the feature you use most and think about least. By default it held only one item, so copying something new erased the last thing you copied. Free Windows clipboard managers fix that by saving everything you copy, so you can search and paste older items anytime. Windows now has a basic clipboard history built in, but dedicated tools do much more. Here are the best Windows clipboard managers in 2026.
Quick answer: Press Windows + V to use the free built-in clipboard history in Windows 11 and 10. For more power, install Ditto (free, open source), CopyQ (free, works on Windows, Mac and Linux), or Microsoft PowerToys for its Advanced Paste feature. ClipClip and ClipboardFusion are good alternatives with extra organising tools.
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Windows built-in clipboard history
Press Windows + V and turn on clipboard history the first time. Windows then keeps your last 25 copied items, including text, HTML and small images. You can pin items you use often, and turn on “Sync across devices” to share the clipboard between PCs signed in to the same Microsoft account. The history clears when you restart, except for pinned items.
Best free Windows clipboard managers
- Ditto: the favourite from our original list is still going strong. It is open source, stores thousands of clips in a searchable database, supports images and rich text, and can sync between computers on your network. Press Ctrl + ` (the backtick key) to open it.
- CopyQ: free and cross-platform, with tabs to organise clips, editing, tags and scripting for power users.
- Microsoft PowerToys: Microsoft’s free toolkit includes Advanced Paste, which can paste as plain text, Markdown or JSON, and use optional AI to rewrite or translate what you paste.
- ClipClip: a friendly manager with folders for saved snippets, built-in text editing and screenshot support.
- ClipboardFusion: cleans formatting automatically, runs macros on copied text and syncs clips across devices (free and paid versions).
What can a clipboard manager do?
- Keep a searchable history of everything you copy.
- Paste plain text without the original formatting.
- Save frequently used snippets like addresses, email replies and code.
- Copy several items, then paste them one after another.
- Sync clips between your computers.
Keep your clipboard private
- Exclude password managers and banking apps. Most password managers already block clipboard history and clear copied passwords after a few seconds.
- Clear the history before sharing your screen.
- Be careful with cloud sync for sensitive data.
Want more free Windows tools?
Clipboard managers are just one of many free upgrades. Browse our list of free Windows software alternatives, or carry your favourite tools with you as portable apps on a USB drive. Ditto and CopyQ both have portable versions.
FAQ
How do I see my clipboard history in Windows?
Press Windows + V. If it is off, click “Turn on” to start saving clipboard history.
What is the best free clipboard manager for Windows?
Ditto for most users, and CopyQ if you also use Mac or Linux.
Can I paste plain text without formatting?
Yes. Press Ctrl + Shift + V in many apps, or use PowerToys Advanced Paste or Ditto’s paste-as-text option.
Originally written by guest author Aseem Kishore, blogger and entrepreneur at Online-Tech-Tips.com. Updated for 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.
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Hello,
this is Jan, a creator of Clipboard Manager gadget mentioned in the article. I’ve developed a newer, more modern and powerful clipboard manager windows app that is (in its default configuration) as simple to use as the old gadget. Please give it a try. It’s called Clipà.Vu Clipboard Manager for Windows Desktop, has many more features and can be downloaded here: http://clipa.vu/downloads/. You will get your stuff done faster with it.
All the best
Jan
For what I need, the last free copy of Clipdiary was just fine. The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it would occasionally disappear from the systray.
I like Ten Clips, but I seldom use the hotkeys.
Im having another free tool which is similiar as a clipboard manager, but I can use it to upload picture in the clipboard directly to facebook and twitter, its very convinient.
click.to http://www.clicktoapp.com/_index.php
Seventy six thousand users cant be all wrong…..
It’s M8 from download.com
https://download.cnet.com/M8-Free-Clipboard/3000-2384_4-10267618.html
Very useful info, thanks a lot. Going to use your favorite Ditto rather the earlier useful but now obsolete ClipX.
You can google many more Windows Clipboard extender.
Time does not stand still.
It’s out dated but i use clipx
I want to know which one u are using.thanks
And to think I only use a notepad window. :)
is there any software providing hotkeys for clipboard usage ?
thanks anyway :-)
Ditto does.
You can have a detailed look at