PasteBoard
Whether you copied a password by mistake, pasted something private into the wrong window, or just like keeping things tidy, clearing clipboard history on a Mac takes seconds once you know where to look.
Clearing the built-in clipboard
macOS's own clipboard holds only one item, and it's automatically replaced the next time you copy anything. To clear it manually without copying something else, copy a single space or short throwaway text — there's no dedicated "clear clipboard" command in stock macOS.
Clearing history in Maccy
- Click the Maccy icon in the menu bar.
- Open Preferences.
- Use the Clear History option, or delete individual items directly from the history popup with Cmd+Delete.
Clearing history in Paste
Open Paste's preferences and look under the History tab for a clear-all option. Because Paste syncs via iCloud, clearing history on one device will also remove it from any other device signed into the same account — keep that in mind if you only meant to clear one Mac.
Raycast and Alfred
In Raycast, open the Clipboard History command, select an item, and use the action panel (Cmd+K) to delete it or clear the full history. In Alfred, clipboard history lives under Features → Clipboard History in Preferences, with a clear-history button alongside the list.
Automating it for sensitive data
Most clipboard managers, including Maccy and Paste, let you set an automatic expiry (e.g., clear anything older than 24 hours) and exclude specific apps — like 1Password or banking apps — from being recorded at all. If you regularly copy sensitive data, turning on both settings is worth the two minutes it takes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I permanently clear clipboard history on Mac?
If you use a clipboard manager like Maccy or Paste, open its preferences and choose Clear History. macOS itself doesn't keep a multi-item history to clear — only the single most recent copy, which is replaced automatically.
Can clipboard managers automatically delete old items?
Yes. Most clipboard managers, including Maccy and Paste, let you set an automatic expiry time so items are removed after a set period, which is useful if you regularly copy sensitive information.
