How to share a clipboard between two computers
Two Windows PCs, two Macs, or one of each: the built-in answer depends on which, and sometimes there isn't one. Here is every option, from the free ones already on your computer to what to use when you want a history on both.
Between two Windows PCs, turn on Clipboard history across your devices in Settings, System, Clipboard on both, signed into the same Microsoft or work account, and text you copy on one can be pasted on the other. Between two Macs, Universal Clipboard does it once both use the same Apple Account with Handoff, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on. A Mac and a PC, or a Linux machine, need an app on both: a software KVM such as Deskflow if they share a desk, or a clipboard app such as Clypy.
How this guide was checked
Windows clipboard sync, PowerToys Mouse Without Borders, Universal Clipboard and Deskflow were checked against Microsoft, Apple and Deskflow documentation in October 2026. Clypy's desktop pairing, sync and file transfer were checked against its source code.
On this page
Two Windows PCs: clipboard sync
Windows can sync the clipboard between PCs signed into the same account. It is off by default, and it needs clipboard history on as well.
- 1On each PC, open Settings, System, Clipboard and turn on Clipboard history.
- 2On the same page, turn on Clipboard history across your devices, and sign in if asked. Use the same Microsoft account, or the same work account, on every PC.
- 3Choose automatic sync to send every text copy, or manual sync if you'd rather pick what goes across.
- 4Copy text on one PC, then press Windows key + V on the other and pick it from the list.
It carries text only, inside the same 25-item history that empties on restart, and it never reaches a Mac. On a work PC, an administrator can turn it off.
Two PCs on one desk: Mouse Without Borders
If both PCs are in front of you, Microsoft's free PowerToys includes Mouse Without Borders, which lets one keyboard and mouse control up to four Windows PCs. Move the pointer off the edge of one screen and it appears on the next, and the clipboard comes with it. It can also copy a single file of up to 100 MB from one PC to another.
- 1Install PowerToys on both PCs and open Mouse Without Borders in its settings.
- 2On the first PC, select New Key to create a security key.
- 3On the second PC, enter that key and the first PC's name, then select Connect.
- 4Check that Share clipboard is on, then copy on one PC and paste on the other.
The PCs need to be on the same network, and it is Windows only. If they can't find each other, Mouse Without Borders can add the firewall rule it needs from its own settings.
Two Macs: Universal Clipboard
Macs share a clipboard through Universal Clipboard, the same feature that links a Mac and an iPhone. Both Macs need the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and Handoff on, which it is by default (on recent macOS, it's in System Settings, General, AirDrop & Continuity). Copy on one and paste on the other soon after, while they are near each other. It carries one item, briefly, and keeps no history. If it stops working, the fixes in our iPhone and Mac guide apply to two Macs too.
A Mac and a PC, or Linux
No operating system shares its clipboard with another maker's. On one desk, a software KVM is the free answer: Deskflow, which is open source with builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, shares one keyboard and mouse across them and carries the clipboard along. A remote desktop session also shares the clipboard while it is connected. Our Mac and Windows guide covers both in detail.
A searchable history on both, with Clypy
Every option above moves the last thing you copied. If you also want what you copied this morning, on either machine, you need a clipboard app on both. Clypy runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and keeps unlimited history on each for free, with no account. With Clypy Pro, paired computers sync that history with end-to-end encryption: directly over your network when they share one, and through a relay that cannot read your clips when they don't, so a work laptop and a home desktop stay in step too.
- 1Install Clypy on both computers from clypy.app/download.
- 2On the first, open Settings, Devices, and choose Pair a device to show a pairing code.
- 3On the second, open the same screen, choose Join with a code instead, and enter the code and PIN.
- 4Copy on either computer, then press Ctrl + Alt + V on Windows or Linux, or Command + Option + V on a Mac, to open the Paste Strip with everything you've copied on both.
Clypy syncs text, links and pictures, not the contents of other files you copy. For files, Pro includes Send files, which moves them between paired devices on the same network without uploading them anywhere.
Common questions
Can Windows sync the clipboard between two PCs?
Yes. Turn on Clipboard history and Clipboard history across your devices in Settings, System, Clipboard on both PCs, signed into the same Microsoft or work account. It syncs text.
Does Windows clipboard sync work with a Mac?
No. It only syncs between Windows PCs, plus your latest text copy on an Android phone through Microsoft SwiftKey. Between a Mac and a PC you need a KVM like Deskflow, a remote desktop session, or a clipboard app on both.
How do I copy and paste between two computers on the same desk?
Use a software KVM. Mouse Without Borders in PowerToys links up to four Windows PCs; Deskflow works across Windows, macOS and Linux. Both carry the clipboard as you move the pointer between screens.
Can I share a clipboard between two computers without signing in to an account?
Yes. Mouse Without Borders connects with a security key, Deskflow connects over your network, and Clypy pairs computers by exchanging encryption keys directly, with no account.
Official sources
Platform behavior changes over time. These primary references were used for the latest review.