# Why NotchStar missed a copy made before it started

> NotchStar only records copies made while it runs. What was on the clipboard at launch, or copied while it was closed, is not added.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-copied-before-notchstar-started/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

NotchStar's clipboard history begins at the moment the app starts. Whatever was already on the clipboard at that moment is not added, and copies made while the app was closed are never seen.

## Why

When NotchStar starts, it notes the clipboard's change counter and records only changes after that. It does not read the current contents at launch. It also does not bring back an old list, because the history is held in memory and cleared on quit. See [how detection works](https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-notchstar-detects-clipboard-copies/).

## What this looks like

You copy a link, then open NotchStar. The link is still on the clipboard, and Command V pastes it, but the Clipboard tab is empty. The link joins the list only if you copy it again.

## What to do

1. Open NotchStar before you need history. It can start when you log in, so it is already running.
2. If something is still on the clipboard, copy it once more after launch and it will be recorded.

## Quit and reopen

The same applies after any quit. The list starts empty. See [why history clears on quit](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-clears-on-quit/).

## Limits

The Mac has no list of past copies for NotchStar to read back. A copy made while NotchStar was closed cannot be recovered by it. For the Mac's own list on recent macOS, see [how to see clipboard history on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/see-clipboard-history-on-mac/).

The tool is described on the [Clipboard feature page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/).

## Quick answers.

### Can NotchStar load my clipboard history from yesterday?

No. History is kept in memory only and starts empty each time the app launches.

## Keep reading.

- [Clipboard history that lives in your notch](https://www.notchstar.com/features/clipboard/): Searchable clipboard history in the Mac notch: text, links, images and files. Skips password manager copies. Click any item to copy it again.
- [How NotchStar detects what you copy](https://www.notchstar.com/help/how-notchstar-detects-clipboard-copies/): NotchStar checks the Mac clipboard about every half second. When its change counter moves, it reads the new item and adds it to history locally.
- [Why your NotchStar clipboard history clears when you quit](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-clears-on-quit/): NotchStar keeps clipboard history in memory only, so quitting the app clears it. Nothing is written to disk, and password manager copies are skipped.
- [Why an item is missing from NotchStar clipboard history](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-item-missing-from-history/): If a copy is missing from NotchStar clipboard history, check the password manager flag, the 50 item limit, launch time and quits, in that order.

## More in Clipboard.

- [How to search your clipboard history in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/search-your-clipboard-history/): Open the notch, pick Clipboard and type to filter 50 recent copies. Search ignores capitals and accents, and typing image finds copied images.
- [How many items NotchStar clipboard history keeps](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-limit-50-items/): NotchStar keeps the 50 most recent clipboard items, at most 10 of them images. Older items drop off, and the list shows the 30 newest matches at a time.
- [Why your NotchStar clipboard history clears when you quit](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-clears-on-quit/): NotchStar keeps clipboard history in memory only, so quitting the app clears it. Nothing is written to disk, and password manager copies are skipped.
- [How to paste an older item from NotchStar clipboard history](https://www.notchstar.com/help/paste-from-notchstar-clipboard-history/): Open the notch, pick Clipboard, click the item you want, then press Command V where you want it. NotchStar copies the item back and does not paste for you.
- [What happens when you copy the same thing twice in NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/copy-again-moves-clipboard-item-to-top/): Copy the same text, image or file again and NotchStar moves it to the top of the clipboard list instead of adding a duplicate. Here is how it matches.
- [What NotchStar does with files you copy in Finder](https://www.notchstar.com/help/clipboard-history-files-copied-in-finder/): NotchStar records files copied in Finder as files, with their icon, not as text names. Click a row to copy the file again. Search matches name and path.