Why NotchStar missed a copy made before it started
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.
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
- Open NotchStar before you need history. It can start when you log in, so it is already running.
- 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.
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.
The tool is described on the Clipboard feature page.
