How long clipboard history lasts on a Mac
On macOS 27, the Mac’s Spotlight clipboard history is kept for 30 minutes, 8 hours or 7 days, whichever you choose in System Settings. Apple’s Spotlight guide for macOS 27 states those three choices, checked on 4 November 2026. Apple’s pages for earlier versions give no time.
Set the time on macOS 27
- Open System Settings and click Spotlight in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Turn on Results from Clipboard.
- Under Clipboard history is available in Spotlight, choose 30 minutes, 8 hours or 7 days.
Apple says clipboard history older than the period you choose is not visible in Spotlight. Apple’s page also has Clear Clipboard History to remove it on demand. See how to clear the clipboard on a Mac.
What Apple says for macOS 26 Tahoe
The macOS 26 Spotlight page mentions a Clipboard Search setting that lets your Clipboard’s contents appear in Spotlight results. It lists no durations and no clear button. So for Tahoe, this page cannot give a time.
What Apple says for macOS 15 Sequoia
The macOS 15 Spotlight page lists Search results, Improve Search and Search Privacy. It does not mention clipboard history. So Apple’s page does not document one for Sequoia.
Without any history
If you do not use Spotlight’s history, the Mac holds only the last item you copied. It stays until you copy something else. Apple’s Universal Clipboard article uses almost this wording for copies sent to a nearby device: it remains “briefly, or until you replace it by copying something else on either device”.
Shortcut
Apple’s Spotlight page does not state a keyboard shortcut for the clipboard history, so this page does not give one.
Restarts
Apple’s page does not say whether a restart or sign out clears the history, so do not rely on one to wipe it. Use Clear Clipboard History if you need it gone.
A shorter, simpler history
Some clipboard apps keep history only while they run. NotchStar’s Clipboard keeps the 50 most recent items in memory only, so the list clears when you quit NotchStar. Read why it clears on quit. For the general question, read how to see clipboard history on a Mac.
