What Universal Clipboard needs: WiFi, Bluetooth and Handoff
Universal Clipboard needs devices that are near each other, signed in with the same Apple Account, with WiFi and Bluetooth turned on and Handoff turned on. Apple’s article lists these requirements, and the separate Handoff article says Handoff is required for Universal Clipboard. Both were checked on 4 November 2026.
The requirements
| Need | What Apple says |
|---|---|
| Nearby | The devices must be near each other |
| Same account | Signed in with the same Apple Account (the Handoff article says iCloud with the same Apple Account) |
| WiFi and Bluetooth | Both turned on |
| Handoff | Turned on on every device. Apple says it is on by default |
| Supported devices | A Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Vision Pro that meets the requirements |
Does it need an internet connection
Apple’s pages say WiFi and Bluetooth must be on. They do not say whether the WiFi network needs internet access, and they do not say how the transfer travels. So the safe reading is: switch both on, and do not assume more than that.
How to turn Handoff on
On macOS Ventura 13 or later: Apple menu, System Settings, General, then AirDrop & Handoff (called AirDrop & Continuity on Apple’s page). Turn on “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices”. On earlier macOS versions, use System Preferences, General, and tick the same wording.
Apple’s Handoff article gives steps for turning it on and does not give separate steps for turning it off.
Older devices
Apple says older devices must meet the Handoff system requirements and links to them without listing them. Check the linked page for the exact models and macOS versions.
What Universal Clipboard does
You copy on one device and paste on another, using the usual keys. The copied content lands on the clipboard of the other nearby device and stays there “briefly, or until you replace it by copying something else on either device”. It is not a history. See copy and paste between Macs for the steps.
If it stops working
See Universal Clipboard not working on a Mac.
NotchStar’s Clipboard keeps the 50 most recent copies in memory, so you can click an earlier one to copy it again. It does not sync, so it is not a replacement for Universal Clipboard.
