Why does a clipboard manager need accessibility permission?

Accessibility permission lets the app simulate the paste keystroke into your active app. Without it, ClipHistory can show your history but can't paste for you. It doesn't send any data anywhere.

Do I need to disable Gatekeeper to install ClipHistory?

No. ClipHistory is signed and notarized by Apple, so macOS recognizes it as verified software and you can open it normally.

Will the clipboard manager start automatically?

Only if you enable Launch at login in settings. Since it only records copies while running, most people turn this on.

What macOS version do I need?

ClipHistory requires macOS 12 or later and runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

How to Install a Clipboard Manager on Mac

Installing a clipboard manager on macOS takes a couple of minutes. The only step that trips people up is granting accessibility permission — without it, the app can't paste for you. This guide walks through the whole process using ClipHistory.

Step 1: Download the app

Download ClipHistory from cliphistory.com/download. It's a universal binary, so the same download runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. You need macOS 12 or later.

Because ClipHistory is signed and notarized by Apple, macOS Gatekeeper recognizes it as verified software. You won't have to right-click and override a security warning the way you do with unsigned apps.

Step 2: Move it to Applications

Open the downloaded file and drag the ClipHistory icon into your Applications folder. This keeps the app in the standard location so macOS treats it as a normal installed app and so updates land cleanly.

Step 3: Launch and grant permissions

Open ClipHistory from Applications or Spotlight. On first launch, macOS will ask for Accessibility permission. This is required so the app can paste into the application you're working in.

To grant it:

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Toggle ClipHistory on.
If it was already running, quit and relaunch it so the permission takes effect.

This permission is what lets ClipHistory simulate the paste keystroke. Everything still stays local — granting accessibility doesn't send any data anywhere.

Step 4: Open your history with Cmd+Shift+V

Copy a few things, then press Cmd+Shift+V. The history window appears with your recent clips. Start typing to filter, use arrow keys to select, and press Enter to paste.

ClipHistory keeps your 150 most recent unpinned clips. Items you'll reuse often — signatures, addresses, common replies — can be pinned, and pinned clips are unlimited and never expire from the list.

Step 5: Set it to launch at login (optional)

A clipboard manager only captures what you copy while it's running, so most people set it to start automatically. In ClipHistory's settings, enable Launch at login. From then on it's always there in the menu bar, recording your copies.

Optional: connect AI transforms

If you want to summarize, rewrite, translate, or clean up clips, open settings and add an API key for one of the five supported providers — Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google, or a custom endpoint. ClipHistory uses your own API key, so the AI requests go through your account and stay under your control.

Troubleshooting

Nothing pastes when I press Enter. Accessibility permission isn't granted, or the app needs a relaunch after granting it. Re-check Step 3.
History is empty after a restart. The app wasn't running when you copied. Enable launch at login.
The shortcut does nothing. Another app may have claimed Cmd+Shift+V. Change the shortcut in ClipHistory's settings.

Verifying the install worked

After setup, do a quick three-step check so you know everything is wired correctly:

Copy test. Copy a line of text, copy a second line, then press Cmd+Shift+V. Both should appear in the history, newest first.
Paste test. Select the older item and press Enter — it should paste into your active app. If it doesn't, accessibility permission needs another look.
Persistence test. Quit and relaunch ClipHistory. Your history should still be there, because it's stored locally on your Mac.

If all three pass, you're done.

A note on privacy and storage

Because the app records everything you copy, it's worth knowing where that data lives. ClipHistory keeps your history locally on your Mac — no cloud, no account, no sign-up. Your clipboard often holds passwords, private messages, and API keys, and none of that is uploaded anywhere or tied to a login. Granting accessibility permission only enables pasting; it does not create any network connection.

Getting more out of it

Once the basics work, a few settings are worth a look:

Pin the clips you reuse constantly — addresses, signatures, common links. Pinned clips are unlimited and never expire from the list.
Create snippets for text you type often, so it's always one keystroke away.
Set up boards to group clips by project or task instead of one flat list.
Use the paste stack to queue several clips and paste them in order — handy for filling forms.

ClipHistory is a one-time payment of $19.99 with a 12-month license and no auto-renewal, so once it's installed you own it without a recurring charge.

Summary

Installing a clipboard manager on Mac is four quick steps: download, move to Applications, grant accessibility permission, and enable launch at login. Once it's installed and launching at login, the clipboard manager fades into the background and you just paste from history whenever you need an earlier copy.

Ready to take control of your clipboard? Get ClipHistory for macOS ($19.99) — a one-time payment, 12-month license, no auto-renewal. Signed and notarized by Apple, everything stays on your Mac.