How to copy and paste from iPhone to Mac
You found an address, a code, or a link on your iPhone and need it on your Mac. You don’t have to text it to yourself. Apple’s Universal Clipboard moves it for you.
How it works: copy on your iPhone as usual, then press ⌘ V on your Mac within a couple of minutes. Both devices need the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and Handoff turned on.
Set up Universal Clipboard
On your Mac
- Open System Settings and click your name at the top. Check that it’s the same Apple Account your iPhone uses.
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Go to General › AirDrop & Handoff, and turn on Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
On your iPhone
- Open Settings and tap your name. Check that it’s the same Apple Account.
- Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Go to General › AirPlay & Continuity (called AirPlay & Handoff in iOS 17 and earlier), and turn on Handoff.
That’s all. There’s no app to open and no button to press. Keep the devices near each other, in Bluetooth range.
Copy and paste
- On your iPhone, select text, a photo, or a link, and tap Copy.
- On your Mac, click where you want it and press ⌘ V. A large item, like a photo, may show a short progress indicator first.
It works the other way too. Copy on your Mac with ⌘ C, then touch and hold a text field on your iPhone and tap Paste.
When Universal Clipboard doesn’t work
- Turn Handoff off and on again on both devices. This fixes it more often than anything else.
- Paste sooner. A copy only stays available to your other devices for a short time. Copy it again and paste right away.
- Check the Apple Account on both devices. Universal Clipboard doesn’t work across two accounts, even in the same family.
- Turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off and on, and make sure the devices are close to each other.
- Restart both devices if it still doesn’t work.
With On Hand
Universal Clipboard holds one item, and only briefly. On Hand, the free clipboard manager for Mac, keeps what you paste from your iPhone like anything else you copy on your Mac, so you can find that address or code again tomorrow. Read more about clipboard history on Mac.
Questions
How do I copy from my iPhone and paste on my Mac?
Copy on your iPhone as usual, then press Command-V on your Mac. This is Universal Clipboard. Both devices need the same Apple Account, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and Handoff turned on.
How long does Universal Clipboard keep what I copied?
Only for a short time. Apple doesn’t give an exact limit, and in practice it’s a couple of minutes. If it’s gone, copy it again.
Why is Universal Clipboard not working?
Check that both devices use the same Apple Account, that Handoff is on in both places, that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on, and that the devices are near each other. Turning Handoff off and on again on both devices fixes it most often.
Can I copy from my Mac and paste on my iPhone?
Yes. Universal Clipboard works both ways: copy on your Mac, then touch and hold a text field on your iPhone and tap Paste.