If you often copy and paste on your Android smartphone, it is in your best interest to use the clipboard history to retrieve items already saved in its memory. A practical, but little-known function!
You probably use the computer clipboard, the famous copy and paste, extensively (or rather fingers) throughout the day. This function is indeed very practical for copying elements, text or images, from one software and pasting them into another. On your smartphone, you probably also often use copy and paste. This may involve, for example, retrieving a code sent by SMS in order to integrate it into an authentication field, copying an address received by email and pasting it into Google Maps to see where it is located on the map, etc. And, few users know it, but like on Windows (read our article), it is possible to access the clipboard history of your smartphone. Depending on the virtual keyboard used on your mobile, the method differs slightly and the duration of the history varies. Here’s how to find your history with the main keyboards used: Gboard (Google), Samsung Keyboard and SwiftKey (Microsoft).
Google’s virtual keyboard is the default active model on many smartphones. It allows you to keep a history of copied elements but it’s better to hurry. For security and confidentiality reasons, their lifespan in the clipboard does not exceed one hour.
► Open an app that allows you to enter text (Messages for example) and tap in the input field to bring up the virtual keyboard. Press on the menu icon placed at the far left of the row of accessible tools. It is symbolized by four small squares.
► In the menu that appears, locate the clipboard (its icon looks like a notepad). Long press above and move it to the toolbar for quicker access later.
► Briefly press this icon. If you have never used the clipboard history before, Google tells you the operating principle and especially the lifespan of the elements copied there (one hour). Press on Enable clipboard.
► Now use the function To copy as per usual. If you need to retrieve an item from the clipboard history, tap the clipboard icon you just placed in the toolbar. The various items saved in the clipboard are displayed. Tap on the one you’re interested in to paste it wherever you want.
Samsung Keyboard is the default virtual keyboard for all smartphones from the South Korean giant. Its clipboard is more flexible than Google’s and does not impose a time limit.
► Open the smartphone settings and choose Overall management > Samsung Keyboard Settings.
► Scroll through the contents of the displayed page to the section Style and layout then activate the switch Keyboard toolbar.
► Go back and show the virtual keyboard in an app that requires text entry. The virtual keyboard toolbar is now present. Among the tools offered is a notepad-shaped icon. It’s your paperweight. If you don’t see it, tap the three points of suspension at the end of the line. Long press clipboard icon and move it to the toolbar for quicker access later.
► Now short press on the clipboard icon to open it. All the items you copied appear there. All that remains is to press the one that interests you to paste it where you want it.
► However, consider regularly purging the clipboard of sensitive information that you may have saved there (secret codes, email addresses, etc.) to prevent unwelcome people from being able to access it.
Microsoft’s virtual keyboard is increasingly present on smartphones and adopted as the default keyboard. It also allows you to keep a history of copied elements. Small bonus: the function is active by default.
► When SwiftKey is the default keyboard, open an app that allows you to enter text (Messages for example) and tap in the input field to bring up the virtual keyboard. Above the word suggestion line, a toolbar is displayed. Press on notepad icon.
► The various elements that you have copied to the clipboard are displayed immediately. It can also be images. All that remains is to press the one that interests you to paste it where you want it.
► However, consider regularly purging the clipboard of sensitive information that you may have saved there (secret codes, email addresses, etc.) to prevent unwelcome people from being able to access it.