3 Ways to Clear the Clipboard History in Windows 11

Key Takeaways

• The most straightforward way to clear the clipboard history is via the Clipboard tab.
• You may also create a shortcut with a one-click option to clear clipboard history.

Method 1: Using the Clipboard Tab

The easiest and quickest way to empty clipboard history in Windows is through the Clipboard tab. Access the history section of the clipboard and use the Clear All button to remove the stored items. Here’s a step-by-step explanation to do that:

Step 1: Press the Windows + V keyboard shortcut to open the Clipboard Tab.

Step 2: Click the Clear all button.

If you want to clear an individual text, click the three dots next to that text and click the Trash icon.

Method 2: Using the Settings App

Another quick way to clear your clipboard history in Windows is by utilizing the Settings app. Windows offers a dedicated section in the Settings app that lets you configure different system features, including the clipboard. To access that feature and delete clipboard data, follow the below instructions:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.

Step 2: Type Settings in the search bar and press Enter. Alternatively, press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to launch the Settings app.

Step 3: Choose System from the left sidebar and Clipboard from the right pane.

Step 4: Click the Clear button next to Clear clipboard data.

You can configure Windows not to save a list of copied text in the clipboard by adjusting its settings in the Settings app. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Open the Settings app, choose System from the left sidebar and Clipboard from the right pane.

Step 2: Disable the toggle for Clipboard history. 

Method 3: Using Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell

Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell are the most popular Windows command-line utilities. Usually, these tools are used to perform advanced system tasks like removing corrupt files, but if you know the drill, you can also use them to clear the clipboard in Windows. To do so, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.

Step 2: Type Command Prompt in the search bar and choose Run as administrator.

Step 3: Type the following command in the elevated Command Prompt window and press Enter.

echo. |clip

If you prefer Windows PowerShell over Command Prompt, here’s how to use it to empty the clipboard:

Step 1: Open the Start Menu, type Windows PowerShell, and choose Run as administrator from the right pane.

Step 2: In the elevated PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter:

Restart-Service -Name "cbdhsvc*" -force