Windows Keeps Clearing My Clipboard

CascadeHush on 01/11/2023 - 20:06

I'm doing a lot of file management and tagging today. I keep having to copy file paths over and over again because apparently after a couple of minutes windows discards the clipboard contents. I've never encountered anything like this.

I asked Chat GPT about it and it just spewed up the Microsoft support page which is useless and irrelevant. And when I probed further the chat suddenly ended. So apparently Microsoft's version of Chat GPT is a bad place to ask about Microsoft's own products, except for Powershell scripts, it's good at a that.

I do not and never will use clipboard history. I wonder if this is Microsoft's way of bullying me into turning it on. All other web searches seemed to point back to this. It has nothing to do with clipboard history, I just need to stop windows from deleting what I have on the clipboard.

Has anybody else encountered this and is there a fix?

Computing

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 01/11/2023 - 20:11
    +1

    do you have a password manager that is actively and aggresively clearing your clipboard?

    1password for e.g has a function that clears the clipboard every 1.5 minutes.
    https://1password.community/discussion/133776/clipboard-clea…

    If you have a lot of file management to do, I recommend also getting a File Explorer alternative. Not quite a shell replacement, but some stand alone app like One Commander or Total Commander that gives you a 2-pane interface.

    • CascadeHush on 01/11/2023 - 21:12

      I asked Chat GPT if Bitwarden did that and it didn't think so, but maybe it does.

      • Elegant Giant on 01/11/2023 - 21:20

        Settings > Options > Clear clipboard, from the extension. Mine's set to 30s

        Still, that should only clear things you've copied from Bitwarden - the idea to ensure your passwords etc aren't sticking around for longer than you'd expect.

        • CascadeHush on 01/11/2023 - 21:51

          I've never used the extension and I'd be deeply worried if it can reach out of the browser and clear the clipboard.

          I did just have a look at the app though, and the clear clipboard option is set to never. I should probably think about that.

          • SBOB on 02/11/2023 - 07:08

            @CascadeHush:

            I'd be deeply worried if it can reach out of the browser and clear the clipboard.

            Then consider yourself deeply worried :)

  • solidussnake on 02/11/2023 - 06:52
    -1

    Not Clippy !! Are you using Windows 98

  • skid on 02/11/2023 - 09:26

    Are you accidentally pressing ctrl C while selecting a file? That will clear the clipboard.

    • the Unforgiven on 02/11/2023 - 11:25

      Ctrl C = copy
      Ctrl V = paste
      Ctrl X = cut

      OP, have you thought about using an external clipboard monitor?

  • Jake D on 02/11/2023 - 15:16

    use win+v the first time you paste it, and select pin

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join