Apple’s Universal Clipboard, a key component of the Continuity system, is a cross-platform feature that facilitates swift transfer of document elements and files between devices. It mirrors the functionality of the system-level copy and paste, allowing for the transfer of files, text, video, or images between documents or storage folders across multiple devices.
This feature enhances the versatility of your hardware. For instance, a photo received in Messages on an iPhone can be copied and pasted directly into a document being edited on a Mac. Similarly, an image from a drawing session on an iPad can be copied and pasted into another application on your iPhone. Files can also be quickly attached from a Mac to an email drafted on an iPad.
The Universal Clipboard is not confined to Apple’s traditional hardware. Apple Vision Pro owners can utilize the same system to manage data and files from their headset.
Despite its general reliability, the Universal Clipboard may occasionally malfunction or cease to work.
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Initial Checks for Universal Clipboard Functionality
To ensure the normal operation of the Universal Clipboard, certain prerequisites must be met.
Each device intended for use with the Universal Clipboard should be signed in with the same Apple ID and have access to iCloud. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi should be enabled on all devices, ideally connected to the same Wi-Fi network and within close proximity to each other.
Handoff, another requirement for Universal Clipboard functionality, should be activated on every device. While it is enabled by default, it can be deactivated and should therefore be checked.
Verifying Handoff Activation on Apple Devices
- For iPhone, iPad, or Mac, navigate to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff. Ensure the Handoff toggle is switched on.
- On a Mac, click on the Apple logo in the Menu Bar, select System Settings > AirDrop & Handoff. Enable the toggle for ‘Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices’.
- For Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings > General > Handoff. Enable Handoff.
If Handoff is enabled but not functioning, try disabling and re-enabling these toggles.
After ensuring Handoff is enabled on all devices, you can make a change at the command line on your Mac using Terminal.
Activating Handoff via Terminal on macOS
- Launch Terminal. The fastest way is to press Command-Space, type ‘Terminal’ into the search bar, and press Enter. Alternatively, you can open Terminal from the Applications folder > Utilities.
- In Terminal, input the following command and press Enter:
defaults delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnabled
- Next, input the following command and press Enter:
defaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnabled 1
- Close Terminal.