ClipboardlyHow to Clear the Clipboard on Mac (4 Ways)
macOS has no Clear Clipboard button. To clear it, copy something harmless, like a single space, or run pbcopy < /dev/null in Terminal to empty it. On macOS Tahoe, also clear Spotlight’s clipboard history in System Settings → Spotlight. If you use a clipboard manager, delete clips there too, because it keeps its own history.
- The Mac clipboard holds one item; copying something new replaces it.
- Terminal: pbcopy < /dev/null empties the clipboard completely.
- macOS Tahoe keeps a separate history in Spotlight; clear it in System Settings → Spotlight.
1. Overwrite it (any Mac)
- Select a single space or a harmless word in any text field.
- Press ⌘C. The old content is gone from the clipboard.
2. Empty it from Terminal
Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities) and run:
pbcopy < /dev/nullThis puts nothing on the clipboard, so ⌘V pastes nothing.
3. Clear Spotlight clipboard history (macOS Tahoe)
macOS Tahoe keeps recent copies in Spotlight (⌘Space, then ⌘4). To wipe them, open System Settings → Spotlight, scroll to the clipboard section and click Clear Clipboard History. You can also set history to expire after 30 minutes, 8 hours or 7 days.
More detail in macOS Tahoe clipboard history: how it works and its limits.
4. Delete clips in a clipboard manager
A clipboard manager keeps its own history, so clearing the system clipboard doesn't remove what it saved. In Clipboardly, delete a clip and it moves to Trash, which you can empty. To stop something being saved at all, click Pause before you copy it, or lock sensitive clips behind a PIN. Download Clipboardly; it's free.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Clears current clipboard | Clears history | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy a space | Yes | No | Any macOS |
| pbcopy < /dev/null | Yes | No | Any macOS |
| Clear Clipboard History | No | Yes | macOS Tahoe |
| Delete in Clipboardly | No | Yes | macOS 10.15+ |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a shortcut to clear the clipboard on Mac?
No. macOS has no built-in shortcut. Copy a space with ⌘C, or run pbcopy < /dev/null in Terminal.
Does restarting a Mac clear the clipboard?
Yes, the current clipboard is empty after a restart. Spotlight’s clipboard history on macOS Tahoe and clipboard managers keep their own history, so clear those separately.
How do I delete clipboard history on macOS Tahoe?
Open System Settings → Spotlight and click Clear Clipboard History. You can also clear it from the clipboard view in Spotlight.
Sources
Checked September 2026. Prices and features of other apps can change; check each app’s site for the latest.
Written by Sheikh Saadi, founder of Growbig100. Updated .