Copying text from your iPhone and pasting it on your Mac offers great convenience.
However, if you frequently use the Universal Clipboard for daily tasks, it can be frustrating when this feature malfunctions.
In this guide, I’ll explain how to troubleshoot the Universal Clipboard when it’s not functioning between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Let’s jump right in.
TL;DR Version
Try these fixes if you can’t use copy and paste between Apple devices:
1. Check Universal Clipboard Compatibility and OS Versions
First, ensure your devices are compatible with Universal Clipboard and running the required operating system versions:
- Your iPhone and iPad should have iOS/iPadOS 10 or newer.
- Your Mac needs macOS Sierra 10.12 or newer.
- All devices must be signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi should be active on each device.
- Ensure all devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and within Bluetooth range.
2. Restart Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Connections
Since Universal Clipboard relies on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, refreshing these connections on your devices can often resolve issues.
On Your iPhone/iPad:
- Swipe down from the upper right corner to open the Control Center.
- Tap the Wi-Fi icon to turn it off (it turns white).
- Tap the Bluetooth icon to disable it (the icon will turn white).
- Wait for 5-10 seconds.
- Return to the Control Center to reactivate Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
On Your Mac:
- Click the Wi-Fi icon on the Toolbar.
- Click the toggle next to Wi-Fi to turn it off.
- Click the Bluetooth icon.
- Turn off Bluetooth using the adjacent toggle switch.
- Wait for 5-10 seconds, then re-enable both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
3. Disable and Re-Enable Handoff Feature
Universal Clipboard is a part of the Handoff feature. Refreshing Handoff can resolve copy-paste issues between devices.
On Your iPhone/iPad:
- Open Settings.
- Navigate to General > AirPlay & Handoff.
- Toggle Handoff off and then on again.
On Your Mac:
- Click the Apple logo in the top left corner.
- Select System Settings.
- Choose General from the sidebar.
- Under AirDrop & Handoff, disable Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
- Restart all your devices and re-enable handoff.
4. Sign Out and Re-Log Into Your Apple ID
As mentioned above, Universal Clipboard requires the same Apple account on all devices.
If copy-paste functionality is compromised, sign out of your Apple ID on all devices and log back in. This process refreshes account information and data.
On Your iPhone/iPad:
- First, open the Settings app.
- Tap your Profile at the top.
- Scroll down and select Sign Out.
- If Find My iPhone is active, enter your Apple ID password and choose Turn Off.
On Your Mac:
- Click on the Apple icon in the top left corner.
- Navigate to System Settings.
- Click your Profile in the sidebar.
- Select Sign Out and follow the prompts.
After restarting your devices, sign back into your Apple ID.
5. Reset Network Settings (iPhone and iPad)
Resetting network settings can resolve issues with Handoff, as Universal Clipboard depends on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Navigate to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (or iPad).
- Tap Reset.
- Choose Reset Network Settings and confirm the prompts.
Important Notes:
- Your device will restart immediately after the network reset.
- It may temporarily display the Apple logo; allow 5 to 10 minutes for the process to complete.
6. Execute Custom Terminal Commands (Mac)
If Universal Clipboard still isn’t working, using specific Terminal commands can automatically adjust your system settings:
- Open Finder on your Mac.
- Navigate to Applications > Utilities.
- Double-click Terminal to open it.
- In Terminal, enter and execute these commands sequentially:
defaults read ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnableddefaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnabled 1- Restart your Mac and test the copy-paste functionality between devices.
7. Update All Devices to the Latest Software Versions
An underlying software issue on any of your devices could disrupt Handoff and Universal Clipboard. Ensure all devices are updated to the latest software versions.
Updating your iPhone/iPad
- Open Settings.
- Go to General > Software Update.
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install, then follow the on-screen instructions.
Important Notes:
- Your device may restart multiple times during the update.
- Ensure it’s at least 50% charged, or keep it connected to a charger.
- Allow around 15 minutes for the update, especially for major versions.
To enable automatic updates:
- Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
- Turn on Download iOS/iPadOS Updates and Install iOS/iPadOS Updates.
Updating your Mac
- Click the Apple icon in the top left corner.
- Choose System Settings.
- Proceed to General > Software Update and follow any available update prompts.
Important Notes:
- Your Mac may restart several times during the update.
- If the update progress seems stuck, wait patiently as it can take several minutes.
FAQs
How do I fix the universal clipboard not working?
When the Universal Clipboard isn’t functioning, first try refreshing the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections on your devices. This feature depends on Handoff, which utilizes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for inter-device connectivity. Additionally, updating your devices can resolve any software issues that might be hindering the Universal Clipboard’s performance.
How do I turn on universal clipboard?
On iPhone/iPad:
- Open Settings.
- Go to General > AirPlay & Handoff.
- Enable Handoff by toggling the switch.
On Mac:
- Click the Apple logo at the top left corner of your screen.
- Open System Settings.
- Select General from the sidebar.
- In the AirDrop & Handoff section, enable Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.
Does universal clipboard need wifi?
Yes, Universal Clipboard depends on Handoff, which requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections to synchronize devices.
