How to copy and paste multiple items at once (Windows, Mac, iPhone)

Method 1: Windows clipboard history (Windows + V)

1. Turn it on: press Windows + V and select Turn on, or go to Settings > System > Clipboard.
2. Copy each item normally with Ctrl + C.
3. In the destination, press Windows + V and click the item to paste. Repeat for each item.

Good to know (Microsoft Support): it keeps 25 items, up to 4 MB each, supports text, HTML and images, and clears on restart, except for pinned items. If it misbehaves, see Win+V not working.

Method 2: Spotlight clipboard history on Mac (macOS Tahoe and later)

1. The first time, open Spotlight (Command-Space), press Command-4 and allow clipboard results.
2. Copy each item with Command-C.
3. In the destination, open Spotlight, press Command-4, select an item, press Command-C to bring it back to the clipboard, then Command-V to paste (Apple Support).

Items stay visible for 30 minutes, 8 hours or 7 days, depending on System Settings > Spotlight. Full guide: how to see clipboard history on Mac.

Method 3: copy one big block, then split it

Often the items are close together: a table row, a list of emails, several paragraphs.

• Select the whole block and copy it once.
• Paste it into the destination (or a spreadsheet), then delete what you don't need.
• Spreadsheet trick: paste a list into one column. Excel and Google Sheets put each line in its own row, and Text to columns (Excel: Data > Text to Columns; Google Sheets: Data > Split text to columns) splits it further.

Method 4: a scratch document

For research sessions (quotes, links, figures), keep a blank document or note open next to your sources and paste each item into it as you go. Then copy what you need from there.

• Any OS: Notepad, TextEdit, Apple Notes, OneNote, Google Docs.
• Bonus: you keep a record of where everything came from. Paste the source link under each item.

Method 5: Microsoft Word's Spike (Windows)

Word has a little-known feature that collects multiple pieces of text:

1. Select text and press Ctrl + F3. This cuts it into the Spike, so use Undo (Ctrl + Z) if you want to keep the original in place.
2. Repeat for each piece.
3. Where you want everything, press Ctrl + Shift + F3. All the pieces are pasted at once, in order, and the Spike is emptied.

It works inside Word only, but it's handy for assembling a document from several sections (Microsoft Support: Use the Spike).

Method 6: on iPhone

iOS keeps one item at a time. Your options:

• Paste each item into a note as you go (Method 4).
• Use a Shortcuts automation (Get Clipboard → append to a note) and run it after each copy.
• Use a clipboard manager app. See how to see clipboard history on iPhone.

Method 7: a clipboard manager

A clipboard manager records everything you copy and lets you search it, so "copy six things, then paste six things" becomes routine, and nothing is lost if you get interrupted.

What to look for, depending on your task:

• Searchable history that lasts longer than built-in tools.
• Pins or favorites for items you'll paste many times.
• Paste stack / sequential paste: some apps (for example Paste on Mac, ClipBook, or dedicated tools like Batch Clipboard) can paste a series of copies one after another in the order you copied them. If your task is filling forms field by field, look specifically for this feature.
• Cross-device history if you copy on one device and paste on another.

Popular choices: Ditto and CopyQ on Windows; Maccy, Paste and Raycast on Mac. Clipster runs on Windows, Mac and iPhone and focuses on history, search and Pins: copy your items, open Clipster, search or scroll to each one and paste it. Pins keep the ones you reuse permanently, and the history syncs (end-to-end encrypted) between your devices. Comparisons: best clipboard managers for Windows, for Mac.

Which method for which task?

Windows and macOS facts checked against Microsoft and Apple Support in October 2026. Something out of date? Tell us at contact@clipster-app.com.