Clipboard history: find and reuse

Start recording clipboard history

1. Install and start Hangrail. Check that clipboard collection is active and the source app is not on the exclusion list.
2. Copy some ordinary text in another app, then copy another piece of text or an image.
3. Open Hangrail with the default shortcut: ⇧⌘V on Mac or Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows. If you changed the shortcut, use your own combination.
4. Find the content you just copied among the cards. Clothesline, Balloons and Bottom Cards share the same history.

Hangrail can only keep content it actually collects. It cannot recover clipboard content overwritten before installation, copies made while collection was paused, or content excluded by your collection rules.

Find content by keyword or source

With the shelf open, press ⌘F on Mac or Ctrl+F on Windows. Search for words you remember to match text, titles, file paths and image text that has already been recognized.

If you remember the source app, click @ in the search field to select it, then enter your keywords. Source filters work with the current group and content type; check these conditions if nothing appears.

“Filter” shows matching cards only. “Locate” keeps the surrounding history within the current scope, so you can use context to find content. Move between matches with ⌘G and ⇧⌘G on Mac, or Ctrl+G and Ctrl+Shift+G on Windows.

Words in screenshots can help too. See the screenshot text search tutorial.

Put saved content back into your work

1. Click the intended input position in the target app, then open Hangrail.
2. Find the card and double-click it to copy and attempt to paste back into the original app. This does not send messages for you.
3. If it does not paste automatically, return to the input position and press ⌘V on Mac or Ctrl+V on Windows.

Automatic pasting on Mac requires Accessibility permission. A closed target app, a change in focus or restrictions in the receiving app can also affect pasting. Check that the content actually appeared before continuing.

To deliver several files to an email or folder, follow the file transfer tutorial to collect, preview and drag them out together.

Retention, pausing and privacy

In Settings → “收集与中转” (Collection & transfer), you can pause collection or exclude apps. Resuming does not collect old clipboard content from the pause, and manual reading follows the same app exclusions.

Retention periods and manual cleanup are in “权限与数据” (Permissions & data) on Mac and “收集与中转” (Collection & transfer) on Windows. Pin important cards. Before clearing history or changing computers, follow the backup and restore tutorial to save what you need.

Hangrail respects common sensitive and temporary content flags, but cannot reliably recognize passwords in ordinary text. Before copying passwords, keys or other private content, pause collection or exclude the app. See the Privacy Policy.