Clipboard sharing (copy and paste)

Copy and paste text, files and folders between your computer and the remote computer. Clipboard sharing works in both directions.

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Clipboard sharing lets you paste on one side what you copied on the other. It works in both directions and for both text and files and folders. There's no extra button to press: you use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V as usual.

Requirements

  • The session must be a Remote Control session. The clipboard isn't shared in View Only and File Transfer sessions.
  • Allow clipboard sharing must be turned on in the client on the remote computer, under Settings → General (it is on by default).
  • For files and folders, Allow file transfer must also be turned on in the same tab (it is on by default). If the remote user turns it off, only text is shared.
  • Copying files and folders requires the desktop operator console (Windows or macOS app). Clipboard sharing is limited in the web console in a browser (see below).

From your computer to the remote computer

Text

  1. Copy the text on your own computer (Ctrl+C).
  2. The text is transferred to the remote computer's clipboard automatically.
  3. Click where you want to paste on the remote screen and press Ctrl+V, or right-click and choose Paste.

Files and folders

  1. Select and copy files or folders in File Explorer on your own computer.
  2. The console shows a notification such as 2 file(s) copied to the clipboard — you can paste on the remote computer. Nothing is sent yet at this point.
  3. Open the target folder on the remote computer and press Ctrl+V.
  4. The transfer starts the moment you paste. A progress card appears in the bottom-right corner for files larger than 1 MB.
Files you copied before connecting can also be pasted on the remote computer once the session opens.

From the remote computer to your computer

Text

  1. Copy the text on the remote computer.
  2. The text is placed on your clipboard and the notification Text copied on the remote computer — paste it with Ctrl+V appears.
  3. Paste it anywhere on your own computer with Ctrl+V.

Files and folders

  1. Copy files or folders on the remote computer.
  2. The console shows a notification such as 2 file(s) copied on the remote computer — paste on this computer with Ctrl+V.
  3. Open the target folder in File Explorer on your own computer and press Ctrl+V. The files are transferred the moment you paste.
In the macOS console, a Save to Mac… button appears at the bottom of the screen when files are copied remotely. Click it and choose the folder where the files should be saved.

In the web console in a browser

  • Text copied on the remote computer is placed on your clipboard as far as your browser allows.
  • Content you copy on your own computer isn't transferred to the remote computer.
  • When files are copied remotely, the message Files were copied on the remote computer — the file clipboard only works in the desktop console appears. Move the files with the File transfer window or use the desktop console.

Limits

  • Folders containing a very large number of items can't be transferred through the clipboard. In that case the warning The copied folder is too large — transfer it with the file manager appears; transfer the files with the file manager instead.
  • Very large texts (hundreds of kilobytes) aren't transferred to the clipboard.
  • If the session closes, unfinished pastes are cancelled; no partial files are left behind.

Turn off clipboard sharing (remote user)

The remote user can stop clipboard sharing completely by turning off Allow clipboard sharing on the client's Settings → General tab. While it's off, nothing copied on that computer is sent to the operator, and nothing the operator copies is written to that computer's clipboard.

If the remote user only turns off Allow file transfer, text copy-paste keeps working, but files and folders are no longer offered or pasted in either direction. If you try to paste remotely copied files, the console shows File transfer failed: The remote user has turned off file transfer. For the other client settings, see Client security settings.

When several operators are connected

Text and files copied on the remote computer are offered to every operator connected with Remote Control.

When connecting from your phone

In the mobile console, the Paste button in the session menu pastes text from your phone onto the remote computer. If Copy remote clipboard to phone is turned on, text copied on the remote computer is placed on your phone's clipboard. For details, see Android operator app.

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