How to clear clipboard data with a shortcut on Windows 10

On Windows 10, the clipboard is a handy feature that has always been around, and it's been designed to store data (such as text, images, video, files, etc.) temporarily for copy-and-paste operations.

When using the feature, only one piece of data can exist in the clipboard, once you copy (or cut) something else, the data is replaced with the new content. However, Windows 10 also includes some improvements to track the text and images you copy to the clipboard along with settings and an interface to access the history.

Since the clipboard can store virtually any type of data, if you share your computer with other people, you may want to make sure that the storage is clear as you step out to protect any private information you might have copied to the clipboard.

This guide will walk you through the steps to clear the data currently stored in the clipboard using a shortcut on Windows 10.

How to clear data of legacy clipboard on Windows 10

To clear the data stored in the clipboard on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to a folder where to store the shortcut. For example, the Desktop or Documents folder.
3. Click the Home tab.
4. Click the New item menu and select the Shortcut option.

• Quick tip: You can also right-click an empty space inside the folder and select the New menu and choose the Shortcut option.

5. Copy and paste the following command in the location field: %windir%\System32\cmd.exe /c "echo off | clip"

• Quick tip: If you use a public machine, you can run the command in Command Prompt before you leave the device to clear the clipboard without the need to create a shortcut.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Specify a name for the shortcut. For example, ClipboardCleaner.

8. Click the Finish button.
9. (Optional) Right-click the shortcut and select the Properties option.
10. Click the Shortcut tab.
11. Click the Change Icon button.

12. Copy and paste the following path and press Enter: %windir%\system32\imageres.dll
13. Select an icon you want for the shortcut.

14. Click the OK button.
15. Click the Apply button.
16. (Optional) In the "Shortcut key" field, you can record a keyboard shortcut to clear clipboard content using a keystroke combo. For example, "Ctrl + Shift + C."
17. Click the Apply button.
18. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the data in the clipboard will be deleted. Also, you can grab and drop to pin the shortcut to the taskbar for quicker access.

The instructions outlined above will only clear the content inside the clipboard. If you use the modern clipboard experience ("Windows key +V"), you also need to remove the history in a separate location.

How to clear data of modern clipboard on Windows 10

The above instructions are to clear the data from the legacy clipboard. If you want to delete the history of the modern clipboard experience on Windows 10, you can complete this task in several ways.

Delete clipboard history with shortcut

To delete clipboard history with a shortcut, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Notepad and click the top result to open the app.
3. Copy and paste the following commands: 

• %windir%\System32\cmd.exe /c "echo off | clip"
• wmic service where "name like '%%cbdhsvc_%%'" call stopservice
• wmic service where "name like '%%cbdhsvc_%%'" call startservice

4. Click the File menu and select the Save As option.
5. In the File name field, specify a name with the .bat extension. For example, ClipboardClenner.bat.

6. Click the Save button.
7. Right-click the batch file and select the Create shortcut option.

8. Right-click the newly created shortcut and select the Properties option.
9. Click the Shortcut tab.
10. Click the Change Icon button.

11. Copy and paste the following path and press Enter: %windir%\system32\imageres.dll
12. Select an icon you want for the shortcut.

13. Click the OK button.
14. Click the Apply button.
15. (Optional) In the "Shortcut key" field, you can record a keyboard shortcut to clear clipboard content using a keystroke combo. For example, "Ctrl + Shift + M."
16. Click the Advanced button.

17. Check the Run as administrator option.

18. Click the OK button.
19. Click the Apply button.
20. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, you can double-click the shortcut file or invoke the keyboard shortcut to clear the clipboard history on Windows 10.

The only caveat with this method is that you'll need to confirm the elevation of the shortcut to run the batch script correctly. However, if you prefer, you can delete the history using the clipboard interface or Settings app with the following steps.

Delete clipboard history using shortcut

To delete one or multiple clipboard history entries, use these steps:

1. Use the "Windows key + V" keyboard shortcut.

• Quick tip: If no entry is listed, and you see a "Turn on" button, you're not using the modern experience of the clipboard.

2. Click the menu (three-dotted) button from the top-right.
3. Select the Delete option to clear a specific entry.

4. Select the Clear all to clear all the history.

After you complete the steps, the clipboard history will be deleted, depending on your configuration.

Delete clipboard history using Settings

To clear the clipboard history on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Clipboard.
4. Under the "Clear clipboard data" section, click the Clear button.

Once you complete the steps, the action will clear the data in the legacy experience and the history of the modern clipboard experience.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know