While Windows has a built-in clipboard history tool, there are plenty of clipboard managers you can use on your PC. But CopyQ is not only full of useful features — it is also free and open-source. I decided to try out the software when a coworker suggested it to me, and after spending a week using it, I'm impressed by all of its features.

This comes down to CopyQ's customizable options, as well as the ability to keep clipboard history between shutdowns. Here's a look at what I learned using the clipboard manager...

What can CopyQ do?

The clipboard manager provides plenty of features

CopyQ provides a well-rounded clipboard manager that keeps track of your items even after you shut down your PC. I've previously relied on Windows' clipboard history to find items I had previously copied, but it deletes my item history after I switch off my computer.

In terms of the items you can copy to your clipboard, CopyQ stores both screenshots and text. When it comes to text, formatting is also copied for these items. However, you can also adjust the settings in the app to choose how these items are stored.

With CopyQ, you can also select how many clipboard items will be stored in your history (the default is 200). Of course, if you have sensitive data that you've copied (like passwords), you can easily delete it from the app.

For anything you want the app to retain indefinitely, you can use the Pin feature. This also prevents you from accidentally deleting an item, since you need to unpin it to remove it from the app. Besides its rich feature set, the app's strength also lies in the level of customization available to users.

CopyQ is extremely customizable

Include tags, notes, and custom tabs

I was impressed by just how much you can customize CopyQ. Of course, if you want to simply use it as a clipboard history tool, you don't need to dive into all the adjustable settings. However, if you want to use the app as a power user, this customization extends to every aspect of the app, from the theme it uses to the available tags you can add to copied items. You can also set custom tabs where you can drag and drop copied items.

In some ways, CopyQ blurs the line between a clipboard manager and a note-taking app. For example, you can create a tab for screenshots specifically, or links you want to visit later. You can also use tags to sort between personal items and items you use for work. I could even create a tab where I stored links I wanted to visit later.

This high level of customization seems to be a trend in the open-source programs I use. For example, the screenshot tool ShareX also allows you to customize your theme and various tasks and settings. However, it takes some time to get acquainted with the in-depth features of these programs.

If you want to set up some level of automation, CopyQ also has lists of commands you can use to organize your copied content. You can add new automatic commands linked to keyboard shortcuts. There's even a command to ignore text copied from certain windows, like a password manager.

Some of the features and customization will depend on what plugins you have installed. For example, you can enable encryption in CopyQ. However, to utilize this feature, you must first install and run another app. Once enabled, you can encrypt specific items and tabs in the CopyQ app for enhanced security.

I now have a powerful tool to manage my clipboard

But I can take my time to explore it

I've only scratched the surface of everything that CopyQ is capable of, but its customization and advanced features encourage me to explore the app further. For example, I want to try out some of the synchronization features and possibly even some scripting.

But what I enjoy about CopyQ is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. If you simply want a tool that keeps track of your clipboard history between sessions, you can use CopyQ to do only that. There's no learning curve for the simplest features; you simply install the app and can start running and accessing it from your system tray.

Though with its plugins and other advanced features, you can unlock even more functionality in the app. This takes a bit more time, however. But with it, you can take your copying and pasting to the next level.

CopyQ has opened my eyes to robust clipboard management

I never understood the appeal of clipboard managers, mostly getting by with Windows' built-in clipboard tool. But now that I've spent some time with CopyQ, I realize just how much useful functionality tools like this can provide.

At the same time, I am able to add another open-source program to my list of useful software and follow its updates as the community and developers add more features and plugins.