# Troubleshooting overview

**What this tab is for**: fix problems by symptom—complements **Getting started** (first-success) and **Platforms & Permissions** (why constraints exist).

## Where to start

- **Blocked on first success** (install, two devices, minimal text test): use [First-run troubleshooting](/getting-started/first-run-troubleshooting) (step-by-step guide; also listed in this tab).
- **Daily use worked, then one symptom**: use the minimal test below to find the layer, then go to the matching page.

## Use a minimal test to find the layer

The core of troubleshooting is separating three layers: content **not recorded** (capture), recorded but **not transferred** (transfer), and transferred but **won't paste** (paste).

:::steps
:::step{title="Copy a unique short text on the source device"}

```text title="Minimal test text" noLineNumbers
octoclip-triage-001
```

:::
:::step{title="Check the source history"}

Missing → capture layer, go to [Clip history not showing](/advanced/troubleshooting/clip-history-not-showing).

:::
:::step{title="Check the target history"}

Present on source but not target → transfer layer, go to [Sync failed](/advanced/troubleshooting/sync-failed).

:::
:::step{title="Try to paste on the target"}

Visible on target but won't paste → paste layer, go to [Cannot paste](/advanced/troubleshooting/cannot-paste).
:::
:::

## By symptom

| Symptom | Page |
| --- | --- |
| Just-copied content not in local history | [Clip history not showing](/advanced/troubleshooting/clip-history-not-showing) |
| Recorded sometimes; stops after lock or being killed | [Background monitoring unstable](/advanced/troubleshooting/background-monitoring-unstable) |
| Local device records it, another device doesn't receive | [Sync failed](/advanced/troubleshooting/sync-failed) |
| Nearby cannot discover devices | [Device discovery failed](/advanced/troubleshooting/device-discovery-failed) |
| Visible in history but won't paste | [Cannot paste](/advanced/troubleshooting/cannot-paste) |
| Auto paste / monitoring / discovery seems blocked by permissions | [Permission issues](/advanced/troubleshooting/permission-issues) |
| First-time use, cross-device not working yet | [First-run troubleshooting](/getting-started/first-run-troubleshooting) |

## Logs and diagnostics

For how to collect logs and diagnostics before submitting feedback, see [Logging & diagnostics](/advanced/troubleshooting/logging-and-diagnostics).