# Copy & paste

On **this device**: copy text, then confirm it shows up in **clip history**. This is **not** [Cross-device copy](/getting-started/first-cross-device-paste); stay on one device here.

Do this check before two-device flows—it saves a lot of false “sync” debugging.

## Before you start

- **Who this is for:** first install sanity check, or you want local history working before cross-device paste.  
- You have finished [Installation](/getting-started/installation).  
- If the OS prompts for **clipboard, notifications, or background activity**, **allow** them. Names differ by platform—**follow the in-app prompts**.

## Steps

:::steps
:::step{title="Open the app and confirm the clipboard source"}

**Clip history** is usually on by default. Turn on **Sources → Clipboard → General → Enable Source** so copies are written to history. Labels can vary slightly by build—see [Clip source: system clipboard](/features/source/clipboard) for what each toggle means.

:::
:::step{title="Copy the test string"}

Copy the full line below (unique test payload):

```text title="Test string" noLineNumbers
octoclip-first-steps-001
```

:::
:::step{title="Check clip history"}

Return to clip history. If the list does not refresh by itself, **pull to refresh** or leave and re-enter history until you see **octoclip-first-steps-001**, then open the entry and confirm the **content matches the test string**.
:::
:::

## What counts as “passing”

:::tabs
:::tab{label="Desktop"}

After copying, the entry appears in clip history within a short time, and the saved content matches the test string.

:::
:::tab{label="Mobile"}

For this **first check on this page**: after copying, **open the app** and confirm the entry appears in history and the saved content matches the test string.  
Background capture without opening the app depends on device and OS policy. For details, see [Recording expectations](/getting-started/clipboard-record-expectations) and [Clipboard background monitoring](/features/source/background-monitoring/).
:::
:::

## If you do not see the record

Check in order:

1. Under **Sources → Clipboard**, **Enable Source** is on in **General**. If **Ignore Sensitive Content** or **Ignore Temporary Content** is on, confirm they are not excluding your test string (see the toggle table in [Clip source: system clipboard](/features/source/clipboard)).  
2. The system granted this app **clipboard** access (and any other permissions shown in prompts).  
3. No **filter rules** are blocking this test string.

On **Android** (or some restricted setups), if new items only appear after you **open the app** and then copy, that usually relates to **clipboard background monitoring** limits. For “capture while I am not in the app”, start with [Recording expectations](/getting-started/clipboard-record-expectations), then [Clipboard background monitoring](/features/source/background-monitoring/).

If it still fails, continue in [First-run troubleshooting](/getting-started/first-run-troubleshooting).

## Next steps

:::cards{cols=2}
:::card{title="Cross-device" icon="lucide.copy" href="/getting-started/first-cross-device-paste"}
After this check passes, use the shortest path to verify sync and paste across devices.

:::
:::card{title="View and use clip history" icon="lucide.history" href="/features/clip-history/overview"}
Copy from a record, insert into a field, and other day-to-day actions.

:::
:::card{title="Recording expectations" icon="lucide.clipboard-list" href="/getting-started/clipboard-record-expectations"}
Read this when you need to understand “must I open the app first?” or Android capture limits.

:::
:::card{title="Need help?" icon="lucide.triangle-alert" href="/getting-started/first-run-troubleshooting"}
If local verification or history looks wrong, continue with symptom-based checks.
:::
:::

## Still stuck

Start with [First-run troubleshooting](/getting-started/first-run-troubleshooting). If you ask for help, include:

- OS platform and version
- App version
- What failed (for example: test string missing in history / entry content does not match the copy)
- Shortest repro steps (from opening the app through copy and history)
- Whether you already walked through “If you do not see the record” above