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    Use this page for the most common first-run failures: you cannot see synced clips, only one direction works, or history shows a clip but paste fails. Follow the flow in order to reduce guesswork.

    If you are still on one device checking clip history and have not tried cross-device yet, start with Copy & paste. This page assumes you are already validating between two devices.

    When a cross-device clip “never shows up,” first check the source device’s clip history for that copy: if it never appears there, suspect recording/capture before you assume “sync is broken.” Mobile OS rules around foreground/background reads matter; desktop cases are covered in the platform tabs below. For a shorter primer, read Recording expectations; if you are actively failing, start troubleshooting from the sections below.

    Who this is for

    • You finished onboarding cross-device or sync checks, but the outcome is wrong
    • You are unsure whether to start with network/sync setup or single-device permissions/background

    Identify your symptom first

    SymptomCheck first
    Devices cannot see each other’s new clipsSame sync method on both sides, online state, network blocking; on Android/iOS use the matching tab below for “never wrote history”; on desktop start with network/app running state, then macOS permissions if relevant
    Only one direction failsPermissions and background state on failing source device
    History has records but paste failsTarget app paste behavior and system paste restrictions
    Sync delay is obviousNetwork quality, background limits, power-saving mode
    Do not mix sync paths

    If one device uses Nearby Sync and the other uses Cloud Sync, you often see “nothing shows up” or highly unstable results. Align both sides first, then run Ordered checks below.

    By platform: background monitoring vs “sync looks broken”

    When a new clip does not show up cross-device, first confirm whether the source device actually wrote that copy to clip history. If history never gets an entry, the other side has nothing to sync—this is not always “wrong sync mode”. Pick your platform tab below. For full detail, see Clipboard background monitoring.

    With a normal install, clipboard background capture is usually on by default, so first-run troubleshooting rarely hinges on “must open the app’s main window before copies land in history.” If the source is desktop but it still feels unsynced, keep following the ordered checks for sync method, network, and online state.

    On macOS, if auto-paste, Input Monitoring, or privacy prompts are involved, also check macOS permissions and Platform differences. For the full model, read Clipboard background monitoring.

    Ordered checks

    1

    Confirm both devices are running

    Make sure the app opens on both sides and clip history is accessible.

    2

    Confirm same sync method on both devices

    Use Nearby Sync on both devices, or Cloud Sync on both devices. Do not mix paths.

    3

    Run a minimal text test

    Copy on device A:

    Minimal test texttext
    octoclip-troubleshooting-001

    Then check if the same text appears in device B history.

    4

    Rule out network and OS interception

    Temporarily disable VPN/proxy for retest, and check whether OS applies background or power restrictions.

    5

    Run reverse-direction test

    Copy a new text on device B and check device A. Confirm whether issue is one-way or two-way.

    Common fixes

    If the ordered checks already narrowed the area, open the matching item below for extra actions (these complement the steps above; they do not replace them).

    Validate after fix

    • Copy octoclip-troubleshooting-001 on device A.
    • Confirm it appears in device B history.
    • Paste successfully on device B.
    • Reverse direction also succeeds (device B -> device A).

    Next steps

    Copy & paste

    If you suspect one device never writes history, rerun the shortest local check.

    Cross-device

    Return to the first cross-device page and repeat the shortest end-to-end check.

    Clipboard background monitoring (platform topic)

    Understand “nothing records until I open the app” vs sync issues.

    Sync overview

    If things stay unstable, confirm the sync method fits your scenario (if the overview is short, follow what your app actually supports).

    FAQ

    For scattered daily issues (shortcuts, resource usage, history not showing), skim entries for the shortest path; keep this page as the main flow for first two-device sync/paste problems.

    Still stuck

    Please include:

    • Platform and OS version on both devices
    • App version on both devices
    • Sync method (Nearby Sync / Cloud Sync)
    • Network context (same Wi-Fi / different networks / VPN / proxy / firewall / corporate network)
    • Failure direction (A -> B / B -> A / both directions)
    • Content type (plain text / image / link / files / other)
    • Windows / macOS: whether the app stays running; firewall/security tools; macOS whether you checked permissions
    • Android: whether clipboard background monitoring is configured; whether “open app then copy” changes behavior
    • iOS: whether you used Share / Shortcuts as an alternative path
    • Minimal reproduction steps
    • Expected result and actual result
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