How to Disable Windows Clipboard Cloud Sync

To disable clipboard sync in Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > System > Clipboard and turn Clipboard history across your devices off. On Windows 10 the same toggle is called Sync across devices. Your local clipboard history (Win+V) keeps working; only the upload to your other devices stops.

If sync was on for a while, also clear what was already synced and check the other features that can share your clipboard, such as Phone Link.

Turn off clipboard sync in Windows 11

1. Press Windows logo key + I to open Settings, or select Start > Settings.
2. Go to System > Clipboard. You can also press Windows logo key + R, type ms-settings:clipboard and press Enter.
3. Set Clipboard history across your devices to Off.
4. Leave Clipboard history on if you still want Win+V on this PC. The two toggles are independent.

New copies from that PC stop syncing. Repeat on every PC signed in to the same Microsoft or work account, because each device has its own toggle.

Turn off clipboard sync in Windows 10

1. Go to Start > Settings > System > Clipboard.
2. Set Sync across devices to Off.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. If an old Windows 10 PC is still signed in to your account, turn sync off there too, or sign it out.

Remove items that were already synced

Turning sync off doesn't delete what was uploaded earlier. To clean up:

1. On each PC, open Win+V and unpin anything sensitive. Pinned items survive a clear.
2. Go to Settings > System > Clipboard and select Clear next to Clear clipboard data. Microsoft says this clears everything except pinned items, on the device and in the cloud.
3. To remove a single item instead, press Win+V, select See more (...) next to it, and choose Delete.
4. If a password or code was copied while automatic sync was on, change it, and use your password manager's autofill rather than copying next time.

How to clear clipboard history on Windows 11 covers the clearing options in full.

Check that sync is really off

The reliable test needs a second PC signed in to the same account:

1. On the first PC, copy a harmless phrase you've never copied before, such as nosync-check-7.
2. On the second PC, press Win+V.
3. The phrase shouldn't appear, even after a minute or two.

If it does appear, the toggle is still on somewhere. Check both PCs again. Does Windows clipboard sync upload what you copy? explains exactly what automatic and manual sync send.

If the toggle is grayed out or missing

On a work or school PC, your organisation may have turned sync off with the Allow Clipboard synchronization across devices policy (AllowCrossDeviceClipboard). Microsoft's documentation says that when this policy is disabled, clipboard contents can't be shared to other devices. There's no supported way to change it yourself. Clipboard history grayed out by organization explains what you can do.

On a PC signed in with a local account, there's no Microsoft account to sync through, so clipboard sync isn't available anyway.

For admins, the same policy is in the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc, not included in Windows Home) under Computer Configuration, in System > OS Policies. Set Allow Clipboard synchronization across devices to Disabled. MDM tools use the AllowCrossDeviceClipboard setting in the Privacy policy CSP. How IT admins control clipboard history with Group Policy covers the related clipboard policies. Firms with confidentiality duties, such as law firms choosing a clipboard manager, usually want this policy set before anyone installs one.

Other features that can still share your clipboard

The Windows toggle controls only Windows' own cloud clipboard. Check these separately:

Phone Link clipboard access: a privacy checklist walks through the Phone Link side.

Turn off clipboard history too (optional)

If you don't want Windows to keep any history, set Clipboard history to Off on the same page. Win+V then shows only a prompt to turn history on, and copy and paste still work normally with the single current item. How to turn clipboard history off completely covers this.

FAQ

Does turning off clipboard sync turn off Win+V?

No. Clipboard history and Clipboard history across your devices are separate toggles. You can keep local history and stop syncing.

Do I need to turn sync off on every PC?

Yes. Each device has its own toggle, and any PC with sync still on can keep uploading the text you copy there.

Will turning off sync delete my pinned items?

No. Pinned items stay on each PC until you unpin or delete them, and Clear clipboard data doesn't remove them either.

Related reading

• Does Windows Clipboard Sync Upload What You Copy?
• How to Disable Clipboard History in Windows 11
• Clipboard History Grayed Out by Your Organization: What to Do
• Phone Link Clipboard Access: A Privacy Checklist

Sources

• Using the clipboard (Microsoft Support) — sync toggle names, Clear clipboard data, deleting items, pinned items.
• Privacy Policy CSP: AllowCrossDeviceClipboard (Microsoft Learn) — the Group Policy name, location and effect.
• Seamlessly transfer content between your devices (Microsoft Support) — Phone Link's cross-device copy and paste setting.
• Copy and paste text between SwiftKey and Windows (Microsoft Support) — where SwiftKey's clipboard sync is switched on.
• Windows 10 end of support (Microsoft) — October 14, 2025.

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