Guide
How Hotstash saves your copies on iPhone
On a Mac, Hotstash saves every copy the moment you make it. iPhone doesn't allow that: iOS lets no app read the clipboard in the background, for privacy. So on iPhone Hotstash saves what you copied whenever you open the app or the Hotstash keyboard, share text to it, or tap Save Clipboard in Control Center. Everything you copy on your Mac arrives on your iPhone automatically.
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Why the iPhone works differently
macOS lets an app you trust watch the clipboard, which is how the Mac app catches every copy. iOS blocks this for every app, including Apple's own, so an app can't quietly collect what you copy from your bank, messages, or password manager. A clipboard app can only read the clipboard while you're using it, and iOS may ask you to allow pasting.
That's a good rule, and it applies to every clipboard manager on iPhone. Here's how Hotstash works within it.
Five ways your copies get in
- Open Hotstash. Whatever you last copied is saved as soon as the app opens.
- Open the Hotstash keyboard. With Full Access on, the keyboard saves your latest copy when it appears, and keeps picking up new copies while it stays open. It then shows them in Recents, ready to paste.
- Share to Hotstash. Select text in any app, tap Share, and choose Hotstash. From Safari it also remembers the page, so Open Source can take you back to it.
- Save Clipboard. Add the Save Clipboard control to Control Center, use it from Shortcuts (Back Tap or the Action button work well), or say "Save clipboard to Hotstash" to Siri. Hotstash opens for a moment and saves what you copied.
- Copy on your Mac. The Mac app saves every copy and syncs it to your iPhone through iCloud, no tapping needed.
Tips
- Make the Hotstash keyboard one swipe away: hold the globe key to switch, and it remembers your last keyboard.
- Set Back Tap (Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap) to the Save Clipboard shortcut to save with two taps on the back of your phone.
- If iOS asks to allow pasting from other apps, choose Allow in Settings → Apps → Hotstash → Paste from Other Apps.
Questions
Why can't iPhone clipboard managers save copies in the background?
iOS doesn't let any app read the clipboard in the background, for privacy. Clipboard managers can only read it while you're using them, for example when you open the app or its keyboard.
How does Hotstash capture what I copy on iPhone?
When you open the app or the Hotstash keyboard, share text to it, or use the Save Clipboard control or shortcut. Copies from your Mac sync automatically.
Does the Mac app have this limitation?
No. On a Mac, Hotstash saves every copy as you make it and syncs it to your iPhone.
Hotstash is an independent app. Other product names belong to their owners and are used only to compare features.