Android tablets and phones are increasingly being used for tasks involving research, writing, or content creation. A common feature of these works is that they are usually use the “copy and paste” function.
On several occasions it is the case that you have to copy several texts to paste them in different places, but we are interrupted by line breaks, fields and any other dividing elements. For these cases, the Android operating system has a tool called "clipboard" (or clipboard), and very few people use it; either because they do not know of its existence or forms of use.
It may also be the case that you know which tool the clipboard is, but you can't find it anywhere on your device. Understanding how the one that comes installed by default on Android works is very simple. In this article we will show you where is the clipboard (applicable for practically any Android device) and the different ways to extend its features.
What are clipboards?
The clipboard comes installed on computer and smartphone operating systems; is a component that is responsible for managing the actions of copy, cut and paste when it comes to text, images or other types of information that the user is handling.
The memory used by this component of the operating system is RAM. In the case of computers, the interaction with the clipboard occurs when we press Control + C, Control + V, and Control + X. The types of data that can be temporarily saved in the clipboard of a computer are greater than the options it has a mobile device, where in many cases only text or images are copied.
On phones that don't have a built-in external keyboard, the only way to copy or paste content is by pressing and holding the screen on an image or text field, and it's important that the app in question allows its texts to be extracted to a clipboard instead. If this is not possible, pressing and holding the screen will not skip any copy options.
How to use the clipboard on Android
You probably didn't realize it but clipboard is installed by default in android keyboard which comes from at least version 4.0. In its most basic state, it is used to manage what is copied or pasted on the keyboard, storing the text we want in the device's memory, until another replaces it or the clipboard is cleared.
As in other operating systems, the clipboard allows you to do more than cut, copy or paste: if you copy several texts at a time, you can access the list of all while you are pasting them elsewhere, saving you the time of switching between the applications to copy another text and return.
The procedure is simple: copy a line or paragraph, select another and repeat the same step until you have all the information on the clipboard. Then, in the document or text field where you are going to paste the content, open the keyboard and select the selected part you want to paste from the clipboard list. Depending on the configuration, you will be able to store more or less content in the Android clipboard.
Apps to improve Android clipboard
If you think that the clipboard that comes integrated with your Android version or device can do little, you still have the option of resorting to free apps from the Play Store that extend the basic functionalities of a clipboard and take them to the next level.
Before continuing, I must point out that these operations, being related to the keyboard or the elements that we copy in our day to day, must be careful of malicious applications; A clipboard extension that contains spyware or malware can be very dangerous, so keep an eye out for reviews and descriptions in the Play Store about the app you are going to install.
Clipboard HDM Dev Team
This application allows you have the clipboard as a floating window, with all the texts that are copied. Each text will be a list item that can be edited, repositioned, or deleted as needed. It is also an app with many customization options, such as hide clipboard window after copying something or change the subject or position.
It is available for most Android devices and is very light to install.
Clipboard Actions
The second application that is recommended to install to improve the Android clipboard is Clipboard Actions, because among its advantages is the following:
- Ordered list with all the texts that have been copied over time (the limit of texts that are saved is specified by you). This functionality no longer uses RAM memory but the application cache. The collected texts can be deleted or edited for when they are to be used.
- When you copy a phone number, the clipboard gives you the option to add it directly to your address book.
- There are several actions that are activated when you copy text, located at the top of the screen (when you open the notification bar). Among them is the possibility of sharing the text on a social network or messaging application, creating a QR code (and sharing it) and more. In the event that you have copied some coordinates, you can display the maps application, do a Google search, etc.
- While you are typing, the app can detect a pattern and offer to paste a specific text that you have saved on the clipboard and is the right one for what you want to say.
La Clipboard Actions app It is available from Android 5.0, in the Play Store.
Endnotes
Before the Google keyboard, more extensions were made every year for this component of the clipboard, but lately it is not very common because by default users can carry out all the actions they need (or at least most) without having to download an app of third parties.