Maccy
Maccy Image and File Clipboard Support: What Gets Saved, What Doesn’t
Quick answer: Maccy saves text, images, and files from your Mac’s clipboard, and you control each type with a checkbox in Settings → Storage. Images are stored as image data and shown as thumbnails. Files are stored as references to their location on disk, not as copies, so they stop working if the original is moved or deleted.
TL;DR
- Images: stored as actual data, previewed in the history list and on hover.
- Files: stored as paths (references), not duplicated contents.
- Toggle each type under Maccy → Settings → Storage .
- Privacy: everything stays local on your Mac, and you can exclude apps or clipboard types.
The scenario that makes this matter
You screenshot a bug with ⌘⌃⇧4, paste it into a ticket, then copy a PDF in Finder and paste it into an email. Ten minutes later you need that screenshot again. If your clipboard manager only handled text, it is gone. Maccy App keeps it, as long as you have images enabled and the history limit hasn’t pushed it out.
What types of clipboard content does Maccy support?
Maccy Mac is built around macOS’s pasteboard, which holds several representations of one copy at once (plain text, rich text, an image, a file URL). Maccy Clipboard reads these and stores the ones you’ve allowed.
| Content | How Maccy stores it | What you see in the list | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text (plain/rich) | As text, with formatting where available | Text snippet | Paste without formatting is a separate action |
| Images (screenshots, copied images) | As image data | Thumbnail, larger preview on hover | Large images increase storage use |
| Files (copied in Finder) | As a file reference (path/URL) | File name | Breaks if the file is moved, renamed, or deleted |
How do I turn image and file support on or off?
- Click the Maccy icon in the menu bar and open Settings (or press ⌘, with the popup open).
- Go to the Storage section.
- Tick or untick the content types you want saved: files, images, text .
Many people disable images when they mostly copy passwords or short snippets, and it keeps the history list clean. If you routinely work with screenshots, leave it on.
How does Maccy handle images?
When you copy an image (a screenshot sent to the clipboard, « Copy Image » in a browser, or a selection from Preview), Maccy stores the image data itself. Pasting it back gives you the original image in apps that accept images, such as Messages, Slack, Notes, and Pages.
Screenshots
macOS saves screenshots to a file by default. Only the shortcut variant that includes ⌃ (⌘⌃⇧3 or 4) puts the capture on the clipboard, and that is the one Maccy can see. If you took a standard screenshot, you copied a file to disk, not to the clipboard, so nothing appears in Maccy.
Storage cost
Text is tiny. A retina screenshot is not, and a long history full of them can grow noticeably. Lower the history size in Settings if the history database grows larger than you want .
How does Maccy handle files?
When you copy a file in Finder (⌘C), the clipboard doesn’t contain the file’s bytes. It holds a reference to where the file lives. Maccy mirrors that: it saves the reference and shows the name.
Practical consequences:
- Move or rename the file and the old history entry will likely no longer paste correctly.
- Copied files on an unmounted drive or network share won’t paste until the volume is available again.
- Multiple files copied together are handled as a group; test with your own workflow, since behavior in the history list can differ by version .
If you need a durable copy, a clipboard manager is the wrong tool. Put the file somewhere stable and treat the history as short-term memory.
Does the image or file go to the cloud?
No. Maccy is local-first and open source, and history is stored on your Mac. Nothing is synced by Maccy itself. One caveat: macOS’s own Universal Clipboard (Handoff) can deliver content copied on an iPhone or iPad to your Mac, and Maccy will record it like any other clipboard change. That transfer is Apple’s feature, not Maccy’s.
How do I keep sensitive images and files out of history?
Screenshots of dashboards, invoices, or private chats are the kind of thing you don’t want sitting in history. Options:
- Disable the image type in Storage if you rarely need it.
- Ignore specific apps (for example a password manager or banking tool) in the Ignore settings.
- Ignore specific pasteboard types. Apps that flag content as concealed or transient are skipped by default in recent versions .
- Clear history from the menu or its shortcut when you finish a sensitive task.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots never show up | Screenshot saved to disk, not clipboard | Use the clipboard variant with ⌃, or check the images setting |
| Image is in history but won’t paste | Target app doesn’t accept images | Try an app that does, such as Notes or Preview |
| File entry pastes nothing or errors | Original file was moved or deleted | Re-copy the file from its current location |
| History feels bloated | Many large images stored | Reduce history size or disable images |
| Copy from a specific app is missing | App is in the ignore list | Remove it from the ignore settings |
When Maccy isn’t enough
Maccy is deliberately minimal: fast to open, searchable, keyboard-first. It isn’t an asset manager. If you want persistent image libraries, tagging, or sync across devices, you’ll want a heavier tool. For recent images and file references you will paste again within the hour, it is hard to beat for simplicity and privacy.
Bottom line
Images are saved as images, files are saved as pointers, and each type can be switched off. Decide which you actually need, set the history size to match, and exclude anything sensitive. Which do you reach for more often: screenshots or copied files? That answer should decide how you configure Storage.
Download Maccy or find it on GitHub.
FAQ
Does Maccy save copied images?
Yes. Maccy stores images copied to the clipboard and shows them in the history list, provided image storage is enabled in Settings → Storage.
Does Maccy save copied files?
Yes, as references. It remembers where the file is, not the file contents, so entries break if the file moves or is deleted.
Why aren’t my screenshots in Maccy?
Standard macOS screenshots save to disk. Only the clipboard shortcut (add ⌃ to the screenshot shortcut) sends the image to the clipboard.
Can I stop Maccy from saving images?
Yes. Untick the image option in Settings → Storage, or ignore specific apps.
Is my clipboard history sent anywhere?
No. Maccy is local-first and open source. History stays on your Mac.