Guide · 2026
Copy and Paste Between Android and Windows
You copied a code, an address, or a link on your Android phone and need it on your Windows PC, or the other way round. Here are the three ways that work in 2026, what each one needs, and where each falls short, including where Pasteable stands today.
Where Pasteable stands: The iPhone and Android apps are in App Store and Play Store review and not downloadable yet. Until then your phone uses the web app.
Your options
Three ways that work, and one that has slowed down
Pick by your phone and what else you use. Each card says where the tool falls short.
Microsoft Phone Link
Supported Android phones on Windows
- Price
- Free, built into Windows
- Runs on
- Windows + Android or iPhone
In Phone Link on your PC, turn on Settings → Features → Cross-device copy and paste. Then copy on one and paste on the other.
The catch: Copy and paste works only on Surface Duo and select Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo, and Xiaomi phones, for text and images. Not with iPhone.
Pasteable vs Microsoft Phone LinkKDE Connect
Free and local, on any desktop
- Price
- Free (open source)
- Runs on
- Linux · Windows · macOS · Android · iOS
Install it on both devices and pair them on the same network. On Android, tap “Send clipboard” in its notification; on iPhone, tap “push clipboard”.
The catch: Both devices must be on the same network (or paired over Bluetooth). No images on the shared clipboard, no history, and on iPhone it only goes phone → computer.
Pasteable vs KDE ConnectPasteable
We make this oneAny Android phone, plus Mac and Linux, with a history
- Price
- Free · Pro $6/mo or $60/yr · $80 founder lifetime
- Runs on
- Mac · Windows · Linux · Web (phone apps in store review)
Open pasteableapp.com/app in your phone’s browser, tap “Paste from clipboard”, and the clip syncs to your Mac, Windows, or Linux history, end-to-end encrypted. It takes one tap; it is not automatic.
The catch: On a phone it is one tap in the browser today, not automatic. Free syncs your 25 most recent clips; Pro syncs up to 10,000. No notification mirroring or texting.
Pushbullet
Android + Windows users who want notifications too
- Price
- Free · Pro $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr
- Runs on
- Android · Windows · Firefox
Push a link or note from the Android app to your computer, or turn on universal copy and paste (Pro).
The catch: No iPhone app. The Android app was last updated in August 2025, and universal copy and paste is Pro only.
Pasteable vs Pushbullet
With Pasteable
Android to Windows, step by step
- 1
Install on Windows
Download the free Windows app (Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit), sign in, and turn on sync.
- 2
Open the web app on Android
In Chrome or any browser, go to pasteableapp.com/app, sign in with the same account, and add it to your home screen.
- 3
Tap “Paste from clipboard”
Tap “Paste from clipboard”, or type or drop text, images, and files up to 25 MB. It syncs to your PC, end-to-end encrypted.
- 4
Paste on Windows
Press Ctrl+Shift+V on your PC to open your history and paste the clip.
And back, Windows to Android
- 1
Copy on Windows
Copy as usual. Pasteable keeps text, links, images, and files in your history and syncs your recent clips.
- 2
Grab it on Android
Copy on your computer as usual, then open pasteableapp.com/app on your phone and tap the clip to copy it.
v3.2.22
Pasteable for iPhone and Android is in App Store and Play Store review right now. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the moment it’s live — or use the web app in your phone’s browser today.
When another tool fits better
- Samsung or another listed phone, Windows only: Phone Link is free and automatic, and adds texts and calls.
- Free and local, same Wi-Fi all day: KDE Connect is open source and needs no account.
- You want notifications on the PC: Phone Link or KDE Connect. Pasteable does not mirror notifications.
When Pasteable fits
- Your phone is not on Microsoft’s list, or you switch phones.
- You also use a Mac or Linux machine and want one history on all of them.
- You want to find that address from last Tuesday: full-text and on-device semantic search.
- You want images and files too, end-to-end encrypted.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I copy and paste between Android and Windows without installing anything?+
Almost. Phone Link comes with Windows, but its copy and paste only works on listed phones (Surface Duo and select Samsung, HONOR, OPPO, ASUS, vivo, and Xiaomi models). With Pasteable the phone needs nothing but a browser today: open pasteableapp.com/app. The PC runs the free Windows app.
Why doesn’t my Android phone send the clipboard automatically?+
Since Android 10, apps cannot read the clipboard in the background. That is why tools like KDE Connect ask you to tap “Send clipboard”. Phone Link gets around it only on the phones Microsoft lists.
Which option is best for a Samsung phone?+
If your Samsung runs One UI 2.1 or later and you only use Windows, try Phone Link first: it is free, and once you turn it on you copy on one and paste on the other. Use Pasteable if you also want a searchable history, images and files, or your Mac and Linux machines in the loop.
Does it work when my phone is on mobile data?+
Pasteable works over the internet, so yes. KDE Connect needs both devices on the same network (or paired over Bluetooth).
Is it free?+
Phone Link and KDE Connect are free. Pasteable is free to start with 25 end-to-end encrypted synced clips; Pro syncs up to 10,000 clips for $6/month, $60/year, or $80 once (founder price for the first 100 lifetime buyers).
Keep reading
Comparisons and guides
Best clipboard manager
An honest 2026 ranking of the tools people actually use
Clipboard sync
How to sync your clipboard across Mac, Windows, and Linux
Universal clipboard
Apple Universal Clipboard, but beyond Apple
Copy paste between devices
Copy on one device, paste on another
Windows ↔ iPhone clipboard
Copy between a Windows PC and an iPhone
Send text from phone to computer
The quickest route for every phone and computer pair
Pushbullet alternatives
Honest options for text and links between phone and computer
Get your phone’s clipboard on your PC
Free on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with 25 end-to-end encrypted synced clips. Your Android phone joins through the web app today.
v3.2.22
Pasteable for iPhone and Android is in App Store and Play Store review right now. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the moment it’s live — or use the web app in your phone’s browser today.
On your phone? Open the web app