Spotlight Clipboard History - how to set keyboard shortcut to recent entries?

I have run your question through an undisclosed AI just to see what it would bring up.

Have not Tested their suggestions so can not vouch that it will or will not work

Though, I do find using the suggestion from my colleague @leroydouglas more that adequate for my needs , not wants

Have removed any links as I so not use nor endorse using a third party application to perform this unusual request

Proceed with an abundance of caution 

✅ Solution: Use a Clipboard Manager App

To achieve this, you'll need a tool that:

1. Stores clipboard history
2. Allows assigning custom keyboard shortcuts to specific items in the clipboard history (like paste last entry, or entry #2, etc.)

Here are the best options:

🔹 1. Paste (macOS app)

• Supports clipboard history
• You can open the clipboard history with a shortcut, but doesn’t support assigning specific shortcuts for "paste last entry" out of the box.
• Might not be the best for this exact use case.

🔹 2. CopyClip (Free)

• Very lightweight and free
• Stores clipboard history
• But does not support shortcut-based direct pasting for specific entries

✅ 3. [Alfred + Powerpack] (Best Option)

Alfred is a Spotlight alternative with powerful clipboard features, including assigning hotkeys to paste from clipboard history.

How to set it up:

1. Download Alfred:
2. Buy the Powerpack (clipboard history is a Powerpack feature)
3. Enable Clipboard History in Alfred Preferences
4. Set custom hotkeys (e.g. Cmd+Ctrl+1) to:

• Paste most recent clipboard item
• Or paste the nth item from history

Pro tip: You can create custom Alfred workflows to assign Ctrl+Cmd+1 to "paste clipboard item #1", Ctrl+Cmd+2 for item #2, and so on.

🔹 4. Raycast with Clipboard History Extension

Raycast is a powerful Spotlight replacement that supports clipboard history and some scripting.

• Clipboard history can be accessed quickly
• With scripting or extensions, you might be able to assign a shortcut to paste the last clipboard item directly
• More complex to set up than Alfred

mma-macos wrote:

Thanks for reply! So to summarize what you wrote - this feature is not available / not supported. To achieve what I want I must use 3rd party app. is that correct understanding?

Technically, I only copied and pasted your question into an AI

The AI / LMM is basically a Super Version of Predictive Text which is based upon a Data Set.

It was the AI that wrote the reply

Thusly the Disclaimer at the start of the reply

" I have run your question through an undisclosed AI just to see what it would bring up. "

If we were to take their info and being true

Then, Yes , to your question " To achieve what I want I must use 3rd party app. is that correct understanding? "

Perhaps I need to revise my earlier statement and to put in context from your request " to access couple of last (recent) entries from clipboard without having to use spotlight -> clipboard "

The implications being, there are more than 1 item on the Clipboard History

Under those specific conditions, yes a third party application would be needed

Under the conditions where 1 item is on the Clipboard History

Then, by my colleagues ( @ leroydouglas ) - suggestion 👍

The ⌘ + c then ⌘ + v would be enough without invoking Spotlight

mma-macos wrote:

Using new Tahoe MacOS. I like the access to clipboard history in Spotlight. How can I set keyboard shortcut to recent clipboard entries?

e.g. i want to be able to press for example control+comand+1 to automatically paste last (most recent entry - "first" in the image below), control+command+2 for the second entry, etc.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/4b3ccac4-9139-40cc-8fd0-295ca26462b1

[Edited by Moderator]

?

Spotlght use the clipboard :

or the keyboard short cut Command 4 if using the App.app left side of the Dock by default:

the clipboard seems to present in the order of last used...

For entries simply click on the clipboard icon to register it on the clipboard

if that is not working for you yo be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

mma-macos wrote:

That is not what I asked for. I am asking about posibilitiy to set a keyboard shortcut to access couple of last (recent) entries from clipboard without having to use spotlight -> clipboard and click on the entry. Instead, I want to for example pres CTRL+CMD+1 and it will paste the last entry right away (without accessing Spotlight). Is this possible?

well yes —it sounds like Command V to paste the the last entry —with no other interaction.

That is how it has always worked, no(?)

Command C to copy

Command V to paste are the basics

you can references all the details—Cut, copy, paste, and other common shortcuts

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

AnujAbhiwan wrote:

Go to Spotlight Clipboard History settings, open the Keyboard Shortcuts section, and assign a custom key combo to quickly access your recent entries.

Perhaps if you desire to really help the Author of the question

May consider providing them with more technical details and references as to how this is done ?

Just saying, helping others involves more that just suggestions

Go to Spotlight Clipboard History settings, open the Keyboard Shortcuts section, and assign a custom key combo to quickly access your recent entries.

⌘ + spacebar

Followed by ⌘ +4

refer image below

[Edited by Moderator]