I'm having some issues with universal clipboard between my Mac and my iPhone. It works when I copy something on my Mac and paste it on my iPhone, but doesn't work the other way round. Everything else seems to work fine, e.g. handoff for apps from iPhone to Mac works.
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.6
I'm experiencing the same intermittent Universal Clipboard issue between my iPhone and MacBook, both running the latest available versions of iOS and macOS.
In my case, the problem is specifically iPhone → Mac. Copying from Mac → iPhone works correctly, and Safari Handoff also works. The issue affects all apps, not just one particular application.
I investigated this using macOS logs from sharingd and useractivityd.
When Universal Clipboard was failing:
When Universal Clipboard was working:
Temporary fix that worked for me:
Running the following command in macOS Terminal immediately restored iPhone → Mac clipboard sharing:
killall sharingd useractivityd
macOS normally restarts these background services automatically. This can briefly interrupt Continuity features.
This suggests a possible issue with the state of the macOS Continuity services, although I haven't confirmed the root cause or identified which process is responsible.
I've also noticed that toggling Bluetooth on the iPhone can sometimes temporarily restore the functionality.
Has anyone found a permanent fix?
Restarting these services works as a workaround, but I'd really like to understand why Universal Clipboard stops detecting the iPhone's clipboard in the first place.
I'm experiencing the same intermittent Universal Clipboard issue between my iPhone and MacBook, both running the latest available versions of iOS and macOS.
In my case, the problem is specifically iPhone → Mac. Copying from Mac → iPhone works correctly, and Safari Handoff also works. The issue affects all apps, not just one particular application.
I investigated this using macOS logs from sharingd and useractivityd.
When Universal Clipboard was failing:
When Universal Clipboard was working:
Temporary fix that worked for me:
Running the following command in macOS Terminal immediately restored iPhone → Mac clipboard sharing:
killall sharingd useractivityd
macOS normally restarts these background services automatically. This can briefly interrupt Continuity features.
This suggests a possible issue with the state of the macOS Continuity services, although I haven't confirmed the root cause or identified which process is responsible.
I've also noticed that toggling Bluetooth on the iPhone can sometimes temporarily restore the functionality.
Has anyone found a permanent fix?
Restarting these services works as a workaround, but I'd really like to understand why Universal Clipboard stops detecting the iPhone's clipboard in the first place.
I encountered a similar issue on macOS 26.6.2 and iOS 26.6 and found a workaround.
Initially, Universal Clipboard worked from Mac → iPhone, but not from iPhone → Mac. Local copy/paste on the iPhone and app Handoff from iPhone → Mac still worked. Force-restarting the iPhone and toggling Handoff did not resolve it.
During testing, iPhone → Mac started working again, but Mac → iPhone then failed—even with freshly typed plain text copied from TextEdit and pasted into Notes.
What worked for me was running this in Terminal on the Mac:
killall -TERM useractivityd
This restarts the user activity service; it does not delete files or require signing out of your Apple Account.
Afterward, I typed fresh text in TextEdit, copied it, and immediately pasted it into Notes on the iPhone successfully. No five-second delay was necessary.
This suggests a stuck state involving useractivityd, but it does not establish the underlying cause. Treat this as a workaround: I have not yet confirmed whether the issue returns or whether both directions remain reliable over time.
If you try it, copy fresh text after restarting the service and test both directions.
I had the same one-way failure with an iPhone 15 on iOS 26.6.2: Mac → iPhone worked, but iPhone → Mac did not. Both used the same Apple Account; AirDrop and Safari Handoff worked. Basic toggles/restarts and restarting pboard, sharingd, and useractivityd with killall did not fix it.
This sequence on the Mac worked in my case. First, if Desktop already contains useractivityd-backup.plist, rename that existing backup so it is not overwritten. Then run these three commands in Terminal, one at a time:
mv ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ~/Desktop/useractivityd-backup.plist 2>/dev/null
killall useractivityd
defaults write com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd ClipboardSharingEnabled -bool true
Keep the plist backup on Desktop, then restart the Mac. The first command hides errors, so check that the backup exists rather than assuming silence means it succeeded.
The extra step mattered: iPhone → Mac still initially failed after restarting. I copied and pasted something from Mac → iPhone once, then copied fresh text (ABC123) from iPhone → Mac. That worked. The reverse transfer appeared to re-prime Universal Clipboard, although I cannot establish why or which step was decisive.
This is a user-reported workaround from one successful case, not an Apple-official fix or a guaranteed solution.
The fact that Mac >> iPhone works but iPhone >> Mac does not means Universal Clipboard is functioning in at least one direction.
I would start with Apple’s documented requirements: make sure both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account, have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Handoff enabled, and are within 10 metres ( 3 feet ) of each other.
The copied content is only available on the other device for a short time. (Apple Support)
Then restart both the iPhone and Mac and test again.
Apple specifically recommends restarting the devices when Universal Clipboard is not working.
Also install any available macOS or iOS updates. (Apple Support)
Get the latest software updates from Apple
On the Mac, Handoff is under System Settings >> General >> AirDrop & Handoff.
On the iPhone, it is under Settings >> General >> AirPlay & Continuity >> Handoff. (Apple Support)
For a clean test, copy a short piece of text from Notes on the iPhone and immediately paste it into TextEdit on the Mac.
If that still fails while Mac >> iPhone continues to work, the iPhone model and iOS version would be useful for further diagnosis.
Apple's relevant documentation:
Use Universal Clipboard to copy and paste between your Apple devices
Copy and paste between your Mac and other Apple devices
Use Handoff to continue tasks on your other Apple devices
Given that you have already confirmed the Apple Account, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Handoff, and proximity—and that Handoff itself works—the remaining troubleshooting can be kept fairly short.
Apple’s current guidance is to install any available software updates and restart both devices.
Since you are on macOS 26.6, check System Settings >> General >> Software Update and install anything offered.
The latest version of macOS is 26.6.2. Learn how to update the software on your Mac and how to allow important background updates.
Apple’s official Universal Clipboard troubleshooting is here: Apple Support — Universal Clipboard.
After updating, restart both the iPhone and Mac and test again using a simple piece of text in Notes.
Copy it on the iPhone and immediately press ⌘V on the Mac. Apple notes that Universal Clipboard content is available only briefly, until something else is copied. (Apple Support)
Something not mentioned earlier
If you use a VPN on either device, temporarily disable it and test again.
Apple specifically notes that a VPN configuration that prevents local networking can interfere with Continuity features. (Apple Support)
You can also briefly turn Handoff off and back on on the iPhone under Settings >> General >> AirPlay & Continuity >> Handoff, then restart the iPhone.
Apple confirms that Handoff is required for Universal Clipboard. (Apple Support)
Since your Mac >> iPhone direction works while iPhone >> Mac does not, and you are already eliminated the normal configuration issues, I would avoid repeatedly changing your Apple Account, Wi-Fi, or other settings unless the above steps change the behaviour.
For reference, Apple’s Mac-specific instructions are also available here: Apple Support — Copy and paste between your Mac and other Apple devices.
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Same issue. Running the command in Terminal doesn't work for me either. The only thing that works is restarting my iPhone. 😔
It's so frustrating that we have to restart our iPhones almost every day.
Change setting to everyone and compare your results:
A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies
Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.
Get Support Choose a product and find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees who deal will these types of issues .
Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue
I already tried that multiple times. The issue first occurred yesterday and none of the above fixes helped, and I am definitely signed in on the right account and everything else that depends on Handoff works perfectly. My phone is an 11 Pro, and the iOS version is 26.6.1. The phone shouldn't be an issue since I never had any problems with universal clipboard.
What kind of data are you copying to the Universal Clipboard?
My Universal Clipboard can no longer transfer Wordle results from the iPhone with iOS26 to the Mac, like it could before, but plain text is no problem:
For example, this text will not be copied to the universal clipboard:
"Wordle 1.889 3/6*
🟨🟨🟨⬛⬛
⬛🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
"
Everything has been updated. I don't often use a VPN so it's usually disabled, but thanks for the info.
Most of the fixes I've tried are unreliable and don't always work: restarting either or both devices, turning Handoff off and on, disconnecting and reconnecting to the same Wi-Fi network, or even using these terminal commands:
defaults delete ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnabled
defaults write ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.coreservices.useractivityd.plist ClipboardSharingEnabled 1
Might there be any reasons for the devices to not properly recognise each other momentarily, e.g. unstable Wi-Fi or anything along those lines?
Interesting - mine still does from iPhone 16 Pro Max (iOS 26.6) to Mac M4 (Tahoe 26.6.2). This was pasted from the Universal Clipboard:
Wordle 1,896 4/6
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟨🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
However, I have noticed that Universal Clipboard sometimes plays up when there are three devices in close proximity, the Mac M4, the iPhone and a MacBook Pro. The latter has an obsolete OS Ventura, which can't be upgraded.
It's already been set to 'Everyone'.
I'm copying plain text.
Universal Clipboard not working from iPhone to Mac
