What is an online clipboard?
An online clipboard is a web page that holds something you've copied, so you can paste it on a different device. It does the job of your computer's clipboard, but across the internet.
Why you'd need one
The clipboard on your phone or computer only works on that device. As soon as you need the same text, link or command somewhere else, you have to type it, email it or message it to yourself. An online clipboard skips all of that: put it in on one device, take it out on another.
How 123Paste works
- You paste text, a link or a command into the page.
- 123Paste stores it briefly and gives it a three-word address, such as tiger coffee river. The words are picked at random from a list of short, common, easy-to-say words.
- On any other device, you enter those three words and get exactly what you pasted.
- After 30 minutes it's deleted automatically.
Three words are easier to remember, type and say out loud than a code like x7Kq9P. You can read them across a room or over the phone.
How it differs from similar tools
| Tool | What it's for | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| Online clipboard | Moving something between devices right now | Temporary, no account, no public listing |
| Pastebin-style sites | Publishing text or code to share long-term | Usually permanent, often public and searchable |
| URL shortener | Making a long link short | Hides the real destination; 123Paste always shows it |
| File transfer (WeTransfer etc.) | Sending files | Built for files; an online clipboard is for text and links |
| Messaging apps | Conversations | Need accounts on both devices and keep a history |
What to keep out of an online clipboard
An online clipboard is designed to be quick, not secret. Anyone who knows (or guesses) the address can open a paste until it expires. 123Paste limits guessing and deletes pastes quickly, but the safest approach is simple:
- Don't paste passwords, banking details or private keys.
- Use it for things that would be fine if a stranger saw them: links, commands, notes and addresses.
- For secrets, use a password manager's sharing feature.
Good uses
- Sending a long link from your phone to a computer
- Moving a command from your laptop to a server console or a new PC
- Sharing a link with a whole room by writing three words on the board
- Getting text onto a computer where you can't, or don't want to, sign in
Try it now: paste anything on 123Paste, get three words, and open it on any other device. It's free, there's no account, and pastes delete themselves after 30 minutes.