How to set up a shared clipboard between Android and Windows

Despite the fact that I have always been very skeptical about the benefits of a single ecosystem, migrating from Android to iOS, I personally felt all the benefits of this phenomenon. One of the coolest things Apple has to offer is that the iPhone and Mac can essentially be used as part of a coherent whole. I can receive calls that come to me on my iPhone, on my computer, and I can copy something on one device and paste it on another. Nothing like this has ever happened on Android. But thanks to the efforts of third-party developers, similar functions will appear here as well.

Few people know that Microsoft has several native Android apps. One of them is the SwiftKey keyboard. In my opinion, she is no better and no worse than others. But, one way or another, for myself, I chose Gboard from Google because of the recognition accuracy.

Obviously, millions of other users made the same choice, and it was vital for Microsoft to win people like me over to its side. Therefore, she decided to implement a shared clipboard between Android and Windows using SwiftKey.

How to copy from computer to phone

The innovation has already appeared in the current beta version of SwiftKey, so you can try transferring data between Android and Windows right now. Of course, provided that you have a computer running Windows 10. Android version does not matter. The main thing is to be able to install a keyboard.

• Download the beta version of SwiftKey for Android here;
• In the OS settings, set it as the default keyboard;
• Launch SwiftKey and sign in to your Microsoft account;
• Open keyboard preferences and enable shared clipboard.

Authorization in a Microsoft account is required on both devices – a computer and a smartphone – since the operation of the clipboard itself depends on this. The data that you copy on one device will be transferred to another over the cloud and stored for only one hour, after which it will be automatically deleted.

However, not only the cloud will participate in the data exchange process. It is needed here to determine the devices between which it is necessary to transfer the copied data. The actual transmission will be via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth or both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth immediately for optimal speed.

Why Apple is better than Android

However, authorization alone will not be enough. You must also enable the shared clipboard on your Windows computer. This can be done in the system settings. Find the “Clipboard” section there and enable the synchronization function. You don’t need to install a beta version of Windows 10 or 11 to do this.

Of course, this is clearly not enough to achieve the same functionality that Apple offers its users. Still, the Continuity function, or “Continuity” allows you to do much more:

• Handoff (the ability to start working on one device and continue on another);
• Universal clipboard (the ability to copy not only text, but also photos and videos);
• Cellular Calls (the ability to make and receive calls from iPhone to Mac, iPad or iPod Touch);
• Call forwarding (ability to receive and send SMS from iPhone via Mac, iPad and iPod Touch);
• Instant Hotspot (fast connection to a mobile hotspot without entering a password);
• Auto Unlock (Quickly unlock your Mac using Apple Watch without entering a password or biometrics).

However, the very fact that Microsoft has decided to give Android users a little more Windows collaboration tools is already deserving of respect. After all, before, they did not have such opportunities in principle, but now there will be at least something.