ClipShelf

ClipShelf is a local-only macOS clipboard manager MVP inspired by the workflow of apps like Paste, without copying their branding or assets.

Features

• Captures copied text and images.
• Opens a bottom launcher with Shift + Command + V.
• Searches clipboard history.
• Stores clips in categories.
• Pins and deletes clips.
• Pastes the selected item back into the frontmost app when Accessibility permission is granted.
• Persists data locally in ~/Library/Application Support/ClipShelf.

Download

Grab the latest build from the Releases page:

1. Download ClipShelf.zip and unzip it.
2. Drag ClipShelf.app into /Applications.
3. First launch: right-click the app and choose Open (the build is not notarized, so macOS shows a warning once). On newer macOS versions you may instead need to approve it under System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Open Anyway.
4. Grant Accessibility permission (see below) so paste-back works.

New releases are published automatically when a v* tag is pushed (see .github/workflows/release.yml).

Build

swift build

Create a Mac app bundle

sh Scripts/package-app.sh

The app bundle is created at:

.build/ClipShelf.app

Open the app from Finder or run:

open .build/ClipShelf.app

Permission

For automatic paste-back, macOS must allow ClipShelf in:

System Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Accessibility

Without that permission, selecting a clip still places it on the clipboard, but macOS will block the simulated Command + V.