PocketryIs your Mac clipboard private? A checklist
Everything you copy passes through the clipboard: passwords, verification codes, addresses, private messages. A clipboard manager saves all of it, so it deserves the same care as a password manager.
Who can see the clipboard
The clipboard is shared by every app on your Mac. Any running app can read what is on it, which is why password managers wipe what they copy after a short time. Recent versions of macOS are adding a permission for apps that read the clipboard in the background, so you can see which ones do.
A checklist for a private clipboard manager
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does the history stay on my Mac? | Cloud sync and cloud AI mean your copies travel to someone else’s servers. Check the privacy policy. |
| Is it encrypted on disk? | An unencrypted history file is readable by anything that can open your folders. Look for encryption with a key held in the Keychain. |
| Does it skip secrets? | Password managers mark what they copy as secret. A good clipboard manager respects that and also spots API keys, tokens and card numbers. |
| Are secrets deleted quickly? | Anything flagged as sensitive should vanish after a short time, not live in your history forever. |
| Can I exclude apps? | Block your banking app or password manager entirely. |
| Can I lock it? | Touch ID or your password before the history opens. |
| Where do the AI features run? | On-device AI keeps your text on your Mac. Cloud AI sends it out. |
What Pocketry does
- History is encrypted on your Mac (AES-256), with the key kept in your login Keychain.
- Items that password managers mark as secret are never saved. Keys, tokens and card numbers it recognizes are hidden and deleted after two minutes.
- You can ignore specific apps and lock the history behind Touch ID or your password.
- AI summaries, clean-up and text recognition use Apple’s on-device frameworks. Nothing is uploaded.
- The optional connector for AI apps is off by default, read-only, and asks you before each app gets access.
The app does contact servers for two things only: checking your license and checking for updates. Your clipboard content never goes with them. Details are in the privacy policy.
Common questions
Can other apps read my Mac clipboard?
Generally yes. Any app that is running can read what is on the clipboard, which is why password managers clear what they copy after a short time. Recent macOS versions are adding a permission prompt for apps that read it in the background.
Do clipboard managers send my data anywhere?
Some sync through their own servers or use cloud AI. Check the privacy policy and whether the AI features run on your device.
Should a clipboard manager save passwords?
It should not keep them. Good ones skip items that password managers mark as secret, and detect common key and token formats.
Is clipboard history stored in plain text?
In many apps, yes. Look for encryption at rest, with the key stored in your Keychain.
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