> Documentation index: https://docs.kiste.run/llms.txt, a list of every page in this documentation.

# Clipboard

> Copy and paste text between your computer and a Kiste's desktop, and why copying out needs your keystroke.

The desktop shares text with your computer's clipboard in both directions, up
to one megabyte at a time.

## Paste into the Kiste

Press your normal paste shortcut (Cmd+V on a Mac, Ctrl+V elsewhere) while the
desktop has focus. The viewer hands your clipboard's text to the Kiste first,
then sends the keystroke, so the app in the Kiste pastes what you just copied
on your computer. Browsers give the viewer your clipboard only as part of this
paste keystroke, so there is no permission prompt and nothing is read at any
other time.

## Copy out of the Kiste

Select text in the Kiste and press your copy or cut shortcut (Cmd+C or Cmd+X
on a Mac; Ctrl+C, or Ctrl+Shift+C in a terminal app, elsewhere). The text the
app puts on the Kiste's clipboard in answer arrives on your computer's
clipboard.

**Only a copy you make in the viewer reaches your computer.** Text that a
program in the Kiste puts on its clipboard by itself stays in the Kiste. A
Kiste can therefore never overwrite your computer's clipboard behind your
back, for example to swap a copied address or command.

That also applies to a copy from an app's menu (**Edit → Copy**): it stays in
the Kiste. Press the copy shortcut once more to bring the text over.

## Limits

- Text only. Images and files don't travel through the clipboard; use
  [scp](https://docs.kiste.run/ssh/files.md) or a [published port](https://docs.kiste.run/stream.md).
- One megabyte of text per copy or paste.
- Some browsers refuse to write the clipboard unless the page has focus; the
  viewer then writes it at your next click or keystroke in the viewer.

## Related topics

- [Overview](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop.md)
- [The viewer](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop/viewer.md)
- [Devices and multiple viewers](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop/devices.md)
- [Connection](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop/connection.md)
- Previous: [The viewer](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop/viewer.md)
- Next: [Devices and multiple viewers](https://docs.kiste.run/desktop/devices.md)