It appears Google is once again drawing inspiration from Apple, as recent reports indicate the company behind Android and the Pixel 10 lineup is developing its own version of Universal Clipboard—a feature Apple introduced to its devices several years ago. Despite how convenient Apple’s Universal Clipboard is—it allows users to seamlessly copy content on an iPhone and paste it on a MacBook, and vice versa—Android has yet to offer a straightforward equivalent.
While Microsoft’s SwiftKey keyboard offers a similar capability, it only works if SwiftKey is set as the default keyboard app. According to reports from Android Authority, Google is reportedly working on an official Universal Clipboard feature that might debut as early as Android 17.
This is not the first time Google has taken cues from Apple, nor will it be the last. The company recently enhanced Quick Share to work with Apple’s AirDrop, further bridging the gap between Android and iOS ecosystems.
Why Universal Clipboard Matters
The significance of this feature lies in its potential to bring tighter integration between Android devices and Chromebooks. With Google planning substantial updates to Chromebooks and their underlying OS, this feature could represent a pivotal moment in aligning Google’s hardware ecosystem closer to Apple’s seamless device experience.
If Google launches this functionality exclusively on Pixel devices, it could considerably boost their appeal to Android users. However, there is currently no confirmation about device exclusivity or if the feature will extend to other Android models. We await an official announcement from Google.
Beyond convenience, introducing a Universal Clipboard on Android and Chromebooks could further close the productivity gap with PCs, especially given the affordability of Chromebooks. It remains to be seen whether clipboard syncing will work bidirectionally—allowing content copied on a Chromebook to be accessed on Android devices, as current insights come from limited code snippets.
