Universal Clipboard

Allows copying content on one device and pasting on another. Can be managed via MDM to prevent data transfer between personal and corporate devices.

What to Know

Universal Clipboard creates significant data leakage risks when users mix personal and corporate devices, as it enables seamless copy-paste operations across devices signed in to the same Apple ID. An employee could copy sensitive corporate data on a managed Mac and paste it into a personal iPhone Notes app, email, or messaging service—bypassing DLP controls, audit trails, and corporate data boundaries. For organizations with strict data governance requirements, Universal Clipboard is one of the highest-priority Continuity features to restrict.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT restricts Universal Clipboard on devices handling sensitive data to prevent inadvertent data transfer to personal devices. Organizations with BYOD programs universally disable Universal Clipboard on corporate devices to prevent work content from being pasted into personal apps. Some organizations allow Universal Clipboard only between corporate-managed devices (both Mac and iPhone managed by MDM) while blocking it when personal devices are present.

MSP: MSPs disable Universal Clipboard by default on all client devices as a baseline data security measure, particularly for clients in regulated industries. Clients concerned about productivity impacts may request exceptions, but most accept the restriction once they understand the data leakage risks. MSPs should explain Universal Clipboard restrictions during onboarding to prevent user confusion when clipboard syncing stops working after MDM enrollment.

Education: Schools restrict Universal Clipboard on student devices to prevent students from copying answers between devices during tests or transferring school-owned content to personal devices. Shared student devices typically have Universal Clipboard disabled to prevent cross-contamination of clipboard data between students. Teacher devices may allow Universal Clipboard if the school permits teachers to use both personal and school-issued devices.

In Addigy

Addigy’s Restrictions payload includes an “Allow Universal Clipboard” toggle that prevents clipboard syncing across devices when disabled. This restriction requires a supervised device and applies immediately upon profile deployment. Disabling Universal Clipboard does not affect local clipboard functionality—users can still copy and paste within the same device normally. Addigy does not currently offer granular control to allow Universal Clipboard only between managed devices.