pyperclip

A cross-platform clipboard module for Python. (Only handles plain text for now.)

pyperclip Permissive license BSD AGING ★ 1,844 v1.11.0 released 2025-09-26

Install

pyperclip on PyPI

pip

pip install pyperclip

uv

uv add pyperclip

poetry

poetry add pyperclip

Package facts

License	BSD (permissive)
Python support	not specified
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	none
Maintenance	aging — 321 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2025-09-26
First released	2013-12-28
Popularity	one of the top 1,000 most-downloaded packages on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-13)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-13)

Evidence: pyperclip-1.11.0-py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: clipboard, copy, paste, clip, xsel, xclip

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: MacOS XEnvironment :: Win32 (MS Windows)Environment :: X11 ApplicationsIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9

About pyperclip

from the package's own PyPI description — quoted content, verbatim

Pyperclip is a cross-platform Python module for copy and paste clipboard functions. It works with Python 2 and 3.

Install on Windows: pip install pyperclip

Install on Linux/macOS: pip3 install pyperclip

Al Sweigart al@inventwithpython.com BSD License

Example Usage

&gt;&gt;&gt; import pyperclip
&gt;&gt;&gt; pyperclip.copy('The text to be copied to the clipboard.')
&gt;&gt;&gt; pyperclip.paste()
'The text to be copied to the clipboard.'

Currently only handles plaintext.

On Windows, no additional modules are needed.

On Mac, this module makes use of the pbcopy and pbpaste commands, which should come with the os.

On Linux, this module makes use of the xclip or xsel commands, which should come with the os. Otherwise run "sudo apt-get install xclip" or "sudo apt-get install xsel" (Note: xsel does not always seem to work.)

Otherwise on Linux, you will need the qtpy or PyQT5 modules installed.

Support

If you find this project helpful and would like to support its development, consider donating to its creator on Patreon.

Read as markdown · JSON record · Source repository · Homepage

AI interpretation — verify before relying

AI-generated interpretation of the package facts above; every digit, version, license, or vulnerability id it cites is grounded in the facts already shown on this page

Pyperclip provides cross-platform clipboard access for copying and pasting plain text in Python, with native support on Windows and command-line integration on macOS and Linux.

Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The package is aging (321 days since last release) but remains in production-stable status with an active repository and 1844 stars, suggesting it is mature and well-maintained despite infrequent updates.

BSD is a permissive license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for both open-source and proprietary projects.

Usage

pip install pyperclip

import pyperclip
pyperclip.copy('text to clipboard')
copied_text = pyperclip.paste()

On Linux, xclip or xsel command-line tools must be installed (e.g., sudo apt-get install xclip); alternatively qtpy or PyQT5 modules can be used. macOS requires pbcopy/pbpaste (included with the OS). Windows requires no additional tools.

Verdict: Pyperclip is a stable, dependency-free clipboard utility suitable for cross-platform Python applications. No known vulnerabilities and permissive licensing make it a low-risk choice, though Linux users should verify system clipboard tools are available before deployment.

Needs verification

Whether the 321-day gap since last release reflects active maintenance or indicates the package is feature-complete and rarely needs updates
Compatibility with Python 2 (mentioned in description but classifiers show only Python 3.5+)

clipboard copy paste pythoncross-platform clipboard accesspython text clipboardcopy to clipboard pythonclipboard management pythonpaste from clipboard pythonsystem clipboard integration