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Copy and paste between computers

Updated

Written for Synergy 3 (v3.8.4) and Synergy 1 (v1.22.3), checked 20 October 2026.

Copy and paste between your computers works out of the box in Synergy 3 and Synergy 1: copy text or an image on one computer, move the cursor to another, and paste. Text and images are shared, but not files.

An image travels as a compressed image file, never as raw pixels: one copied as a PNG, JPEG, WebP, TIFF, GIF or SVG goes as it is, and one your computer holds only as pixels goes as a PNG. Older versions send raw pixels, which are far larger, and may not paste an image a newer version sends, so update every computer. For the steps, see: Updating to a new version

Change how copy and paste works

In Synergy 3, these settings are shared with all your computers. In Synergy 1, they're on the server, and every client follows them. On a work computer, a setting your administrator controls is grayed out. For administrators: Locking down settings so users cannot change them

Synergy 3

In the Synergy 3 window, go to Copy & paste (under User).

  • Text and image copy and paste: on by default. Turn it off to keep each computer's clipboard to itself.
  • Text and image copy and paste size limit: the largest clipboard Synergy 3 passes on, in MB. The default is 128 MB; you can set a whole number from 1 to 1000. Click outside the box to save it. Once you've changed it, the reset button beside the box (Reset to 128 MB) puts the default back.

Synergy 1

  1. On the server computer, click Configure Server.
  2. Click the Advanced tab.
  3. Under Misc, change the settings below.
  4. Click OK.
  • Enable clipboard sharing: on by default. Clear it to keep each computer's clipboard to itself.
  • Limit to: the largest clipboard Synergy 1 passes on, in MB. The default is 128 MB.

For the other options in that window, see: Synergy 1 server options: dead corners, cursor lock, clipboard and switching

Pasting something large?

Give it a moment to arrive. Synergy 3 and Synergy 1 send what you copied once the mouse rests, not while you move it, and in small pieces, so your mouse and keyboard aren't held up behind it. If you press a key or click before it has all arrived, the rest is sent first, so you paste what you copied.

While a large clipboard is on its way, an icon shows. Hover over it to see which computer it's going to or coming from, and its size:

  • Synergy 3: in the narrow strip on the left of the window, above Pause.
  • Synergy 1: in the status bar at the bottom of the window.

Large images not pasting?

Raise the size limit above the size of what you're copying. When a copy is over the limit, a warning icon shows in the same place, on the computer you copied on:

  • Synergy 3: hover over it to read Clipboard not shared: it's over the 128 MB limit. (with your limit in it), and click it to dismiss it.
  • Synergy 1: hover over it to see the size of the copy and the limit. It goes after 30 seconds.

Large images and big limits can slow the connection down, so lower the limit again if the cursor starts to lag. For other causes of lag, see: What to do when the mouse cursor lags?

Using Linux with Wayland?

Copy and paste works on Wayland through the desktop portal, on systems recent enough to have it. Which systems do: Wayland support on Linux

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