Quick Start Guide

Last Updated: 2026-02-03 | Reading Time: 5 minutes

Get PasteShelf up and running in under 5 minutes.

TL;DR

# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/pasteshelf/pasteshelf.git
cd pasteshelf
open PasteShelf.xcodeproj
# Press ⌘R to build and run

System Requirements
Installation Options
First Launch
Essential Shortcuts
Next Steps

System Requirements

Requirement	Minimum	Recommended
macOS	14.0 (Sonoma)	14.0+
Processor	Apple Silicon or Intel	Apple Silicon
RAM	4 GB	8 GB+
Storage	100 MB	500 MB+
Xcode (for building)	15.0	15.0+

Installation Options

Option 1: Direct Download (Recommended)

Go to GitHub Releases
Download PasteShelf.dmg
Open the DMG and drag PasteShelf to Applications
Launch from Applications folder

Option 2: Homebrew (Coming Soon)

brew install --cask pasteshelf

Option 3: Build from Source

# 1. Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/pasteshelf/pasteshelf.git
cd pasteshelf

# 2. Open in Xcode
open PasteShelf.xcodeproj

# 3. Build and run (⌘R)

First Launch

1. Grant Accessibility Permission

PasteShelf needs accessibility permission to monitor the clipboard.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → Enable PasteShelf

⚠️ Warning: PasteShelf cannot function without this permission.

2. Configure Global Hotkey

The default hotkey is ⌘⇧V. You can customize this in Preferences.

3. Start Copying!

Copy anything (⌘C) and PasteShelf automatically saves it to your history.

Essential Shortcuts

Action	Shortcut
Open PasteShelf	`⌘⇧V`
Search History	Just start typing
Paste Selected	`↵` (Return)
Paste and Close	`⌘↵`
Delete Item	`⌘⌫`
Pin Item	`⌘P`
Close Panel	`Esc`
Navigate	`↑` / `↓`
Quick Paste 1-9	`⌘1` - `⌘9`

Quick Configuration

PasteShelf lives in your menu bar. Click the 📋 icon to:

View recent items
Access preferences
Check for updates

Preferences (⌘,)

Key settings to configure:

Setting	Default	Description
History Limit	1000 items	Maximum items to store
Launch at Login	Off	Start with macOS
Sound Effects	On	Audio feedback
Show in Dock	Off	Dock icon visibility

Feature Tiers

Feature	🆓 CE	⭐ Pro	🏢 Enterprise
Clipboard History	✅	✅	✅
Search	✅	✅	✅
Categories	✅	✅	✅
iCloud Sync	❌	✅	✅
AI Search	❌	✅	✅
Team Sharing	❌	❌	✅
Admin Console	❌	❌	✅

Troubleshooting Quick Fixes

PasteShelf not capturing clipboard?

Check Accessibility permission is enabled
Restart PasteShelf
Restart your Mac if issue persists

Hotkey not working?

Check for conflicts in System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts
Try a different hotkey combination

High memory usage?

Reduce history limit in Preferences
Clear old items with “Clear History” option

Next Steps

📖 Learn More

Setup Guide - Detailed configuration
Development Guide - Contributing to PasteShelf

🏗️ Architecture

🔧 Features

❓ Help

Get Help

Documentation: docs.pasteshelf.app
Issues: GitHub Issues
Discussions: GitHub Discussions
Email: [email protected]

Welcome to PasteShelf! 🎉