I built a browser clipboard for quick transfers between unfamiliar devices

I'm the developer of clipboard.im, a browser-based clipboard for moving text and files between devices without installing an app, registering, or signing in.

The use case is fairly ordinary: you have something on one device, and you need it on another device that isn't set up with your accounts.

Maybe you're at a public computer. Maybe you're using a borrowed laptop. Or your phone and computer run different operating systems, and you just want to move one piece of text without setting up another workflow.

For that kind of handoff, the destination device only needs a browser.

What the workflow looks like

1. Open clipboard.im on the first device.
2. Add the text you want to transfer, or upload a file.
3. Open the same clipboard address on the other device, by typing the address or scanning its QR code.
4. Read the text or download the file.

The site assigns a random clipboard address when you start. You can also choose a custom address using at least five letters or numbers, which makes it easier to type on a device where scanning a QR code isn't convenient. Password protection is available too.

A few situations where it could help

• A URL on your phone, a browser on a borrowed computer. Put the link in a clipboard and open that address on the computer.
• A file for a temporary workstation. Upload it from your own device, then retrieve it in the destination browser.
• A text snippet across operating systems. A code example, a block of notes, or a short instruction that would be tedious to reproduce by hand.

These are small tasks, but the setup can easily take longer than the transfer.

Current limits

Uploads support all file types, with a maximum of 100MB per file and 300MB in total. Uploaded files are automatically cleaned up after seven days.

This is for temporary transfers. Keep your own copies of important files, and don't use it as long-term storage or a backup service.

I'd love feedback: what would make this more useful for your next quick transfer between devices?

Writing assistance: AI helped draft and edit this post.