How to Use Quick Copy Shortcuts on iOS

By setting up Octoclip's custom Apple Shortcuts, you can bypass manual app openings and copy text or images directly using built-in system triggers such as the Share Sheet, iPhone Back Tap, or Siri.

IMPORTANT

This guide requires iOS 16.0 or later and the official Apple Shortcuts app installed on your device.

Prerequisites

Ensure that:

Octoclip is installed and set up on your iOS device.
The Shortcuts app is installed.
System permissions allow running untrusted/external shortcuts.

1. Download the Shortcuts

Download the shortcuts matching the type of content you want to copy:

Download target shortcut(s)

Click the links to download the shortcuts matching your needs:

Quick Copy Text Shortcut Link to handle textual content.
Quick Copy Image Shortcut Link to handle images.

Get Shortcut

Tap Get Shortcut in Safari.

Add Shortcut

In the Shortcuts app, tap Add Shortcut.

Allow Permissions

Allow any initial permission requests for clipboard access when executing the shortcut for the first time.

2. Configure Usage Triggers

You can trigger the "Quick Copy" action in multiple ways. Select the method that fits your workflow:

Run the copy shortcut directly from any app's native share layout:

Open any web page, message, or document containing the text or image.
Tap the system Share button.
Scroll down the share sheet options and select Quick Copy Text or Quick Copy Image.
Wait a split second for the confirmation checkmark to disappear.

Trigger the copy shortcut physically by tapping the back of your phone:

Go to iOS Settings > Accessibility > Touch.
Scroll to the bottom and select Back Tap.
Choose either Double Tap or Triple Tap.
Scroll down to the Shortcuts section and select Quick Copy Text (or the image variant).
Double or triple tap the back of your iPhone from any screen to copy the current selection.

Copy text hands-free using Siri voice triggers:

Activate Siri by saying "Hey Siri" or holding the power button.
Speak the exact name of the shortcut: "Run Quick Copy Text".
Siri will run the script in the background and confirm when finished.

Launch it manually or from your home screen widgets:

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
Tap the Quick Copy shortcut tile.
(Optional) Hold down the tile and select Share > Add to Home Screen to place a dedicated widget on your home layout.

How to Verify Success

To check if the shortcut copied successfully:

Run the shortcut via any of the configured triggers (e.g., share sheet or back tap).
Open Octoclip on your iPhone or computer.
Check the Clip History panel — the copied snippet should appear at the top of the list instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I quick copy on iPhone to get text to another device fast?

Use the Share Sheet trigger: find the content you want, tap the system Share button, and select Quick Copy Text. The text lands in your Octoclip clip history immediately. On your Mac or Windows PC, open Octoclip's Quick Input window and paste — no app switching, no messaging yourself.

How do I copy to clipboard fast on iOS?

Back Tap is the fastest physical trigger — double-tap the back of your iPhone to copy whatever is on screen without opening any app. For content inside other apps, the Share Sheet is the fastest in-context option. Both methods add the copied item to Octoclip's clip history so you can find it later across all your devices.

Does this work for copying images too?

Yes. Download the Quick Copy Image shortcut and configure the same triggers. Images are captured to your clip history alongside text, links, and other content. The Octoclip Keyboard (iOS/iPadOS) lets you access and paste them while staying inside any app.

Where does the copied text go after I use Quick Copy?

It goes into Octoclip's clip history — a searchable timeline that keeps everything you copy (24 hours on Free, unlimited with a one-time license). You can browse, search, and paste from there on any device running Octoclip.

Troubleshooting

Shortcut Fails to Copy

Upon first launch, iOS will ask for permission: "Allow 'Quick Copy' to share data with Octoclip?". You must tap Always Allow.
If you accidentally clicked "Don't Allow", open the Shortcuts app, tap the ... icon on the shortcut, find the info settings, and reset the privacy permissions.

Still Not Solved?

If the shortcut encounters errors, please open a thread in the Community Forum with:

iOS Version:
Octoclip iOS Version:
Trigger Used (Share Sheet / Back Tap / Siri):
Content Type (Text / Image):
Error prompt message:

How to Access Your Clipboard on iPhone — understanding the iOS clipboard and how to view its contents
How to Send Text Between Your Phone and Computer — all cross-device text transfer methods
How to Copy and Paste Between Devices — the full platform-pair breakdown