How to Turn Off Clipboard Suggestions on Gboard

Updated 15 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to disable the clipboard suggestions that pop up above the keyboard in Gboard on Android and iOS. You’ll learn where the setting lives, how to turn it off, and how to handle common issues like the toggle being grayed out.

What You’ll Need

A phone or tablet with Gboard installed and set as the active keyboard.
Access to the Gboard settings (usually via the keyboard’s gear icon or the system Settings app).
Gboard version 8.0 or later (most current versions have this setting).

Step-by-Step

Open any app that brings up the keyboard, such as Messages, WhatsApp, or a note-taking app.
Tap the text field to make the Gboard keyboard appear.
Tap the gear icon (⚙️) on the top row of the keyboard. If you don’t see it, tap the four-square grid icon (⋮⋮⋮) to expand the toolbar, then tap the gear.
In the Gboard settings menu, tap Clipboard. (On some versions, it’s under Settings → Clipboard.)
You’ll see a toggle labeled Show clipboard suggestions. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The switch should turn gray, indicating it’s disabled.
Exit the settings. The clipboard suggestions will no longer appear above the keyboard when you copy text.

If you want to keep the clipboard history but stop the pop-up suggestions, you can also clear the clipboard history entirely by tapping the Clear clipboard button in the same menu. That removes all saved items, so the suggestion bar has nothing to show.

Common Mistakes

Turning off the wrong toggle: The setting is specifically called “Show clipboard suggestions.” Don’t confuse it with “Show clipboard” or “Clipboard history” — those control different features.
Disabling clipboard access entirely: Some users turn off clipboard access in the system permissions, which can break copy-paste in some apps. The Gboard setting only affects suggestions, not the ability to copy/paste.
Forgetting to update Gboard: Older versions may not have the toggle. If you don’t see it, update Gboard from the Play Store or App Store.
Turning it off in the wrong app: Gboard settings are global, but if you have multiple keyboards (e.g., Samsung’s keyboard), make sure you’re actually using Gboard when you access the settings.

Tips

If you only want to suppress suggestions for a particular app, you can’t do that per-app in Gboard. The setting is global.
To quickly clear a single clipboard item, long-press the suggestion bar and select Delete.
If you rely on clipboard history, consider leaving the suggestions on but pinning important items so they stay at the top.
On Android, you can also access Gboard settings via System Settings → System → Languages & input → Virtual keyboard → Gboard.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the “Clipboard” option in Gboard settings. This can happen if you’re using an outdated version. Update Gboard from the app store, then try again. If it still doesn’t appear, your device manufacturer may have customized the keyboard — check if you’re actually using Gboard (the Google keyboard) and not a third-party one.

The toggle is grayed out or won’t stay off. This sometimes occurs when Gboard’s clipboard permission is required by another feature. Go to your system settings, find Gboard’s app permissions, and ensure it has permission to access the clipboard. Then return to Gboard settings and try toggling it off again. If it still won’t stick, restart your phone.

Suggestions still appear after turning it off. Make sure you actually turned off the correct toggle. Also, check if you have multiple keyboards — if you switch to a different keyboard, that keyboard’s clipboard suggestions are separate. If you’re using Gboard and the suggestions persist, try clearing the clipboard history, as stale items can sometimes trigger a refresh.

I can’t find the gear icon on the keyboard. On some layouts, the toolbar is hidden. Tap the four-square grid icon (⋮⋮⋮) to expand it, and the gear should appear. If not, press and hold the comma key to open Gboard settings directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off clipboard suggestions delete my saved clipboard items? No, it only stops the suggestions from appearing. Your clipboard history remains intact unless you manually clear it.

Can I disable clipboard suggestions on Gboard for iOS? Yes, the same setting exists in the Gboard app on iOS. Open Gboard’s settings from the keyboard or the Gboard app itself, and toggle off “Show clipboard suggestions.”

Why does Gboard show clipboard suggestions even though I never copied anything? Gboard may show suggestions from previously copied text that is still in the clipboard history. Clear the history to remove them.

Will turning off clipboard suggestions affect copy/paste functionality? No, copy and paste will still work normally. The setting only controls the suggestion bar.

How do I turn off clipboard suggestions on an older Android version? The setting is available in Gboard 8.0 and later. If you have an older version, update the app first. On very old versions, you may need to disable clipboard access via system permissions, but that can break copy-paste.

Can I turn off clipboard suggestions for just one app? No, Gboard doesn’t support per-app settings for this. The toggle applies globally.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.