Yes. Copy the database folder. Time Machine does it automatically.

No. Manual file copy. Settings via defaults export.

Yes. Copy DB folder + settings plist to same paths.

Usually transfers it. Verify after.

Not from Maccy. Copy manually from history popup.

How to Backup Maccy Clipboard History (2026)

Published: June 6, 2026 · Read time: 3 min

Maccy doesn’t have a built-in export or backup button — but your clipboard history is stored in a single local database file that’s easy to copy, back up, and restore. Here’s how.

Where Maccy stores your history

Maccy saves clipboard history in a SQLite database. The exact path depends on how you installed it:

Direct download / Homebrew: ~/Library/Application Support/Maccy/
Mac App Store version: ~/Library/Containers/org.p0deje.Maccy/

The folder contains a .db file (or similar) — that’s your entire clipboard history. Preferences (shortcut, ignore rules, settings) are stored separately in macOS defaults under org.p0deje.Maccy.

Method 1: Manual backup (copy the file)

Quit Maccy (right-click menu bar icon → Quit).
Open Finder and press ⌘⇧G (Go to Folder).
Paste the path: ~/Library/Application Support/Maccy/ (or the Containers path for App Store).
Copy the entire Maccy folder to a safe location — external drive, cloud storage, or another folder on your Mac.
Relaunch Maccy.

To also back up your settings (shortcut, ignore rules), run this in Terminal:

defaults export org.p0deje.Maccy ~/Desktop/maccy-settings.plist

This saves a .plist file with all your preferences.

Method 2: Time Machine (automatic)

If you use Time Machine, Maccy’s database is already being backed up automatically. The ~/Library/Application Support/Maccy/ folder is included in standard Time Machine backups. To restore from Time Machine, enter Time Machine, navigate to the folder path, and restore the Maccy folder from the date you want.

How to restore

Quit Maccy on the destination Mac.
Copy your backed-up Maccy folder to the correct path (~/Library/Application Support/Maccy/ or the Containers path).
If you backed up settings too, import them: defaults import org.p0deje.Maccy ~/Desktop/maccy-settings.plist
Relaunch Maccy — your history and settings are restored.

Migrating to a new Mac

The same process works for migration: copy the database folder and settings plist from your old Mac to the same paths on the new one. If you use Migration Assistant during setup, it typically transfers ~/Library/Application Support/ automatically — meaning your Maccy history may come along without extra effort. Verify by launching Maccy on the new Mac and checking if your history is there.

What you can’t backup

There’s no way to selectively export individual clips to a text file or CSV from within Maccy. The backup is all-or-nothing at the database level. If you need specific items, copy them manually from Maccy’s history popup before the backup. For the Maccy, Maccy, and Maccy, those pages go deeper.

Frequently asked questions

Can I backup Maccy clipboard history?

Yes. Copy the database folder from ~/Library/Application Support/Maccy/ (or Containers for App Store). It’s a single SQLite file. Time Machine backs it up automatically.

Does Maccy have a built-in export?

No. Backup is done by copying the database file manually. Settings can be exported with defaults export org.p0deje.Maccy.

Can I restore Maccy history on a new Mac?

Yes. Copy the database folder and optionally the settings plist to the same paths on the new Mac. Relaunch Maccy.

Does Migration Assistant transfer Maccy history?

Usually yes — it transfers ~/Library/Application Support/ by default. Verify after migration by checking Maccy’s history on the new Mac.

Can I export individual clips?

Not from within Maccy. The backup is the entire database. For individual items, copy them manually from the history popup.