According to MacRumors, Apple quietly rolled out a notable enhancement to Spotlight in macOS Tahoe 26.1 that was released on Monday. The update introduces new clipboard history controls that let users decide exactly how long copied items remain accessible in search results. Previously, Spotlight could only retain clipboard contents for up to eight hours, but now there are three specific options – 30 minutes, 8 hours, or 7 days. There’s also a new “Clear Clipboard History” button in System Settings under Spotlight, giving users the ability to manually wipe stored clipboard data without affecting their broader Spotlight search history. Apple didn’t mention this change in its official macOS 26.1 release notes, making it one of several under-the-radar refinements.
Why this actually matters
Here’s the thing about clipboard management – it’s one of those features you don’t think about until you accidentally copy something sensitive. And then you’re left wondering how long that password or private message is going to be floating around in your system. Apple‘s previous eight-hour limit was better than nothing, but it didn’t really address privacy concerns for people who work with confidential information.
Now with the 30-minute option, you can basically treat clipboard history like a temporary scratchpad that automatically cleans itself. Or if you’re someone who frequently needs to reference recently copied items throughout your workweek, the seven-day setting makes sense. But the real win here is that manual clear button – no more having to wipe your entire Spotlight history just because you copied something you shouldn’t have.
Playing catch-up with third-party apps
Let’s be honest – clipboard managers like Paste or CopyClip have been offering these kinds of controls for years. Apple’s implementation has always felt a bit half-baked by comparison. So why is Apple finally paying attention to this seemingly minor feature?
I think it’s part of a broader pattern where Apple is slowly but steadily closing the gap between its built-in tools and what third-party developers offer. They did the same thing with window management, screenshot tools, and now clipboard management. It’s smart business – every feature they bake into macOS is one less reason for users to go looking for alternatives.
And there’s another angle here. With privacy becoming such a huge selling point for Apple, giving users more granular control over data retention just makes sense. It’s one thing to say “we care about your privacy” – it’s another to actually build the tools that let people manage it themselves.
Where does this leave us?
The funny thing about these quiet updates is that they often reveal more about Apple’s priorities than the flashy keynote announcements. This isn’t a feature they’re going to brag about on stage, but it’s exactly the kind of quality-of-life improvement that makes macOS feel more polished.
What I’m curious about is whether we’ll see similar controls coming to iOS. Our phones handle way more sensitive information than our computers these days, and the clipboard has been a privacy concern there too. If Apple’s serious about this approach, it seems like a no-brainer to bring these same options to iPhone and iPad.
For now though, if you’re running macOS Tahoe 26.1, you’ve got some new settings to play with. And honestly? It’s about time.
