Save something useful.
Highlight text and choose “Save highlighted text,” or add a phrase yourself.
Available for macOS · Windows coming soon
Save it once.
Paste it forever.
Your best replies, prompts, and snippets.
Ready to use, right where you’re working.
Local storage. No account. No ads in the app.
02 / How it worksKeep it simple.
Keep the words.
Skip the repetition.
A useful reply. A carefully written prompt. A few lines of code. Give it a home, then bring it back whenever you need it.
Put it in its place.
Add a title and category. Create subcategories for projects, GPT prompts, image prompts, or everyday work.
Choose. Paste. Carry on.
Open the compact menu and select a phrase. After saving captured text, CommonCopy closes its window automatically.
A place for everything.
Categories, subcategories, Favourites, and Commonly Used. Search titles and text in the phrase manager.
Prompts↳ GPT↳ Image based↳ Your project
Your computer. Your words.
Your phrase library stays on your computer. No account, cloud sync, background clipboard history, or ads inside the utility.
03 / DownloadsPublic release in preparation
Same simple idea.
Different options.
Download CommonCopy for Apple Silicon Macs. Windows is coming soon.
Apple Silicon
CommonCopy for Mac
⌘ + right-click.
Your phrases in a native Mac menu.
Version 0.4.3 · macOS 13 or later
Signed & notarized · 30.1 MB
Windows x64
CommonCopy for Windows
Ctrl + right-click.
The same quick access on your PC.
Choose a guide below for installation and everyday use. Mac release notes · SHA-256 checksum
Before you begin. Whenever you need.
A little help. Right here.
Installation, everyday tips, and quick fixes.
Everything you need, beside your download.
01 / Installation
On your Mac.
CommonCopy for Mac is for Apple Silicon (M-series Macs), with macOS 13 or later. The installer is signed and notarized by Apple.
- Open CommonCopy.dmg.
- In the installer window, drag CommonCopy.app onto the Applications folder shortcut. Copy the application, not the DMG file.
- Open CommonCopy from Applications. A clipboard icon appears in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- If Accessibility access is needed, the setup card appears. Choose Open Accessibility Settings and enable CommonCopy in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. The manager opens automatically once access is enabled. If access is already enabled, CommonCopy opens directly.
- In Finder, eject CommonCopy Installer using the eject symbol beside it under Locations. Run the installed application from Applications.
To update: choose Quit CommonCopy from its menu-bar icon, copy the new application into Applications, and choose Replace. Your phrase library is stored separately and should be kept.
On your Windows PC.
CommonCopy is for Windows 10 or 11 on x64 PCs. Public downloads are still in preparation.
Install the setup version
- Open CommonCopy-Setup-x64.exe. There is no ZIP to extract and no separate .NET installation.
- Choose Install CommonCopy on the branded card. The progress bar shows installation progress.
- Choose Open CommonCopy. You can open it again from the Windows Start menu.
- Find the clipboard icon beside the clock; check the ^ hidden-icons arrow if needed. Click into an editable field, then hold Ctrl and right-click. The keyboard alternative is Ctrl + Shift + Space.
Setup installs for your Windows account. To update, right-click the tray icon and choose Exit, then run the new setup. Closing the manager only hides it. Private test builds are unsigned and may show a Windows security warning; verify that the download came from the CommonCopy maintainer.
Using an older portable ZIP?
Choose Extract All, keep the extracted folder together, and open CommonCopy.exe from that folder. Do not run it inside the ZIP. Before switching to setup, exit the portable copy, remove its shortcuts, and delete its extracted program folder and ZIP.
If you enabled Start with Windows in the portable copy, turn that setting off before exiting. You can enable it again in the installed copy.
Uninstall or reinstall CommonCopy
- Right-click CommonCopy’s tray icon beside the clock and choose Exit. Check the hidden-icons arrow if needed.
- For the setup version, open Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps (Windows 10: Apps & features), find CommonCopy, and choose Uninstall.
- For a portable ZIP version, delete its extracted application folder, downloaded ZIP, and any shortcuts you created. If available, turn off Start with Windows in CommonCopy before exiting.
- To reinstall, run the new setup and choose Open CommonCopy when it finishes.
Keep your phrase library: do not delete %LOCALAPPDATA%\CommonCopy. It holds your saved phrases and settings and is separate from the installed program. Setup uninstall keeps it so reinstalling can use your existing library. Export a backup from Library → Export library… before making changes.
02 / Everyday use
Save it once. Paste it forever.
Save highlighted text
- Highlight selectable text in another application.
- Use Command + right-click on Mac or Ctrl + right-click on Windows, then choose Save highlighted text…. The keyboard alternative on Mac is Command + Shift + Space.
- Review the text and title, choose a category, and click Save.
After a successful phrase Save, the editor and manager close automatically. CommonCopy keeps running. Cancel does not save a phrase; a save error leaves the editor open.
Paste a saved phrase
- Click exactly where you want the text in your email, document, chat, or editor.
- Open the compact menu using your platform’s activation gesture.
- Open a category and choose a phrase. CommonCopy returns to the source application and sends the paste shortcut.
Use Manage phrases to search, add, edit, or copy text manually. An ordinary right-click keeps its usual behavior.
Make room for your prompts
Use Prompts as a parent category, then add GPT, Image based, or a project name beneath it.
Mac: open a category’s options and choose Add subcategory. Windows: choose Add category from the category options, then set Parent category to Prompts.
Select the subcategory, choose Add phrase, and enter a short title and the full text. Prompts are saved text; CommonCopy does not send them to an AI service.
Find it again
Favourites brings together phrases you have starred. Commonly Used ranks phrases by use count, then recent use. Search in the manager checks titles and phrase text.
A disabled phrase stays in your library but is unavailable for insertion. Enable it from its phrase options when you want to use it again.
03 / Practical examples
Useful words, ready to go.
Save any of these as a phrase, then paste it into the appropriate application. Replace bracketed instructions yourself; CommonCopy pastes literal text and does not fill variables or run code.
Prompts / GPT
A clearer email
Rewrite the email below in a warm, concise tone. Preserve the facts, dates, and commitments. Return only the revised email. [Paste email here]
Prompts / Image based
A product photograph
Create a clean studio photograph of [product] on an off-white background, with soft side lighting and a subtle contact shadow. Keep the product proportions accurate. No lettering or watermarks.
Prompts / Website project
A focused code review
Review the code below for correctness, accessibility, and error handling. Prioritize concrete issues, explain their impact, and suggest the smallest useful fix. [Paste code here]
Day-to-Day
A practical follow-up
Hi [name], Just checking in on [topic]. Could you let me know the current status and the next expected step? Thanks, [your name]
Code
A JavaScript helper
const unique = (items) => [...new Set(items)];
Paste this into your editor for review. Saving or pasting code does not execute it.
04 / Troubleshooting
Get back to your words.
Mac: Command + right-click does not open CommonCopy
- Confirm CommonCopy is running: look for its clipboard icon in the menu bar.
- Open its Settings and make sure Command + right-click is enabled.
- Enable CommonCopy under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, then return to the utility. Hold Command while you perform the secondary click (including a two-finger trackpad click).
- If this started after replacing a private build, quit CommonCopy. Remove its old Accessibility entry with the minus button; add CommonCopy from Applications again with the plus button, enable it, and reopen it. Toggling a stale entry alone may not help.
Command + Shift + Space is an alternative for opening the menu. Accessibility permission is still required for selection capture and automatic paste.
Windows: the gesture or keyboard shortcut does not work
Confirm the tray icon is present and Settings → Enable Ctrl + Right Click is selected. Check the configured keyboard shortcut; another application may already use it. Try the gesture in a regular Notepad window. CommonCopy may be unable to paste into an application running as administrator; test a normal window rather than elevating the utility.
The menu opens, but a phrase does not paste
Click an editable field before opening CommonCopy, then choose the phrase again. On Mac, check Accessibility permission. Protected fields and some applications restrict automated paste. Use Copy in Manage phrases, return to the destination, and paste manually. On Windows, Settings includes a paste delay; a slower application may need a longer delay.
Save highlighted text is empty or unavailable
Select text that the source application can actually copy. A picture, scanned PDF, password field, or protected page may not offer selectable text. Re-select it in the original app and use the activation gesture or shortcut; avoid changing focus before capture. On Mac, check Accessibility permission. You can also copy text yourself and add it through Add phrase.
The manager disappeared after I clicked Save
That is expected after a successful phrase Save. Your phrase is saved and CommonCopy remains running. Reopen Manage phrases from the menu-bar or tray icon, or use the activation gesture when you need the compact menu.
How do I quit or reopen CommonCopy?
Closing the manager does not quit the utility. On Mac, use the clipboard icon in the top menu bar. On Windows, use the clipboard icon beside the clock (check hidden icons). Choose Manage phrases to reopen the manager or Quit CommonCopy to exit. A Terminal command is not required.
Mac: CommonCopy will not open
Use the current signed and notarized installer from this website. Quit older copies, eject older installer disks, then open CommonCopy.dmg and drag CommonCopy into Applications, choosing Replace. Open the installed copy from Applications.
If macOS still blocks it, keep the exact warning and contact the maintainer before proceeding. The current installer requires no Terminal repair.
My phrases seem missing after an update
Confirm you are running the intended copy of CommonCopy and using the same computer account. Quit duplicate copies. Do not delete the data folder, reset your library, or overwrite it with an empty import. Keep a copy of the existing data before investigating. If you have an exported library, review it before importing.
05 / Your library
Local. Yours. Worth backing up.
On Mac, use Settings → Export. On Windows, use Library → Export library…. Keep the exported JSON somewhere safe before updating or moving computers. Importing is a library replacement operation; export the current library first and read the confirmation.
Your saved phrases are separate from the application:
- Mac:
~/Library/Application Support/CommonCopy/phrases.json - Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\CommonCopy\phrases.json
The automatic previous-version backup rotates; it is not a lasting archive. CommonCopy does not synchronize between computers automatically. Your library is readable local JSON, not encrypted secret storage. Keep passwords, recovery codes, and access tokens in a password manager.
The help included with the utility opens locally in your browser and works offline.
04 / QuestionsA few things to know.
Common questions.
Clear answers.
What can I save?
Reusable text: replies, sign-offs, AI prompts, code snippets, links, and more. Add a title and organize it under categories and subcategories.
Does it need an account or internet connection?
No. The desktop utility works locally, without an account or network connection. You can export and import your phrase library yourself.
Does it replace normal right-click?
No. Use Ctrl + right-click on Windows or Command + right-click on Mac to open CommonCopy. An ordinary right-click keeps its usual behavior. A keyboard shortcut is also available.
What permissions does the Mac version need?
Accessibility permission enables Command + right-click, selection capture, and pasting into another application. You choose whether to grant that access. Some protected or unusual text fields may restrict copy or paste.
Can I keep passwords in CommonCopy?
CommonCopy stores phrases as readable local text. Use a dedicated password manager for passwords, authentication codes, access tokens, and recovery keys.
How is CommonCopy supported?
Our sponsorship program is open for registrations from individuals and businesses who use and support the utility. Sponsors receive recognition on the website; the desktop app stays focused on your work. Explore the program and register.
Can I download it now?
Yes—the signed and notarized Mac installer is available above for Apple Silicon Macs. Windows is coming soon.