How to Save Copied Images in Clipboard History

Keep every screenshot and copied image available to paste again later

Why Image History Matters

Copying a screenshot or an image from a browser is common, but Windows' single-slot clipboard means the moment you copy something else, that image is gone. If you need to paste the same screenshot into several places, or compare a few recent captures, you're normally out of luck.

Gwen captures every copied image automatically, storing a full-resolution PNG plus a small inline thumbnail so you can browse and re-paste past images just as easily as text.

How to Build an Image Clipboard History
  1. Copy any image — a screenshot, a picture from a browser, or an image file in Explorer.
  2. Gwen detects the copy automatically and saves a full PNG to its local cache folder.
  3. Open the Gwen popup with your hotkey to see a thumbnail preview of that image in the list.
  4. Copy additional images as needed; each one gets its own row with its own preview.
  5. Select any image from history and press Enter to paste it back wherever you need it.
How Gwen Handles Copied Images
  • Full-resolution PNGs are cached locally alongside a small inline thumbnail for fast previews
  • Duplicate image copies — common when an app writes more than one clipboard format — are only stored once
  • Thumbnails are decoded once and cached for the life of the popup for fast scrolling
  • Image history is trimmed automatically once you exceed your configured maximum item count
  • Everything stays local — no image is ever uploaded anywhere
Frequently Asked Questions

Does copying the same screenshot twice create duplicate entries?

No, Gwen fingerprints each image capture and avoids storing the same image twice from a single copy action.

How much disk space do images use?

Images are stored as full PNGs in a local cache folder; typical screenshot volumes are fine, but very frequent large-image copying will use more disk space over time.

Can I control how many images are kept?

Yes, the max_items setting in Preferences controls how many entries — including images — are kept before older ones are trimmed.

Ready to stop losing what you copy?