Screenshots taken on Windows device not pasting on Samsung mobile device with Phone Link.

Question

**The short: When taking a screenshot on my windows device (Surface Pro 9), the screenshot is copied to my clipboard but does not appear on my Samsung S20 clipboard.

The details:** I have used Phone Link/Link to Windows for years without much issue. I use it with my old Surface 2 running Windows 10 and with my current Surface Pro 9 running Windows 11. With both computers and my current Samsung Galaxy S20 I have always been able to take a screenshot on my laptop (Windows+Shift+S) and have it appear on my Samsung S20 clipboard to be pasted into various apps (i.e. Messages, Signal, OneNote, etc.). This is currently not available while my phone's keyboard uses the default Samsung Keyboard, but have noticed it will work if I switch my Samsung's default keyboard to Windows Keyboard. This is a new issue that I have never experienced. In the midst of it, regular text copy and paste works seemlessly with both the Samsung Keyboard and Microsoft Keyboard.

What I have attempted: I have ensured both devices are on the same network, and verified that they are "connected" with the Phone Link app on Windows.
I have ensured both devices have "cross-device copy and paste" turned on. I have checked for updates on both devices and ensured all apps, keyboards, and devices have software up to date.
I have tried clearing cache, "repairing", and "resetting" Phone Link on both my Surface Pro and my Samsung Galaxy S20.
I have restarted as well as shutdown and relaunched both devices.

The Request: Please advise on solutions for the screenshots taken on windows to be pasted on Samsung Galaxy with the use of the Samsung Keyboard as it has worked for the past 5 years.

Answer 1

Hello John Walker, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A. 

Thank you for your detailed description and for outlining the troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken. I understand how important this clipboard sync feature is for your workflow, and I appreciate your diligence in trying to resolve it. 

Based on your description, it appears the issue is specifically related to the interaction between the Samsung Keyboard and the Phone Link clipboard sync for image data (screenshots), as text continues to sync correctly. Since the feature still works when you switch to the Windows Keyboard, the change seems to be related to a recent update to the Samsung Keyboard, the Phone Link app, or the underlying clipboard sync APIs. 

Here are a few additional suggestions and insights: 

1. Samsung Keyboard Update: 
   1. Check the Samsung Galaxy Store for the latest Samsung Keyboard updates. Sometimes, the keyboard app receives updates separately from the system. 
      1. If the issue began after a recent update, you might consider rolling back the Samsung Keyboard to a previous version (if the option is available) to see if the clipboard sync resumes. 
      2. Samsung Keyboard Clipboard Permissions: 
         1. Go to your phone’s Settings > Apps > Samsung Keyboard > Permissions and ensure the app has the necessary permissions to access the clipboard and the Phone Link service. 
         2. Phone Link and Samsung Keyboard Compatibility: 
            1. As the clipboard sync works with the Windows Keyboard, the issue may be the result of a recent compatibility change. Samsung and Microsoft occasionally update the clipboard sync integration, and the Samsung Keyboard may temporarily not support the image clipboard the same way the Windows Keyboard does. 
            2. Feedback to Samsung and Microsoft: 
               1. Since the issue is specific to the Samsung Keyboard, the best course of action is to submit feedback to both the Samsung Keyboard and the Microsoft Phone Link teams. 
                  1. On the Samsung Keyboard, you can usually submit feedback via the Keyboard settings. 
                     1. On the Phone Link app, go to the app’s settings and use the “Send feedback” option to report the issue, describing the steps and the difference between the Samsung and the Windows Keyboard. 
                     2. Temporary Workaround: 
                        1. Until the issue is resolved, the only available workaround is to use the Windows Keyboard when the clipboard sync for the screenshot is the priority, and the Samsung Keyboard the rest of the time. 

Bing, Microsoft Edge, Windows, Windows Insider Program is now supported on Microsoft Q&A. 

Starting from July 2, 2025, new questions must be posted there. Existing discussions will remain accessible on Microsoft Answers until July 6, 2025. 

Customers will be redirected to Q&A starting July 7, 2025. 

🔗 https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/ 

Best regards, 

Ami | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist 

Answer 2

Hi John,

It works via SwiftKey for me. Did you test using Swiftkey keyboard?

Answer 3

Hello whjjhw, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A. 

Thank you for your update and for sharing your experience with SwiftKey.    We appreciate your diligence in troubleshooting this issue. To answer your question:  Yes, we are aware that SwiftKey, as well as the Microsoft Windows Keyboard, currently supports clipboard synchronization for both text and images—such as screenshots—when using the Phone Link (Link to Windows) feature. This is because SwiftKey is developed and maintained by Microsoft, ensuring deep integration with the Phone Link clipboard functionality.    At this time, the Samsung Keyboard appears to have changed how it handles clipboard data, particularly for images copied from external sources like your Windows device. This change may be related to recent updates from Samsung, and unfortunately, it impacts the ability to paste screenshots via the Samsung Keyboard, even though text sync continues to work as expected. 

Recommended Steps: 

• For full clipboard functionality, including images, we recommend using SwiftKey or the Windows Keyboard as your default input method on your Samsung device. 
• If you prefer to use Samsung Keyboard, we suggest providing feedback to Samsung via the Samsung Members app, as the issue appears to be on the Samsung Keyboard side. 
• We are continuously working to improve the interoperability of Phone Link and encourage you to keep both your apps and device software up to date. If you need assistance with setting up SwiftKey or have further questions, please let us know. We’re here to help! 

Best regards, 

Ami | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist