How to install and configure Maccy

1. Install Maccy

Two equally good options — both deliver the same signed, notarised app:

• .dmg: download from the download page and drag Maccy into Applications.
• Homebrew: run brew install --cask maccy (then keep it updated with brew upgrade --cask maccy).

Full walkthrough with screenshots on the install page. Maccy requires macOS Sonoma 14 or later and runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel.

2. Grant Accessibility permission

On first launch Maccy asks for Accessibility access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. This lets Maccy paste the selected item for you. If you skip it, Maccy still copies to the clipboard — it just will not auto-paste. Background: permissions explained.

3. Set your summon hotkey

Open Settings → Hotkeys and choose your shortcut to open the history. ⌘ ⇧ C is a reliable default that avoids macOS conflicts. The full key reference is in the keyboard shortcuts guide.

4. Launch at login

Add Maccy to System Settings → General → Login Items so your history is always being captured.

5. Tune history size

In Settings → Storage, set how many items Maccy keeps. A larger limit means a deeper history; a smaller one purges old items sooner. See retention and size limits.

6. Set privacy preferences

Maccy already ignores password-manager entries. Add any other sensitive apps (banking, 2FA, VPN) to Settings → Ignore — see the ignored-apps guide. If you want pins to follow you across Macs, enable iCloud sync (sync vs local storage).

7. Make it yours

Explore appearance, the number of items shown, and search behaviour in Settings. New to Maccy entirely? Start with Maccy for beginners.

Installation methods

Option A: Direct .dmg download (easiest)

1. Go to maccymanager.com/download
2. Download the Maccy.dmg file
3. Open the downloaded .dmg file
4. Drag Maccy to the Applications folder
5. Open Maccy from Applications or Spotlight

When macOS shows a warning about an app downloaded from the internet: click Open. Maccy is signed and notarised by Apple, so this is a standard one-time prompt.

Option B: Homebrew (for developers)

brew install --cask maccy

Homebrew verifies the binary signature automatically. No extra steps needed.

First launch and Accessibility permission

On first launch, Maccy will prompt you to grant Accessibility permission. This is required for Maccy to paste items into other apps when you press Return in the history window.

1. Click Open System Settings when prompted
2. In Privacy & Security → Accessibility, find Maccy and toggle it on
3. Return to Maccy — it is now fully functional

If you missed this prompt, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → click + → add Maccy.app → enable it.

Essential configuration (first 5 minutes)

Open Maccy Preferences with ⌘,:

General tab:

• Enable Launch at Login — Maccy should always be running in the background
• Set your preferred keyboard shortcut (default: ⌘⇧C)

History tab:

• Change Size from 200 to 1,000 or 5,000 — the default 200 is too small for daily use
• Ensure Clear on Quit is disabled — otherwise history disappears on every restart

Ignore tab:

• Default ignore list includes 1Password and Bitwarden — leave these as is
• Add any other apps whose clipboard activity should not be recorded

Verify it’s working

1. Copy some text: select anything and press ⌘C
2. Copy something else
3. Press your Maccy shortcut
4. Both items should appear in the history list
5. Press Return on either item to paste it

If the shortcut opens Maccy but pressing Return doesn’t paste, check that Accessibility permission is granted.

Recommended next steps

• Pin your most-used snippets
• Enable iCloud sync if you use multiple Macs
• Learn regex search for power use