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Neovim Clipboard Not Working (clipboard: No provider)

Workaround available Linux, WSL, SSH Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Neovim doesn't talk to the system clipboard itself; it shells out to a tool like wl-copy, xclip, pbcopy or clip.exe. Install one (or use OSC 52 / the WSL g:clipboard config) and set clipboard=unnamedplus.

Most likely fix: Install a clipboard tool.

Symptoms

"+y does nothing, yanks don't reach other apps, or :checkhealth shows 'clipboard: No provider'.

Why it happens

  • No clipboard tool installed (wl-clipboard on Wayland, xclip/xsel on X11)
  • WSL without a Windows clipboard bridge, or xclip overriding win32yank
  • Remote SSH session with no provider
  • clipboard option not set, so y/p use only Neovim registers

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Install a clipboard tool

    1. Wayland: install wl-clipboard (wl-copy/wl-paste)
    2. X11: install xclip or xsel
    3. Run :checkhealth vim.provider to confirm it's detected

  2. 2. WSL: use the Windows clipboard

    1. Define g:clipboard with clip.exe for copy and powershell.exe Get-Clipboard for paste (see :help clipboard-wsl)
    2. Remove xclip if it takes priority over win32yank

  3. 3. SSH/tmux: use OSC 52

    1. Neovim auto-detects OSC 52 when no other tool is found
    2. Force it with vim.g.clipboard = 'osc52'
    3. Paste with your terminal's paste shortcut if OSC 52 reading isn't supported

  4. 4. Sync yanks with the system clipboard

    1. Add vim.opt.clipboard:append('unnamedplus') (or set clipboard+=unnamedplus)

This guide also covers

  • neovim clipboard not working
  • clipboard no provider neovim
  • neovim copy to system clipboard
  • neovim wsl clipboard

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