Bug 494853

Summary:	iOS clipboard is always overwritten by contents from PC on each launch, thus cannot send anything
Product:	[Applications] kdeconnect	Reporter:	lhf2613
Component:	ios-application	Assignee:	Lucas W. <lucas.wang>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	mynameislich, thomas
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Apple App Store
OS:	iOS
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description lhf2613 2024-10-16 09:35:50 UTC

SUMMARY

Due to the iOS nature that app cannot live in background, any connected devices will get lost when kdeconnect goes off the screen. Clipboard will be synchronized each time any device is connected when kdeconnect back to foreground, effectively erasing any content just copied from other apps.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. CTRL-C something on a Linux host which is running kdeconnect and is paired with this iOS device
2. [optionally] launch kdeconnect on iOS and have that host connected
2. switch to another app to copy something
3. back to kdeconnect

OBSERVED RESULT

The clipboard content copied from other app was overwritten by ones from Linux host, thus cannot send anything to other host.

EXPECTED RESULT

Clipboard content should not be overwritten so that it can be sent to other devices

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
LinuxMint22 + Xfce4 + KDEConnect 23.08.5

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Should the initial synchronization be skipped on iOS to avoid such behavior?

Maybe related to https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=445008

Comment 1 lhf2613 2024-10-17 09:45:44 UTC

To be able to send from iOS to PC, a third Android device is required:

1. Open kdeconnect on iOS
2. Send something from Android only to this iOS device (DO NOT SEND TO PC)
3. Switch to other app and copy something, on iOS
4. Back to kdeconnect on iOS, now the clipboard is not overwritten by PC

Comment 2 lhf2613 2024-10-17 10:10:05 UTC

Further investigation shows that if iPhone 's system time is ahead of PC then the clipboard won't be overwritten at all. Should be a bug specific to iOS's background policy and Clipboard.Connect protocol.

Comment 3 tarnmarlin 2025-09-01 22:09:24 UTC

I am encountering this problem with iOS as well.

Workaround: disable the auto-sync feature in the clipboard plugin in the desktop version of KDE Connect. So you have to send the clipboard manually in both directions. The auto-sync code should be fixed.