How do I configure Vim to share the clipboard with my system?

Explanation

Setting clipboard=unnamedplus makes Vim's default yank and paste use the system clipboard. Every y, d, p command automatically goes through the system clipboard, so you can copy/paste between Vim and other applications seamlessly.

Options

" Use system clipboard for all yank/delete/paste
:set clipboard=unnamedplus

" Use primary selection (X11 middle-click paste)
:set clipboard=unnamed

" Use both
:set clipboard=unnamedplus,unnamed

What each setting does

Platform differences

• Linux/X11: "+ is clipboard (Ctrl+C), "* is primary selection (mouse select)
• macOS: "+ and "* are the same (system pasteboard)
• Windows/WSL: "+ is the Windows clipboard

Check clipboard support

:echo has('clipboard')     " 1 if supported
vim --version | grep clip  " Look for +clipboard

Without clipboard support

If your Vim lacks clipboard support:

" Linux: use xclip as a workaround
vnoremap <leader>y :w !xclip -selection clipboard<CR>
nnoremap <leader>p :r !xclip -o -selection clipboard<CR>

" Or install vim-gtk3 / neovim for clipboard support

Tips

• unnamedplus is the most commonly recommended setting
• With unnamedplus, you no longer need "+y or "+p — plain y and p work with the system clipboard
• Named registers ("a-"z) still work independently of the clipboard setting
• Neovim always supports clipboard if a provider is installed (xclip, xsel, pbcopy, win32yank)
• :checkhealth in Neovim shows clipboard provider status
• Documented under :help clipboard