CmdV Paste Claude

This is a macOs workaround to bypass Claude Code's pasting images with Ctrl+V.

I want to paste everything, including images, with Cmd+V, everywhere.

This works by having a menu bar app that converts every image in the clipboard into a file. CC accepts pasting files with Cmd+V.

I'm used to pasting with Cmd+V in every other app and I don't want to use a different shortcut for Claude Code: I want to paste the image, I don't want to think about how to paste it.

History

Sometime around October 2025, Claude Code introduced a workaround where images in the clipboard have to be pasted with Ctrl+V. The reasoning I've found is "due to some restrictions from the terminal".

• anthropics/claude-code#6712
• anthropics/claude-code#7975
• anthropics/claude-code#12407
• anthropics/claude-code#1006

I would very much rather use Cmd+V for everything.

How it works

When you copy an image (Cmd+C), this app automatically:

1. Detects the image in your clipboard (checks if the clipboard contains an image)
2. Saves it as a PNG file in a temp directory (temp images are cleaned on app startup)
3. Replaces the clipboard contents with a file reference

Requirements

• macOS 13.0+
• Accessibility permissions (required to detect clipboard changes)

Building

./build.sh

Then drag CmdVPasteClaude.app to /Applications.