What Advanced Paste does
Microsoft's documentation says Advanced Paste converts clipboard content into the format you need. The "Paste as file" group has three actions. You can turn the Paste as .txt file, Paste as .png file, and Paste as .html file actions on or off and optionally assign shortcuts.
- .txt: Pastes text from your clipboard as a .txt file with an auto-generated file name.
- .html: Pastes HTML data from your clipboard as a .html file with an auto-generated file name. Microsoft says this helps when saving part of a webpage, including links, formatted text and images.
- .png: Pastes an image format, like a bitmap, to a .png file. Screenshots are the obvious use.
You don't choose the file name. Expect a generated one and rename the file afterward if it matters.
Setup
- Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub, then open PowerToys Settings.
- Select Advanced Paste in the left pane and turn the module on.
- Find the Paste as file options under the Actions section. Enable the main toggle, then the specific file types you want.
- Optionally assign a dedicated shortcut to each action. Carrasqueira uses Ctrl + Alt + Shift + T for .txt. That is his own choice, not a default.
- Copy your text, HTML or image.
- Go to the destination and press your shortcut. Without a dedicated shortcut, open the Advanced Paste window and pick the action. Microsoft lists Win+Shift+V as the default for that window, and you can change it.
The destination has to accept files
Microsoft's examples are conditional: if the application you're using accepts pasting files (for example, File Explorer), the action pastes a .txt file. The action puts a file on the clipboard, and the destination decides what happens next. It isn't a "save to any path" command.
That explains a common complaint. A third-party troubleshooting guide from Edge-Drop says that if a paste-as-file option is missing, you should turn it on under Actions > Paste as file, and paste into a place that accepts files, such as File Explorer. If the shortcut does nothing, the same guide says to check that PowerToys is running and Advanced Paste is turned on.
Carrasqueira also uses the feature to attach files in messaging apps. That depends on each app accepting pasted files, so test yours first. He mentions Discord's message length limit as a reason to send logs as a file. I haven't verified Discord's current limits or whether it accepts this paste, so treat that as his example, not a guarantee. The general idea still holds. A text file can be easier than a very long message when you're sharing terminal output or logs.
Media conversion
Advanced Paste can also transcode media. Microsoft says the window offers two paste options that work with media files.
- Transcode to .mp3: works on audio and video. Microsoft says it extracts the audio and saves it as an MP3.
- Transcode to .mp4 (H.264/AAC): converts video to H.264 video and AAC audio, if audio is present, in an MP4 container.
Microsoft says the feature tries to keep source quality settings such as video dimensions and audio bitrate, plus metadata such as title and album. It uses the Windows.Media.Transcoding APIs and runs locally without AI. It shows a progress ring and a cancel button, so a big video won't leave you guessing.
XDA says the output should play on almost any device. Microsoft only calls MP4 a "more widely supported format". Playback still depends on the receiving app and device. You also run these as explicit actions. An ordinary Ctrl+V doesn't convert anything.
What runs locally and what uses AI
The file actions, plain text, Markdown, JSON, media transcoding and image-to-text all run locally and don't use AI. Microsoft says image-to-text uses local OCR, and the CLI documentation adds that no AI provider is needed for it.
Paste with AI is separate. Microsoft says it's off by default, and you need to configure a provider. Online providers need an API key and may charge for usage. Local options include Foundry Local, Ollama and Phi Silica, which needs a Copilot+ PC with an NPU. Fix spelling and grammar is one of the AI actions. Carrasqueira worries it could introduce more noticeable mistakes, which is a fair opinion and not a documented flaw. Microsoft does say to review AI output carefully. If you do enable the action, the Coaching mode that previews an explanation of the corrections is a sensible safeguard.
A scripting option
Microsoft's documentation also describes a command-line interface, PowerToys.AdvancedPaste.CLI.exe. It lets you run the same actions without the Advanced Paste window, using a command like transform --action paste-as-txt-file. It can read from a file or the clipboard and write to a path you specify. Unlike the shortcut route, that gives you control over where the output goes. The documentation says PowerToys adds its folder to PATH, so open a new terminal after installing. Group policy applies to the CLI too.
Practical takeaways
- Use .txt for copied text, .html for copied webpage selections, and .png for screenshots.
- Paste into File Explorer first. If that works, try your chat or email app.
- Don't rely on the file name. It's generated.
- Treat AI features as opt-in, and check which provider you've configured.
- Check your shortcuts for conflicts. Microsoft warns against setting Ctrl+V as the activation shortcut.
It won't change your life, but it replaces a short, repetitive chore with one keystroke. That's a reasonable trade for a free utility.