bind-global-shortcut

name	bind-global-shortcut
description	Bind a system-wide keyboard shortcut to a CopyQ Custom Command — show menu, paste-as-plain-text, run a transformation on the current clipboard, etc. Covers both the in-CopyQ `GlobalShortcut` field and the alternative of binding the shortcut at the desktop-environment level (KDE / GNOME) to a `copyq` CLI invocation.

Bind a Global Shortcut to CopyQ

There are two viable approaches. Pick based on context:

Approach	When to use
CopyQ's built-in GlobalShortcut	Default. Lives with the command, portable across machines via command export.
Desktop-environment shortcut → copyq <cli>	Wayland sessions where CopyQ's global shortcut grabber doesn't work, or when the action is a simple CLI call.

On KDE Plasma 6 / Wayland (the user's setup), CopyQ's built-in global shortcuts can be unreliable because Wayland restricts global key grabbing. Default to the DE-level approach on Wayland unless verified working.

Approach A: CopyQ built-in GlobalShortcut

Add GlobalShortcut to a Custom Command:

[Commands]
1\Name=Paste as plain text
1\GlobalShortcut=ctrl+alt+v
1\Command="
    copyq:
    var t = str(clipboard());
    copy(mimeText, t);
    paste();
"
size=1

Or set it in the GUI: Preferences → Commands → (select command) → Global Shortcut.

Verify it works after import:

copyq loadCommands "$(cat shortcut.ini)"
# Then press the keybind in any focused app.

Approach B: KDE Plasma keybinding → CLI

Bind the shortcut at the DE level via kglobalaccel / System Settings, pointing at a copyq CLI call.

Quick way: System Settings → Shortcuts → Custom Shortcuts → New → Global Shortcut → Command/URL

Command examples:

Action	Command
Show CopyQ menu under cursor	copyq menu
Show main window	copyq toggle
Paste as plain text	copyq eval -- 'copy(str(clipboard())); paste();'
Cycle to previous clipboard item	copyq prev && copyq paste
Send selection to a "Snippets" tab	copyq eval -- 'tab("Snippets"); add(str(clipboard()));'

Scripted way (KDE)

# Create a desktop-action file that calls copyq
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/applications
cat > ~/.local/share/applications/copyq-paste-plain.desktop <<'EOF'
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=CopyQ Paste Plain
Exec=copyq eval -- 'copy(str(clipboard())); paste();'
NoDisplay=true
EOF

Then bind a global shortcut to it via System Settings → Shortcuts → Add Application → pick the entry.

GNOME

Settings → Keyboard → View and Customize Shortcuts → Custom Shortcuts → +. Set Command to the same copyq ... invocation.

i3 / sway

Add to config:

bindsym $mod+v exec copyq menu
bindsym $mod+Shift+v exec copyq eval -- 'copy(str(clipboard())); paste();'

Useful shortcut recipes

// Paste-as-plain-text
copy(str(clipboard())); paste();

// Strip URL tracking params from clipboard then paste
var t = str(clipboard()).replace(/([?&])(utm_[^=&]+|fbclid|gclid)=[^&]*/g, '$1').replace(/[?&]$/, '');
copy(t); paste();

// Insert a templated snippet
copy('Best regards,\nDaniel'); paste();

// Push current clipboard to a "Saved" tab without disturbing focus
tab('Saved'); add(str(clipboard()));

Verify a binding

After binding, test by focusing a text editor and pressing the key. If nothing happens:

1. Check the CopyQ server is running (pgrep -a copyq).
2. Check no other app is grabbing the shortcut (kglobalaccel5 --list on KDE).
3. On Wayland, fall back to Approach B.