Samsung has confirmed a security vulnerability within its One UI software on Galaxy smartphones and tablets, acknowledging that the system’s clipboard history stores copied information, potentially including passwords, as unencrypted text without any automatic time limit for deletion.
The company’s confirmation appeared on its official US community forum following recent user reports detailing the security implications, particularly for individuals using password managers. One UI is Samsung’s custom interface layer built on top of the Android operating system, integrating unique features and visual styles across Galaxy devices.
The core of the problem resides in how this clipboard history is handled at the system level within One UI. When users copy text, such as a complex password generated by an application like KeePass, that data is saved into a history list accessible later.
This list retains the copied information in plaintext, meaning it’s not encrypted, and it remains there until a user manually intervenes to delete it. As the original user report noted, attempting to use alternative Android keyboard apps, such as Google’s Gboard, does not circumvent the issue; the One UI system clipboard still captures and retains the data.
User Concerns Prompt Official Response
The specific exchange that led to Samsung’s public confirmation began when forum member “OicitrapDraz” posted about their concerns after using the KeePass password manager. “I copy passwords from my password manager all the time (I use KeePass, so they’re long and complex), and I know a lot of people do the same. How is it that Samsung’s clipboard saves everything in plain text with no expiration? That’s a huge security issue,” OicitrapDraz wrote.
They highlighted the risk, saying: “If someone steals your phone, or even if a friend or acquaintance uses it while it’s unlocked, they can just scroll through your clipboard and see all your passwords? That’s wild.”
An official Samsung account, “USBetaModerator3,” directly addressed the post. “We understand your concerns regarding clipboard behavior and how it may affect sensitive content,” the moderator replied, adding, “Clipboard history in One UI is managed at the system level.” The response confirmed that user suggestions for better controls were noted: “Your suggestion for more control over clipboard data—such as auto-clear or exclusion options—has been noted and shared with the appropriate team for consideration.”
However, the immediate advice put the onus back on the user: “In the meantime, we recommend manually clearing clipboard history when needed and using secure input methods for sensitive information.”
Not a New Concern
This specific interaction brought renewed focus to a problem users say has persisted for years. In a subsequent follow-up post, OicitrapDraz pushed back against the moderator’s framing, stating, “honestly, I don’t think this is just ‘helpful feedback’, it’s a serious security flaw that should be prioritized.” They added that the “issue has been raised by users across the internet for years,” referencing examples from discussions on platforms like Reddit (example 1, example 2), and other Samsung forums, adding that some users avoid Samsung devices specifically because of this persistent problem.
Other forum participants shared this view. User “userTuwO81ciSE” commented, “I completely agree. As a loyal samsung user, privacy concerns will strongly affect my purchasing decision. Especially with the current environment, privacy is PARAMOUNT.”
Another user, “markdigi,” highlighted an inconsistency: “It’s an option within Secure Folder, why is it not an option system-wide?” Samsung’s Secure Folder is an encrypted space on Galaxy devices for storing private files and apps, and it includes settings to restrict clipboard access – capabilities seemingly absent from the main One UI environment. User “belphegor” expressed clear frustration: “Amateur hour at Samsung. Years and years and you still haven’t fixed this. Drop everything you’re working on and prioritise this.”
Alternative Keyboards and Broader Clipboard Context
This persistent system-level behavior has led some users to investigate alternatives, although simply installing a different keyboard application won’t prevent sensitive data from landing in the One UI clipboard history. Android users often turn to options like Microsoft SwiftKey, known for its AI predictions and multilingual capabilities, or Google’s Gboard with its integrated search features.
SwiftKey, particularly, offers a cloud clipboard feature that syncs copied items between a phone and a Windows PC logged into the same Microsoft account – a convenience that also carries its own data exposure considerations if not managed carefully. Other keyboards like Fleksy sometimes promote customization and privacy features, while open-source options such as Openboard offer a familiar feel without cloud dependencies. While these apps offer different typing experiences and sometimes their own clipboard tools, they cannot override One UI’s underlying storage mechanism on affected Galaxy devices.
The challenge of managing clipboard data securely isn’t unique to mobile. Windows 11, for instance, features its own clipboard history (accessed via Windows + V) which stores multiple items locally and can optionally sync across devices via a Microsoft account.
Like the One UI implementation, this data is stored unencrypted locally. Standard security advice for Windows mirrors Samsung’s current guidance: manually clear the history, lock the device when not in use, and exercise caution when copying highly sensitive credentials, especially if cloud sync is active. Some enterprise Cloud PC setups even allow restricting clipboard transfers to text-only between local and cloud machines, showing that more granular controls are technically feasible.
Manual Clearing Remains Samsung’s Advised Solution
For Samsung Galaxy users affected by the One UI clipboard behavior, the primary mitigation currently available is manual deletion. Samsung has acknowledged the user feedback requesting improved clipboard controls, such as automatic data expiration or app-specific exclusions, but has not committed to a timeline for implementing these changes in One UI.
Until a software update addresses the vulnerability directly, users handling sensitive information like passwords, financial details, or private keys must remain diligent about clearing their clipboard history frequently to minimize the window of potential exposure. This ongoing lack of automatic safeguards means any password or private data copied remains accessible in the device’s history until the user takes explicit action to remove it.
