diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/abi.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/abi.rs
index 7a6a0e1e..93b30c58 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/abi.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/abi.rs
@@ -527,6 +527,10 @@ pub struct PunktfunkConnection {
     /// `inner.audio_channels`; `pcm` is a fixed-capacity reusable buffer the returned pointer
     /// borrows until the next PCM call (same contract as `last_audio`).
     audio_pcm: std::sync::Mutex<AudioPcmState>,
+    /// Backs the `data`/`len` pointer of the last `punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard` event
+    /// (a fetched payload, an offer's format list, or a fetch-request's MIME) —
+    /// borrow-until-next-call, same contract as `last`.
+    last_clip: std::sync::Mutex<Option<Vec<u8>>>,
 }
 
 /// Lazily-initialized in-core Opus decode state. A coupled-1-stream multistream decoder is
@@ -948,6 +952,14 @@ pub const PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_AV1: u8 = 0x04;
 /// (design/pyrowave-codec-plan.md §3). (Mirrors `quic::CODEC_PYROWAVE`.)
 pub const PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_PYROWAVE: u8 = 0x08;
 
+/// Host-capability bit in [`punktfunk_connection_host_caps`]: the host applies gamepad-state
+/// snapshots (a capable client sends full-state snapshots instead of per-transition events).
+/// (Mirrors `quic::HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE`.)
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE: u8 = 0x01;
+/// Host-capability bit in [`punktfunk_connection_host_caps`]: the host supports the shared
+/// clipboard, so a client may offer the toggle. (Mirrors `quic::HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`.)
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD: u8 = 0x02;
+
 // Keep the ABI cap bits in lockstep with the wire constants (compile-time guard against drift).
 #[cfg(feature = "quic")]
 const _: () = {
@@ -958,6 +970,8 @@ const _: () = {
     assert!(PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_HEVC == crate::quic::CODEC_HEVC);
     assert!(PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_AV1 == crate::quic::CODEC_AV1);
     assert!(PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_PYROWAVE == crate::quic::CODEC_PYROWAVE);
+    assert!(PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE == crate::quic::HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE);
+    assert!(PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD == crate::quic::HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD);
 };
 
 // Keep the ABI gamepad constants in lockstep with the wire enum (compile-time guard against drift).
@@ -1552,6 +1566,7 @@ unsafe fn connect_ex_impl(
                     last: std::sync::Mutex::new(None),
                     last_audio: std::sync::Mutex::new(None),
                     audio_pcm: std::sync::Mutex::new(AudioPcmState::default()),
+                    last_clip: std::sync::Mutex::new(None),
                 }))
             }
             Err(e) => {
@@ -2456,6 +2471,397 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_gamepad(
     })
 }
 
+// ============================================================================================
+// Shared clipboard (design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md §5.1). Additive, ABI v6. All poll/serve
+// bytes ride the mTLS-pinned QUIC session; nothing here opens a new listener or port.
+// ============================================================================================
+
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — the host announced clipboard content is available
+/// (`transfer_id` = the offer `seq`; `data`/`len` = a `\n`-separated `"<mime>\t<size_hint>"`
+/// format list). Fetch it lazily (only on a local paste) via
+/// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch`].
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_REMOTE_OFFER: u8 = 1;
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — host ack / policy / backend update (`enabled`/`policy`/`reason`
+/// valid). Reflect it in the toggle UI.
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_STATE: u8 = 2;
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — the host is pasting our offered data: answer with
+/// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_serve`] (`transfer_id` = `req_id`; `seq`/`file_index` valid;
+/// `data`/`len` = the requested MIME).
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_FETCH_REQUEST: u8 = 3;
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — bytes for a fetch we started (`transfer_id` = `xfer_id`;
+/// `data`/`len` = the payload, borrowed until the next `next_clipboard`; `last` = final chunk).
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_DATA: u8 = 4;
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — a transfer was cancelled (`transfer_id` = the id).
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_CANCELLED: u8 = 5;
+/// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — a transfer failed (`transfer_id` = the id; `status` = a
+/// `PunktfunkStatus` code).
+pub const PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_ERROR: u8 = 6;
+
+/// One advertised clipboard format passed to [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_offer`].
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct PunktfunkClipKind {
+    /// NUL-terminated UTF-8 wire MIME (e.g. `text/plain;charset=utf-8`). ≤ 128 bytes on the wire.
+    pub mime: *const std::os::raw::c_char,
+    /// Best-effort size in bytes; `0` = unknown.
+    pub size_hint: u64,
+}
+
+/// A shared-clipboard event, filled by [`punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard`]. A flat tagged
+/// struct (like `PunktfunkHidOutput`): read the fields named in the `kind`'s doc; the rest are 0.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+pub struct PunktfunkClipEvent {
+    /// One of `PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_*`.
+    pub kind: u8,
+    /// `State`: 1 = enabled, 0 = disabled.
+    pub enabled: u8,
+    /// `State`: bitfield of `quic::CLIP_POLICY_*` — what the host currently permits.
+    pub policy: u8,
+    /// `State`: one of `quic::CLIP_REASON_*`.
+    pub reason: u8,
+    /// `Data`: 1 = final chunk of this transfer.
+    pub last: u8,
+    /// Per-transfer id: the offer `seq` (RemoteOffer), the `req_id` (FetchRequest), or the
+    /// `xfer_id` (Data/Cancelled/Error).
+    pub transfer_id: u32,
+    /// `FetchRequest`: the offer `seq` the request is against.
+    pub seq: u32,
+    /// `FetchRequest`: file index, or `quic::CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE`.
+    pub file_index: u32,
+    /// `Error`: a `PunktfunkStatus` code (negative); 0 otherwise.
+    pub status: i32,
+    /// RemoteOffer/FetchRequest/Data: a pointer into a per-connection slot, valid until the next
+    /// `next_clipboard` call; NULL for the other kinds.
+    pub data: *const u8,
+    /// Byte length of `data` (0 when `data` is NULL).
+    pub len: usize,
+}
+
+/// Fill a [`PunktfunkClipEvent`] from a core event, parking any variable-length bytes in `slot`
+/// (borrow-until-next-call) and pointing `data`/`len` at them.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+fn build_clip_event(
+    ev: crate::clipboard::ClipEventCore,
+    slot: &mut Option<Vec<u8>>,
+) -> PunktfunkClipEvent {
+    use crate::clipboard::ClipEventCore as E;
+    let mut out = PunktfunkClipEvent {
+        kind: 0,
+        enabled: 0,
+        policy: 0,
+        reason: 0,
+        last: 0,
+        transfer_id: 0,
+        seq: 0,
+        file_index: 0,
+        status: 0,
+        data: std::ptr::null(),
+        len: 0,
+    };
+    *slot = None;
+    match ev {
+        E::RemoteOffer { seq, kinds } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_REMOTE_OFFER;
+            out.transfer_id = seq;
+            let mut blob = String::new();
+            for k in &kinds {
+                blob.push_str(&k.mime);
+                blob.push('\t');
+                blob.push_str(&k.size_hint.to_string());
+                blob.push('\n');
+            }
+            *slot = Some(blob.into_bytes());
+        }
+        E::State {
+            enabled,
+            policy,
+            reason,
+        } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_STATE;
+            out.enabled = enabled as u8;
+            out.policy = policy;
+            out.reason = reason;
+        }
+        E::FetchRequest {
+            req_id,
+            seq,
+            file_index,
+            mime,
+        } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_FETCH_REQUEST;
+            out.transfer_id = req_id;
+            out.seq = seq;
+            out.file_index = file_index;
+            *slot = Some(mime.into_bytes());
+        }
+        E::Data {
+            xfer_id,
+            bytes,
+            last,
+        } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_DATA;
+            out.transfer_id = xfer_id;
+            out.last = last as u8;
+            *slot = Some(bytes);
+        }
+        E::Cancelled { id } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_CANCELLED;
+            out.transfer_id = id;
+        }
+        E::Error { id, code } => {
+            out.kind = PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_ERROR;
+            out.transfer_id = id;
+            out.status = code;
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(v) = slot.as_ref() {
+        out.data = v.as_ptr();
+        out.len = v.len();
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// The host capability bitfield the session's `Welcome` carried — a bitfield of
+/// `PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE` / `PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`. A client tests
+/// `caps & PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD` to decide whether to offer the shared-clipboard toggle.
+/// Safe any time after connect.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle; `caps` is writable (NULL is skipped).
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_host_caps(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    caps: *mut u8,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        unsafe {
+            if !caps.is_null() {
+                *caps = c.inner.host_caps();
+            }
+        }
+        PunktfunkStatus::Ok
+    })
+}
+
+/// Enable or disable the shared clipboard for this session (`design` §3.1). Opt-in: nothing is
+/// announced or served until this is called with `enabled = true`. `flags` carries
+/// `quic::CLIP_FLAG_FILES` (allow file transfer). The host replies with a `State` event.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_clipboard_control(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    enabled: bool,
+    flags: u8,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        match c.inner.clip_control(enabled, flags) {
+            Ok(()) => PunktfunkStatus::Ok,
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Announce that the local clipboard changed — the lazy format-list offer. `seq` is a monotonic
+/// per-sender counter (newest wins); `kinds`/`n` is the advertised formats (≤ 16). The bytes cross
+/// only if the host later fetches.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle; `kinds` points to `n` `PunktfunkClipKind`s (NULL allowed only
+/// when `n == 0`), each `mime` a valid NUL-terminated UTF-8 string.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_clipboard_offer(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    seq: u32,
+    kinds: *const PunktfunkClipKind,
+    n: usize,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        if kinds.is_null() && n != 0 {
+            return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer;
+        }
+        let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(n);
+        if n != 0 {
+            let slice = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts(kinds, n) };
+            for k in slice {
+                let mime = if k.mime.is_null() {
+                    String::new()
+                } else {
+                    match unsafe { std::ffi::CStr::from_ptr(k.mime) }.to_str() {
+                        Ok(s) => s.to_string(),
+                        Err(_) => return PunktfunkStatus::InvalidArg,
+                    }
+                };
+                out.push(crate::quic::ClipKind {
+                    mime,
+                    size_hint: k.size_hint,
+                });
+            }
+        }
+        match c.inner.clip_offer(seq, out) {
+            Ok(()) => PunktfunkStatus::Ok,
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Start pulling one format (`mime`) of the host's current offer `seq` — lazily, on a local paste.
+/// `file_index` selects a file for a file transfer, or `quic::CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE` for a non-file
+/// format. Writes the transfer id (echoed on the resulting `Data`/`Error`/`Cancelled` event) to
+/// `xfer_id_out`.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle; `mime` is a valid NUL-terminated UTF-8 string; `xfer_id_out`
+/// is writable (NULL is skipped).
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    seq: u32,
+    mime: *const std::os::raw::c_char,
+    file_index: u32,
+    xfer_id_out: *mut u32,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        if mime.is_null() {
+            return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer;
+        }
+        let mime = match unsafe { std::ffi::CStr::from_ptr(mime) }.to_str() {
+            Ok(s) => s.to_string(),
+            Err(_) => return PunktfunkStatus::InvalidArg,
+        };
+        match c.inner.clip_fetch(seq, mime, file_index) {
+            Ok(xfer_id) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    if !xfer_id_out.is_null() {
+                        *xfer_id_out = xfer_id;
+                    }
+                }
+                PunktfunkStatus::Ok
+            }
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Provide bytes answering a `FetchRequest` event (the host is pasting our offered data). Call
+/// repeatedly to stream a large payload; `last = true` completes it. `data` may be NULL only when
+/// `len == 0` (e.g. a final empty chunk). `punktfunk_connection_clipboard_cancel(req_id)` aborts.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle; `data` points to `len` bytes (NULL allowed only when
+/// `len == 0`).
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_clipboard_serve(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    req_id: u32,
+    data: *const u8,
+    len: usize,
+    last: bool,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        if data.is_null() && len != 0 {
+            return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer;
+        }
+        let bytes = if len == 0 {
+            Vec::new()
+        } else {
+            unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts(data, len) }.to_vec()
+        };
+        match c.inner.clip_serve(req_id, bytes, last) {
+            Ok(()) => PunktfunkStatus::Ok,
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Cancel a clipboard transfer by id — either an outbound fetch (`xfer_id` from
+/// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch`]) or an inbound serve (`req_id` from a `FetchRequest`).
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_clipboard_cancel(
+    c: *const PunktfunkConnection,
+    id: u32,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        match c.inner.clip_cancel(id) {
+            Ok(()) => PunktfunkStatus::Ok,
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Pull the next shared-clipboard event into `*out`. [`PunktfunkStatus::NoFrame`] on timeout,
+/// [`PunktfunkStatus::Closed`] once the session ended. A native client drains this on its own
+/// thread and drives the OS pasteboard from it. The `data`/`len` pointer (when non-NULL) borrows a
+/// per-connection buffer valid until the next `next_clipboard` call on this handle.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `c` is a valid connection handle; `out` is writable for one `PunktfunkClipEvent`.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard(
+    c: *mut PunktfunkConnection,
+    out: *mut PunktfunkClipEvent,
+    timeout_ms: u32,
+) -> PunktfunkStatus {
+    guard(|| {
+        let c = match unsafe { c.as_ref() } {
+            Some(c) => c,
+            None => return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer,
+        };
+        if out.is_null() {
+            return PunktfunkStatus::NullPointer;
+        }
+        match c
+            .inner
+            .next_clip(std::time::Duration::from_millis(timeout_ms as u64))
+        {
+            Ok(ev) => {
+                let mut slot = c.last_clip.lock().unwrap();
+                let out_ev = build_clip_event(ev, &mut slot);
+                unsafe { *out = out_ev };
+                PunktfunkStatus::Ok
+            }
+            Err(e) => e.status(),
+        }
+    })
+}
+
 /// The compositor backend the host actually resolved for this session (one of the
 /// `PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR_*` values; the `Welcome`'s echo of the [`punktfunk_connect_ex`]
 /// preference). `PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR_AUTO` = an older host that didn't say. Clients use it for
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
index 670d4870..5b13140d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
@@ -12,15 +12,16 @@
 //! channel. All methods are safe to call from any single embedder thread.
 
 use crate::abr::BitrateController;
+use crate::clipboard::{ClipCommand, ClipEventCore};
 use crate::config::{CompositorPref, GamepadPref, Mode, Role};
 use crate::error::{PunktfunkError, Result};
 use crate::input::InputEvent;
 use crate::packet::FLAG_PROBE;
 use crate::quic::{
-    accept_resync, endpoint, io, wall_clock_ns, window_loss_ppm, BitrateChanged, ClockEcho,
-    ClockResync, ColorInfo, HdrMeta, Hello, HidOutput, LossReport, ProbeRequest, ProbeResult,
-    Reconfigure, Reconfigured, RequestKeyframe, ResyncStep, RfiRequest, RichInput, SetBitrate,
-    Start, Welcome,
+    accept_resync, endpoint, io, wall_clock_ns, window_loss_ppm, BitrateChanged, ClipControl,
+    ClipKind, ClipOffer, ClipState, ClockEcho, ClockResync, ColorInfo, HdrMeta, Hello, HidOutput,
+    LossReport, ProbeRequest, ProbeResult, Reconfigure, Reconfigured, RequestKeyframe, ResyncStep,
+    RfiRequest, RichInput, SetBitrate, Start, Welcome,
 };
 use crate::session::{Frame, Session};
 use crate::transport::UdpTransport;
@@ -62,6 +63,12 @@ enum CtrlRequest {
     /// its report tick after the first no-op clock flush — the "the clock stepped under me"
     /// signal; the control task also self-triggers one every [`CLOCK_RESYNC_INTERVAL`].
     ClockResync,
+    /// Shared-clipboard enable/disable for this session (`design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md`
+    /// §3.1). Idempotent; carries the file-permission flag.
+    ClipControl(ClipControl),
+    /// Announce that the local clipboard changed — the lazy format-list offer (bytes cross later on
+    /// a fetch stream). Symmetric message; the host may send one too.
+    ClipOffer(ClipOffer),
 }
 
 /// What the worker reports to [`NativeClient::connect`] once the handshake lands: the
@@ -95,6 +102,10 @@ struct Negotiated {
     audio_channels: u8,
     /// The single codec the host will emit (`quic::CODEC_*`).
     codec: u8,
+    /// The host capability bitfield ([`Welcome::host_caps`]): [`crate::quic::HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE`],
+    /// [`crate::quic::HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`]. Exposed to the embedder via
+    /// [`NativeClient::host_caps`] so a native client greys out unsupported toggles.
+    host_caps: u8,
 }
 
 /// Accumulated state of an in-flight / finished speed test. The data-plane pump mirrors the
@@ -368,6 +379,12 @@ const HDR_META_QUEUE: usize = 8;
 /// harmless, it's per-frame observability, not state.
 const HOST_TIMING_QUEUE: usize = 512;
 
+/// Clipboard event plane depth (offers, host acks, fetch-requests, fetched payloads). Clipboard
+/// activity is human-paced and sparse; a small ring is ample. Overflow drops the newest event
+/// (try_send), same discipline as the other planes — a dropped offer heals on the next copy, and
+/// a dropped fetch-request makes the serving stream time out and reset cleanly.
+const CLIP_EVENT_QUEUE: usize = 32;
+
 /// One Opus packet from the host's audio datagram stream (48 kHz stereo, 5 ms frames).
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct AudioPacket {
@@ -480,6 +497,19 @@ pub struct NativeClient {
     /// Bounded ([`CTRL_QUEUE`]) — the requests are sparse; a full queue means the control task
     /// is wedged/dead, and callers treat it like a closed session.
     ctrl_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<CtrlRequest>,
+    /// Inbound shared-clipboard events (remote offers, host acks, fetch-requests, fetched
+    /// payloads), drained by [`NativeClient::next_clip`] → the C ABI poll. Fed by the control task
+    /// (metadata) and the clipboard task (fetch data).
+    clip: Mutex<Receiver<ClipEventCore>>,
+    /// Outbound clipboard fetch/serve/cancel commands → the worker's clipboard task
+    /// ([`crate::clipboard::run`]). Unbounded like `input_tx`; the commands are sparse and each
+    /// carries at most one paste's bytes.
+    clip_cmd_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender<ClipCommand>,
+    /// Monotonic id for outbound fetches ([`NativeClient::clip_fetch`]); stays below
+    /// [`crate::clipboard::INBOUND_REQ_FLAG`] so it never collides with an inbound serve `req_id`.
+    next_xfer_id: AtomicU32,
+    /// The host capability bitfield ([`Welcome::host_caps`]) — see [`NativeClient::host_caps`].
+    pub host_caps: u8,
     /// Speed-test accumulator, shared with the data-plane pump + control task.
     probe: Arc<Mutex<ProbeState>>,
     shutdown: Arc<AtomicBool>,
@@ -694,6 +724,9 @@ impl NativeClient {
         let (mic_tx, mic_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel::<(u32, u64, Vec<u8>)>(MIC_QUEUE);
         let (rich_input_tx, rich_input_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel::<RichInput>();
         let (ctrl_tx, ctrl_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel::<CtrlRequest>(CTRL_QUEUE);
+        let (clip_event_tx, clip_event_rx) =
+            std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel::<ClipEventCore>(CLIP_EVENT_QUEUE);
+        let (clip_cmd_tx, clip_cmd_rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel::<ClipCommand>();
         let (ready_tx, ready_rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel::<Result<Negotiated>>();
         let shutdown = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
         let quit = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
@@ -761,6 +794,8 @@ impl NativeClient {
                     rich_input_rx,
                     ctrl_rx,
                     ctrl_tx: ctrl_tx_pump,
+                    clip_event_tx,
+                    clip_cmd_rx,
                     ready_tx,
                     shutdown: shutdown_w,
                     quit: quit_w,
@@ -795,6 +830,10 @@ impl NativeClient {
             mic_tx,
             rich_input_tx,
             ctrl_tx,
+            clip: Mutex::new(clip_event_rx),
+            clip_cmd_tx,
+            next_xfer_id: AtomicU32::new(1),
+            host_caps: negotiated.host_caps,
             probe,
             shutdown,
             quit,
@@ -1309,6 +1348,83 @@ impl NativeClient {
         self.input_tx.send(*ev).map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)
     }
 
+    /// The host capability bitfield the [`Welcome`] carried ([`crate::quic::HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE`],
+    /// [`crate::quic::HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`]). A native client tests
+    /// `host_caps() & HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD` to decide whether to offer the shared-clipboard toggle.
+    pub fn host_caps(&self) -> u8 {
+        self.host_caps
+    }
+
+    /// Enable or disable the shared clipboard for this session (`design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md`
+    /// §3.1). Opt-in: nothing is announced or served until this crosses with `enabled = true`.
+    /// `flags` carries [`crate::quic::CLIP_FLAG_FILES`]. Non-blocking; the host replies with a
+    /// `State` event ([`NativeClient::next_clip`]).
+    pub fn clip_control(&self, enabled: bool, flags: u8) -> Result<()> {
+        self.ctrl_tx
+            .try_send(CtrlRequest::ClipControl(ClipControl { enabled, flags }))
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)
+    }
+
+    /// Announce that the local clipboard changed — the lazy format-list offer. `seq` is a
+    /// monotonic per-sender counter (newest wins); `kinds` is the advertised formats (≤
+    /// [`crate::quic::CLIP_MAX_KINDS`]). The bytes cross only if the host later fetches.
+    pub fn clip_offer(&self, seq: u32, kinds: Vec<ClipKind>) -> Result<()> {
+        self.ctrl_tx
+            .try_send(CtrlRequest::ClipOffer(ClipOffer { seq, kinds }))
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)
+    }
+
+    /// Start pulling one format (`mime`) of the host's current offer `seq` — lazily, when a local
+    /// app pastes. `file_index` selects a file for a file transfer, or
+    /// [`crate::quic::CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE`] for a non-file format. Returns the `xfer_id` echoed on
+    /// the resulting `Data` / `Error` / `Cancelled` event.
+    pub fn clip_fetch(&self, seq: u32, mime: String, file_index: u32) -> Result<u32> {
+        let xfer_id = self.next_xfer_id.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        // Stay in the low id space (inbound serve ids carry the high bit); wrap defensively.
+        let xfer_id = xfer_id & !crate::clipboard::INBOUND_REQ_FLAG;
+        self.clip_cmd_tx
+            .send(ClipCommand::Fetch {
+                xfer_id,
+                seq,
+                file_index,
+                mime,
+            })
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)?;
+        Ok(xfer_id)
+    }
+
+    /// Provide bytes answering a `FetchRequest` event (the host is pasting our offered data). Call
+    /// repeatedly to stream a large payload; `last = true` completes it. `clip_cancel(req_id)`
+    /// aborts instead.
+    pub fn clip_serve(&self, req_id: u32, bytes: Vec<u8>, last: bool) -> Result<()> {
+        self.clip_cmd_tx
+            .send(ClipCommand::Serve {
+                req_id,
+                bytes,
+                last,
+            })
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)
+    }
+
+    /// Cancel a clipboard transfer by id — either an outbound fetch (`xfer_id` from
+    /// [`NativeClient::clip_fetch`]) or an inbound serve (`req_id` from a `FetchRequest` event).
+    pub fn clip_cancel(&self, id: u32) -> Result<()> {
+        self.clip_cmd_tx
+            .send(ClipCommand::Cancel { id })
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkError::Closed)
+    }
+
+    /// Pull the next shared-clipboard event (remote offer, host ack/state, fetch-request, fetched
+    /// data, cancel, error); same timeout/closed semantics as [`NativeClient::next_hidout`]. A
+    /// native client drains this on its own thread and drives the OS pasteboard from it.
+    pub fn next_clip(&self, timeout: Duration) -> Result<ClipEventCore> {
+        match self.clip.lock().unwrap().recv_timeout(timeout) {
+            Ok(e) => Ok(e),
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout) => Err(PunktfunkError::NoFrame),
+            Err(RecvTimeoutError::Disconnected) => Err(PunktfunkError::Closed),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Queue one Opus mic frame for delivery as a 0xCB uplink datagram (the inverse of
     /// [`next_audio`](Self::next_audio)). `seq`/`pts_ns` are the caller's own counters (the host
     /// uses them only for diagnostics). The host decodes it into a virtual microphone source.
@@ -1408,6 +1524,8 @@ struct WorkerArgs {
     rich_input_rx: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<RichInput>,
     ctrl_rx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Receiver<CtrlRequest>,
     ctrl_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<CtrlRequest>,
+    clip_event_tx: SyncSender<ClipEventCore>,
+    clip_cmd_rx: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<ClipCommand>,
     ready_tx: std::sync::mpsc::Sender<Result<Negotiated>>,
     shutdown: Arc<AtomicBool>,
     /// Deliberate-quit flag (see [`NativeClient::quit`]): the worker closes with the quit code if set.
@@ -1466,6 +1584,8 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
         mut rich_input_rx,
         mut ctrl_rx,
         ctrl_tx,
+        clip_event_tx,
+        clip_cmd_rx,
         ready_tx,
         shutdown,
         quit,
@@ -1630,6 +1750,7 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
                     audio_channels: welcome.audio_channels,
                     codec: welcome.codec,
                     shard_payload: welcome.shard_payload,
+                    host_caps: welcome.host_caps,
                 },
                 welcome.host_caps,
             ))
@@ -1653,7 +1774,7 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
             return;
         }
     };
-    // Copies the pump needs after `negotiated` is handed over to `connect`.
+    // Copies the worker needs after `negotiated` is handed over to `connect`.
     let clock_rtt_ns = negotiated.clock_rtt_ns;
     let resolved_bitrate_kbps = negotiated.bitrate_kbps;
     let negotiated_codec = negotiated.codec;
@@ -1830,6 +1951,9 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
         let bitrate_ack = bitrate_ack.clone();
         let clock_offset = clock_offset.clone();
         let clock_gen = clock_gen.clone();
+        // The control task feeds clipboard metadata events (ClipState/ClipOffer) onto the same event
+        // plane the clipboard task uses for fetch data; the original tx goes to that task below.
+        let clip_event_tx = clip_event_tx.clone();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
             // Mid-stream clock re-sync (see [`ClockResync`]): a batch runs every
             // CLOCK_RESYNC_INTERVAL and whenever the pump asks (CtrlRequest::ClockResync after
@@ -1859,6 +1983,8 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
                                 }
                                 resync.begin(wall_clock_ns()).encode()
                             }
+                            CtrlRequest::ClipControl(c) => c.encode(),
+                            CtrlRequest::ClipOffer(o) => o.encode(),
                         };
                         if io::write_msg(&mut ctrl_send, &bytes).await.is_err() {
                             break;
@@ -1940,6 +2066,21 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
                                 }
                                 ResyncStep::Idle => {}
                             }
+                        } else if let Ok(state) = ClipState::decode(&msg) {
+                            // Host ack / policy / backend update for the toggle UI (try_send: a
+                            // lagging embedder drops the newest — a stale toggle heals on the next).
+                            let _ = clip_event_tx.try_send(ClipEventCore::State {
+                                enabled: state.enabled,
+                                policy: state.policy,
+                                reason: state.reason,
+                            });
+                        } else if let Ok(offer) = ClipOffer::decode(&msg) {
+                            // The host copied something: surface the lazy format list; the embedder
+                            // fetches only if a local app pastes.
+                            let _ = clip_event_tx.try_send(ClipEventCore::RemoteOffer {
+                                seq: offer.seq,
+                                kinds: offer.kinds,
+                            });
                         } else {
                             tracing::warn!(
                                 tag = ?msg.first(),
@@ -2020,6 +2161,17 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
         }
     });
 
+    // Clipboard task: the fetch-stream accept loop (host pulls what we offered) + outbound fetches
+    // (we pull what the host offered). Metadata (enable/offer/state) rides the control task above;
+    // only bulk bytes flow here. Dies with the connection (accept_bi errors) or when the embedder
+    // drops the command sender. Always spawned — a host without HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD simply never
+    // opens a clip stream, and our control-plane offers hit its "unknown message" arm harmlessly.
+    tokio::spawn(crate::clipboard::run(
+        conn.clone(),
+        clip_event_tx,
+        clip_cmd_rx,
+    ));
+
     // Watch for connection close → stop the pump.
     {
         let shutdown = shutdown.clone();
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/clipboard.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/clipboard.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ee08a43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/clipboard.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+//! Client-side shared-clipboard transport (`design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md` §5.1).
+//!
+//! This is the client-core half of Phase 0: the per-session async task that runs the fetch-stream
+//! **accept loop** (so the host can pull data the client offered) and drives **outbound fetches**
+//! (so the client can pull what the host offered), surfacing everything to the embedder as
+//! poll-style [`ClipEventCore`] events. The metadata plane — enabling sync and announcing offers —
+//! rides the control stream as ordinary [`ClipControl`]/[`ClipOffer`] control messages
+//! ([`crate::client`] routes those); only the bulk bytes flow through here, over the
+//! [`crate::quic::clipstream`] fetch bi-streams.
+//!
+//! There is intentionally **no OS pasteboard code here** — that lives in the native client (macOS
+//! first). The event/command seam is what the C ABI ([`crate::abi`]) exposes so a native client
+//! polls offers/fetch-requests and answers with bytes.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::sync::mpsc::SyncSender;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+use tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedReceiver;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+
+use crate::error::PunktfunkStatus;
+use crate::quic::{
+    clipstream, ClipFetch, ClipFetchHdr, ClipKind, CLIP_FETCH_DENIED, CLIP_FETCH_OK,
+    CLIP_FETCH_STALE, CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE,
+};
+
+/// Per-fetch requester-side size cap (bytes). A holder that streams more than this is treated as a
+/// cap breach and the fetch fails rather than buffering unboundedly (§7). Phase 0 uses one fixed
+/// value; a future host-policy `PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_MAX_MB` tightens it per session.
+pub const CLIP_FETCH_CAP: usize = 64 << 20;
+
+/// Inbound-serve `req_id`s carry this high bit so they never collide with the client-assigned
+/// outbound-fetch `xfer_id`s (which count up from 1). A single [`ClipCommand::Cancel`] `id` can
+/// then be routed to the right table.
+pub const INBOUND_REQ_FLAG: u32 = 0x8000_0000;
+
+/// Overall stall bound for one outbound fetch (`design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md` §3.4): a
+/// holder that never answers fails the transfer instead of hanging it.
+const FETCH_STALL_SECS: u64 = 60;
+
+/// A clipboard event surfaced to the embedder via `NativeClient::next_clip` (→ the C ABI poll
+/// `punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard`).
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub enum ClipEventCore {
+    /// The host announced new clipboard content (the host copied). The embedder decides whether to
+    /// fetch it — lazily, only when a local app actually pastes.
+    RemoteOffer { seq: u32, kinds: Vec<ClipKind> },
+    /// Host ack / unsolicited policy or backend update, for the toggle UI.
+    State {
+        enabled: bool,
+        policy: u8,
+        reason: u8,
+    },
+    /// The host is pasting content the client offered: it opened a fetch stream for
+    /// `(mime, file_index)`. The embedder must answer with `clip_serve(req_id, …)` (or
+    /// `clip_cancel(req_id)`).
+    FetchRequest {
+        req_id: u32,
+        seq: u32,
+        file_index: u32,
+        mime: String,
+    },
+    /// Bytes for a fetch the embedder started (`xfer_id` from `clip_fetch`). Phase 0 delivers the
+    /// whole payload in one event (`last = true`).
+    Data {
+        xfer_id: u32,
+        bytes: Vec<u8>,
+        last: bool,
+    },
+    /// A transfer was cancelled (by either side).
+    Cancelled { id: u32 },
+    /// A transfer failed; `code` is a [`PunktfunkStatus`] value (negative).
+    Error { id: u32, code: i32 },
+}
+
+/// A command from the embedder (via the C ABI) into the clipboard task. `ClipControl`/`ClipOffer`
+/// are *not* here — they ride the control stream as ordinary control messages.
+pub enum ClipCommand {
+    /// Open a fetch of the remote's offered content; `xfer_id` is client-assigned and echoed back
+    /// on the resulting [`ClipEventCore::Data`]/`Error`/`Cancelled`.
+    Fetch {
+        xfer_id: u32,
+        seq: u32,
+        file_index: u32,
+        mime: String,
+    },
+    /// Provide bytes answering an inbound [`ClipEventCore::FetchRequest`] (`req_id`). Chunks
+    /// accumulate; `last` completes the transfer.
+    Serve {
+        req_id: u32,
+        bytes: Vec<u8>,
+        last: bool,
+    },
+    /// Cancel a transfer by id — either an outbound fetch (`xfer_id`) or an inbound serve
+    /// (`req_id`, high bit set).
+    Cancel { id: u32 },
+}
+
+type ServeWaiters = Arc<Mutex<HashMap<u32, oneshot::Sender<Option<Vec<u8>>>>>>;
+
+/// Map a non-OK [`ClipFetchHdr::status`] to the [`PunktfunkStatus`] surfaced on an
+/// [`ClipEventCore::Error`].
+fn fetch_status_to_code(status: u8) -> i32 {
+    let s = match status {
+        CLIP_FETCH_STALE => PunktfunkStatus::NoFrame, // stale offer → "nothing to insert"
+        CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE => PunktfunkStatus::Unsupported,
+        CLIP_FETCH_DENIED => PunktfunkStatus::InvalidArg,
+        _ => PunktfunkStatus::BadPacket,
+    };
+    s as i32
+}
+
+/// The per-session clipboard task. Runs until the connection closes or the embedder drops the
+/// command sender. It owns no clipboard *content* — the embedder supplies bytes on demand.
+pub async fn run(
+    conn: quinn::Connection,
+    events: SyncSender<ClipEventCore>,
+    mut cmd_rx: UnboundedReceiver<ClipCommand>,
+) {
+    // Inbound fetch-serve waiters: req_id -> a oneshot the serving stream task parks on until the
+    // embedder answers with bytes (`Some`) or denies/cancels (`None`).
+    let serve_waiters: ServeWaiters = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
+    // Accumulation buffers for chunked `clip_serve` (req_id -> bytes so far).
+    let mut serve_bufs: HashMap<u32, Vec<u8>> = HashMap::new();
+    // Outbound fetch cancel triggers: xfer_id -> a oneshot that aborts the fetch task.
+    let mut fetch_cancels: HashMap<u32, oneshot::Sender<()>> = HashMap::new();
+    let mut next_req_id: u32 = 1;
+
+    loop {
+        tokio::select! {
+            // The host opened a fetch bi-stream toward us (it is pasting our offered data).
+            accepted = conn.accept_bi() => {
+                let Ok((send, recv)) = accepted else { break }; // connection gone
+                let req_id = INBOUND_REQ_FLAG | next_req_id;
+                next_req_id = next_req_id.wrapping_add(1);
+                if next_req_id == 0 {
+                    next_req_id = 1;
+                }
+                let events = events.clone();
+                let waiters = serve_waiters.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(serve_inbound(send, recv, req_id, events, waiters));
+            }
+            cmd = cmd_rx.recv() => {
+                let Some(cmd) = cmd else { break }; // NativeClient dropped
+                match cmd {
+                    ClipCommand::Fetch { xfer_id, seq, file_index, mime } => {
+                        let (cancel_tx, cancel_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+                        fetch_cancels.insert(xfer_id, cancel_tx);
+                        let conn = conn.clone();
+                        let events = events.clone();
+                        let req = ClipFetch { seq, file_index, mime };
+                        tokio::spawn(run_outbound_fetch(conn, xfer_id, req, events, cancel_rx));
+                    }
+                    ClipCommand::Serve { req_id, bytes, last } => {
+                        serve_bufs.entry(req_id).or_default().extend_from_slice(&bytes);
+                        if last {
+                            let full = serve_bufs.remove(&req_id).unwrap_or_default();
+                            if let Some(tx) = serve_waiters.lock().unwrap().remove(&req_id) {
+                                let _ = tx.send(Some(full));
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    ClipCommand::Cancel { id } => {
+                        // Route to whichever table owns the id (they are disjoint by the high bit).
+                        if let Some(tx) = fetch_cancels.remove(&id) {
+                            let _ = tx.send(());
+                        }
+                        serve_bufs.remove(&id);
+                        if let Some(tx) = serve_waiters.lock().unwrap().remove(&id) {
+                            let _ = tx.send(None); // deny — the serving task writes UNAVAILABLE
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Serve one inbound fetch stream: validate the header + request, emit a [`ClipEventCore::FetchRequest`],
+/// then park until the embedder supplies bytes (or denies), and stream them back.
+async fn serve_inbound(
+    mut send: quinn::SendStream,
+    mut recv: quinn::RecvStream,
+    req_id: u32,
+    events: SyncSender<ClipEventCore>,
+    waiters: ServeWaiters,
+) {
+    let _ = send.set_priority(-1);
+    let kind = match clipstream::read_stream_header(&mut recv).await {
+        Ok(k) => k,
+        Err(_) => return,
+    };
+    if kind != clipstream::CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH {
+        let _ = send.reset(clipstream::cancelled_code());
+        return;
+    }
+    let req = match clipstream::read_fetch(&mut recv).await {
+        Ok(r) => r,
+        Err(_) => return,
+    };
+
+    // Register the waiter before emitting the event, so an immediate `clip_serve` can't race ahead
+    // of the insert.
+    let (tx, rx) = oneshot::channel();
+    waiters.lock().unwrap().insert(req_id, tx);
+    let ev = ClipEventCore::FetchRequest {
+        req_id,
+        seq: req.seq,
+        file_index: req.file_index,
+        mime: req.mime,
+    };
+    if events.try_send(ev).is_err() {
+        // The embedder isn't draining events (or the session is ending): refuse cleanly.
+        waiters.lock().unwrap().remove(&req_id);
+        let _ = clipstream::write_fetch_hdr(
+            &mut send,
+            &ClipFetchHdr {
+                status: CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE,
+                total_size: 0,
+            },
+        )
+        .await;
+        return;
+    }
+
+    match rx.await {
+        Ok(Some(bytes)) => {
+            if clipstream::write_fetch_hdr(
+                &mut send,
+                &ClipFetchHdr {
+                    status: CLIP_FETCH_OK,
+                    total_size: bytes.len() as u64,
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+            .is_ok()
+            {
+                let _ = clipstream::write_data(&mut send, &bytes).await;
+            }
+        }
+        // Denied, cancelled, or the waiter was dropped (task ending): tell the peer it's gone.
+        _ => {
+            let _ = clipstream::write_fetch_hdr(
+                &mut send,
+                &ClipFetchHdr {
+                    status: CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE,
+                    total_size: 0,
+                },
+            )
+            .await;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Drive one outbound fetch: open the stream, read the header + data (bounded), and emit a
+/// [`ClipEventCore::Data`] / `Error` / `Cancelled`.
+async fn run_outbound_fetch(
+    conn: quinn::Connection,
+    xfer_id: u32,
+    req: ClipFetch,
+    events: SyncSender<ClipEventCore>,
+    cancel_rx: oneshot::Receiver<()>,
+) {
+    let transfer = async {
+        let (send, mut recv) = clipstream::open_fetch(&conn, &req)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkStatus::Io as i32)?;
+        let hdr = clipstream::read_fetch_hdr(&mut recv)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkStatus::Io as i32)?;
+        if hdr.status != CLIP_FETCH_OK {
+            return Err(fetch_status_to_code(hdr.status));
+        }
+        let data = clipstream::read_data(&mut recv, CLIP_FETCH_CAP)
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| PunktfunkStatus::Io as i32)?;
+        drop(send); // done — dropping the send half is a clean FIN-less close on our side
+        Ok(data)
+    };
+
+    tokio::select! {
+        r = transfer => match r {
+            Ok(data) => {
+                let _ = events.try_send(ClipEventCore::Data { xfer_id, bytes: data, last: true });
+            }
+            Err(code) => {
+                let _ = events.try_send(ClipEventCore::Error { id: xfer_id, code });
+            }
+        },
+        _ = cancel_rx => {
+            // The `transfer` future is dropped here; its streams reset on drop.
+            let _ = events.try_send(ClipEventCore::Cancelled { id: xfer_id });
+        }
+        // Overall stall bound (design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md §3.4): a holder that never
+        // answers must not hang the transfer. Dropping `transfer` resets the streams.
+        _ = tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(FETCH_STALL_SECS)) => {
+            let _ = events.try_send(ClipEventCore::Error {
+                id: xfer_id,
+                code: PunktfunkStatus::Timeout as i32,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/lib.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/lib.rs
index f3aabfd5..d5a0dc50 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ mod abr;
 pub mod audio;
 #[cfg(feature = "quic")]
 pub mod client;
+/// Client-side shared-clipboard transport: the per-session task that runs the fetch-stream accept
+/// loop, drives outbound fetches, and serves inbound ones — surfaced to the embedder as poll
+/// events. Wire codecs live in [`quic`]; the OS pasteboard integration lives in the native client.
+#[cfg(feature = "quic")]
+pub mod clipboard;
 pub mod config;
 pub mod crypto;
 pub mod error;
@@ -73,7 +78,11 @@ pub use stats::Stats;
 /// application close) and the `PunktfunkStatus` −20 block itself. Additive — the close codes are
 /// new application-close vocabulary an old peer simply never sends/reads, so [`WIRE_VERSION`] is
 /// unchanged.
-pub const ABI_VERSION: u32 = 7;
+/// v8: added the shared-clipboard client surface — `punktfunk_connection_host_caps` and
+/// `punktfunk_connection_clipboard_{control,offer,fetch,serve,cancel}` +
+/// `punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard`. Additive; the wire grows only backward-compatible control
+/// messages (0x40-0x44) and a new `Welcome::host_caps` bit, so [`WIRE_VERSION`] is unchanged.
+pub const ABI_VERSION: u32 = 8;
 
 /// The punktfunk/1 **wire** version — what `Hello`/`Welcome` carry and hosts equality-check.
 /// Deliberately its own constant: [`ABI_VERSION`] tracks the embeddable **C surface**
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/clipstream.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/clipstream.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b89d80eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/clipstream.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+//! Per-transfer clipboard fetch streams (`design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md` §3.3).
+//!
+//! Bulk clipboard / file bytes never ride the control stream (u16-capped) or datagrams (lossy,
+//! single-packet). The **requester opens a fresh QUIC bi-stream** toward the data holder, writes a
+//! small stream header + a [`ClipFetch`]; the holder replies with a [`ClipFetchHdr`] then raw data
+//! chunks until FIN. One transfer per stream ⇒ natural flow control, clean cancelation
+//! (`RESET_STREAM`), and no head-of-line blocking against control or other transfers.
+//!
+//! These helpers are the transport half only; they hold no clipboard state, so the host and the
+//! client-core reuse the exact same open/accept/serve wire dance (the accept-loop that dispatches
+//! by stream kind lives on each side, since the two sides own their connections differently).
+
+use super::{io, ClipFetch, ClipFetchHdr};
+
+/// First bytes an opener writes on a freshly-opened clipboard bi-stream: a magic keeping this
+/// stream namespace disjoint from any future stream kind, plus a 1-byte kind discriminator. A
+/// distinct magic means a stream opened for some other future purpose can never be misrouted here.
+pub const STREAM_MAGIC: &[u8; 4] = b"PKFs";
+
+/// Stream-kind byte: a clipboard fetch (request/response of one format). Future stream kinds
+/// (e.g. a bulk file-content push) mux under the same [`STREAM_MAGIC`] with a different byte.
+pub const CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH: u8 = 0x01;
+
+/// QUIC application error code used to `reset`/`stop` a clipboard fetch stream on cancel — sync
+/// disabled mid-transfer, paste timed out, size cap exceeded, teardown. Distinct from the
+/// connection close codes ([`super::QUIT_CLOSE_CODE`] `0x51` / [`super::APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE`]
+/// `0x52`), the connection reject code `0x42`, and the pairing-rejection close block
+/// `0x60`–`0x67` — stream reset codes and connection close codes are separate QUIC namespaces,
+/// but the vocabularies stay disjoint on purpose so a captured code is unambiguous.
+pub const CLIP_CANCELLED_CODE: u32 = 0x70;
+
+/// Chunk size for streaming fetch data (64 KiB writes — matches the control-frame bound).
+pub const CLIP_CHUNK: usize = 64 * 1024;
+
+/// The `VarInt` form of [`CLIP_CANCELLED_CODE`], for `SendStream::reset` / `RecvStream::stop`.
+pub fn cancelled_code() -> quinn::VarInt {
+    quinn::VarInt::from_u32(CLIP_CANCELLED_CODE)
+}
+
+/// Requester side: open a fresh bi-stream toward the holder, deprioritize it under the control
+/// stream, write the stream header + the [`ClipFetch`], and hand back both halves. The send half
+/// is returned so the caller can `reset`/`finish` for cancelation; the recv half is positioned to
+/// read the [`ClipFetchHdr`] next (see [`read_fetch_hdr`]).
+pub async fn open_fetch(
+    conn: &quinn::Connection,
+    req: &ClipFetch,
+) -> std::io::Result<(quinn::SendStream, quinn::RecvStream)> {
+    let (mut send, recv) = conn.open_bi().await.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+    // Yield to the control stream (default priority 0) so a large paste never head-of-line-blocks
+    // the input/audio/control traffic sharing this connection.
+    let _ = send.set_priority(-1);
+    // The opener MUST write before the peer's `accept_bi()` can return (quinn contract), so send
+    // the whole request eagerly.
+    let mut hdr = Vec::with_capacity(5);
+    hdr.extend_from_slice(STREAM_MAGIC);
+    hdr.push(CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH);
+    send.write_all(&hdr).await.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+    io::write_msg(&mut send, &req.encode()).await?;
+    Ok((send, recv))
+}
+
+/// Holder side, step 1: after `accept_bi()`, read and validate the 5-byte stream header. Returns
+/// the kind byte (e.g. [`CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH`]); an unknown magic is an error and the caller
+/// should `stop` the stream.
+pub async fn read_stream_header(recv: &mut quinn::RecvStream) -> std::io::Result<u8> {
+    let mut hdr = [0u8; 5];
+    recv.read_exact(&mut hdr)
+        .await
+        .map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+    if &hdr[0..4] != STREAM_MAGIC {
+        return Err(std::io::Error::new(
+            std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "bad clip stream magic",
+        ));
+    }
+    Ok(hdr[4])
+}
+
+/// Holder side, step 2: read the [`ClipFetch`] request that follows the header.
+pub async fn read_fetch(recv: &mut quinn::RecvStream) -> std::io::Result<ClipFetch> {
+    let raw = io::read_msg(recv).await?;
+    ClipFetch::decode(&raw)
+        .map_err(|_| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "bad ClipFetch"))
+}
+
+/// Holder side, step 3: send the response header (before any data chunks).
+pub async fn write_fetch_hdr(
+    send: &mut quinn::SendStream,
+    hdr: &ClipFetchHdr,
+) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    io::write_msg(send, &hdr.encode()).await
+}
+
+/// Holder side, step 4 (only when the header was [`super::CLIP_FETCH_OK`]): stream `data` as
+/// 64 KiB chunks then FIN so the requester's [`read_data`] terminates.
+pub async fn write_data(send: &mut quinn::SendStream, data: &[u8]) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+    for chunk in data.chunks(CLIP_CHUNK) {
+        send.write_all(chunk).await.map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+    }
+    send.finish().map_err(std::io::Error::other)?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Requester side: read the [`ClipFetchHdr`] the holder sends before any data chunks.
+pub async fn read_fetch_hdr(recv: &mut quinn::RecvStream) -> std::io::Result<ClipFetchHdr> {
+    let raw = io::read_msg(recv).await?;
+    ClipFetchHdr::decode(&raw)
+        .map_err(|_| std::io::Error::new(std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, "bad ClipFetchHdr"))
+}
+
+/// Requester side: after an OK [`ClipFetchHdr`], drain the data chunks to a `Vec`, bounded by
+/// `max_bytes` (the requester's size cap — a breach errors, and the caller resets the stream).
+pub async fn read_data(recv: &mut quinn::RecvStream, max_bytes: usize) -> std::io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
+    recv.read_to_end(max_bytes)
+        .await
+        .map_err(std::io::Error::other)
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/mod.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/mod.rs
index f03c665d..4998f0db 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/mod.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ pub mod endpoint;
 /// Async framed-message IO over a quinn stream (`u16 LE length || payload`).
 pub mod io;
 
+/// Per-transfer clipboard fetch bi-streams (`PKFs` magic + kind byte, then request/response). The
+/// transport half of the shared clipboard; wire codecs are in [`msgs`], state lives per side.
+pub mod clipstream;
+
 /// SPAKE2 over Ed25519 for the pairing ceremony. The two roles use the asymmetric flow so
 /// the identities are ordered; each side binds **both** certificate fingerprints as the
 /// SPAKE2 identities, so the derived key only matches when client and host agree on the PIN
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/msgs.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/msgs.rs
index 3e92eace..f096750f 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/msgs.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/msgs.rs
@@ -147,6 +147,14 @@ pub use crate::reject::*;
 /// button/axis events; toward a host that doesn't set the bit it keeps the legacy events.
 pub const HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE: u8 = 0x01;
 
+/// [`Welcome::host_caps`] bit: the host has a shared-clipboard service (a working OS backend)
+/// **and** its operator policy does not hard-disable it, so the client may offer the clipboard
+/// toggle. Absent (an older host, or `PUNKTFUNK_CLIPBOARD` off) ⇒ the client greys the toggle
+/// out. Purely additive: nothing clipboard-related happens until a [`ClipControl`]`{ enabled:
+/// true }` crosses (see `design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md` §3.1). Packs into the existing
+/// trailing `host_caps` byte — no wire-layout change.
+pub const HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD: u8 = 0x02;
+
 /// [`Hello::video_codecs`] bit: the client can decode H.264 / AVC. The GPU-less **software**
 /// encode path (openh264) emits H.264, so a client that wants to stream from a software host MUST
 /// advertise this.
@@ -527,6 +535,147 @@ pub const MSG_CLOCK_PROBE: u8 = 0x30;
 /// Type byte of [`ClockEcho`].
 pub const MSG_CLOCK_ECHO: u8 = 0x31;
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Shared clipboard & file transfer (design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md §3). The small
+// metadata messages ride the control stream (0x40-0x42); the two fetch-stream messages
+// (0x43-0x44) travel on a per-transfer bi-stream (see the [`super::clipstream`] helpers), never
+// the control stream, so they are never dispatched by the control loops. All are typed
+// (`CTL_MAGIC` + type byte), so an older peer hits its "unknown control message" arm and drops
+// any it doesn't know — the whole feature is forward-safe.
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// Type byte of [`ClipControl`] (client → host): enable/disable the shared clipboard for this
+/// session. Idempotent; opt-in is enforced here, not just in UI.
+pub const MSG_CLIP_CONTROL: u8 = 0x40;
+/// Type byte of [`ClipState`] (host → client): ack + unsolicited policy/backend updates.
+pub const MSG_CLIP_STATE: u8 = 0x41;
+/// Type byte of [`ClipOffer`] (symmetric): the lazy announcement — format list only, no bytes.
+pub const MSG_CLIP_OFFER: u8 = 0x42;
+/// Type byte of [`ClipFetch`] (requester → holder, **fetch stream only**): pull one format of the
+/// current offer.
+pub const MSG_CLIP_FETCH: u8 = 0x43;
+/// Type byte of [`ClipFetchHdr`] (holder → requester, **fetch stream only**): the fetch response
+/// header that precedes the data chunks.
+pub const MSG_CLIP_FETCH_HDR: u8 = 0x44;
+
+/// [`ClipControl::flags`] bit: the client permits file kinds to be offered/fetched this session.
+/// Absent ⇒ files are filtered out of offers in both directions (text/rich/image only).
+pub const CLIP_FLAG_FILES: u8 = 0x01;
+
+/// [`ClipState::policy`] bit: the host permits non-file formats (text/RTF/HTML/image). Always set
+/// while enabled unless a future direction limit clears it.
+pub const CLIP_POLICY_TEXT: u8 = 0x01;
+/// [`ClipState::policy`] bit: the host permits file formats. Cleared by the operator `no-files`
+/// / `text-only` policy so the client can grey out "Include files".
+pub const CLIP_POLICY_FILES: u8 = 0x02;
+
+/// [`ClipState::reason`]: normal ack, nothing exceptional.
+pub const CLIP_REASON_OK: u8 = 0;
+/// [`ClipState::reason`]: this session type has no working clipboard backend (e.g. a gamescope
+/// session with no data-control global) — the client shows "not supported in this session type".
+pub const CLIP_REASON_BACKEND_UNAVAILABLE: u8 = 1;
+/// [`ClipState::reason`]: another client took over the single per-desktop clipboard binding; this
+/// one was disabled (last `ClipControl{enabled}` wins).
+pub const CLIP_REASON_TAKEN_OVER: u8 = 2;
+/// [`ClipState::reason`]: the host operator policy (`PUNKTFUNK_CLIPBOARD=off`) disables clipboard.
+pub const CLIP_REASON_POLICY_DISABLED: u8 = 3;
+/// [`ClipState::reason`]: enabled, but the host policy forbids file transfer (`no-files` /
+/// `text-only`) — surfaced so the client greys "Include files" with a footnote.
+pub const CLIP_REASON_NO_FILES: u8 = 4;
+
+/// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the requested format is being served; data chunks follow until FIN.
+pub const CLIP_FETCH_OK: u8 = 0;
+/// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the fetch named a `seq` that is no longer the holder's current offer;
+/// the requester degrades the paste to "nothing inserted" rather than wrong data. No chunks follow.
+pub const CLIP_FETCH_STALE: u8 = 1;
+/// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the format/index is not available (no backend, or it vanished). No
+/// chunks follow.
+pub const CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE: u8 = 2;
+/// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: policy/cap denies this fetch (e.g. a file fetch under `no-files`). No
+/// chunks follow.
+pub const CLIP_FETCH_DENIED: u8 = 3;
+
+/// Maximum number of [`ClipKind`] entries in one [`ClipOffer`] (resource cap, §7).
+pub const CLIP_MAX_KINDS: usize = 16;
+/// Maximum length in bytes of a [`ClipKind::mime`] string (resource cap, §7).
+pub const CLIP_MAX_MIME: usize = 128;
+/// [`ClipFetch::file_index`] sentinel meaning "not a file fetch" (a whole non-file format, or the
+/// file *manifest* itself). Real file fetches use `0..n`.
+pub const CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE: u32 = u32::MAX;
+
+/// One advertised clipboard format inside a [`ClipOffer`] — a portable MIME name plus a size hint.
+/// The bytes never ride here; they cross lazily on a fetch stream only when the destination pastes.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipKind {
+    /// Portable wire MIME, e.g. `text/plain;charset=utf-8`, `text/html`, `image/png`,
+    /// `application/x-punktfunk-files`. Each end maps it to a platform type at fetch time. ≤
+    /// [`CLIP_MAX_MIME`] bytes; a longer one is rejected on decode.
+    pub mime: String,
+    /// Best-effort total size of this format in bytes; `0` = unknown (a streaming provider).
+    pub size_hint: u64,
+}
+
+/// `client → host` ([`MSG_CLIP_CONTROL`]): flip the shared clipboard on/off for this session.
+/// Sent when the user toggles the per-host pref and once at session start if it is on. **Nothing
+/// clipboard-related happens on either side until an `enabled: true` arrives** — opt-in at the
+/// protocol layer.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipControl {
+    pub enabled: bool,
+    /// Bitfield of [`CLIP_FLAG_FILES`] (+ reserved bits for future direction limits).
+    pub flags: u8,
+}
+
+/// `host → client` ([`MSG_CLIP_STATE`]): acknowledge a [`ClipControl`] and push unsolicited
+/// updates (policy changed, backend lost). The client surfaces `reason`/`policy` in the toggle UI
+/// instead of failing silently.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipState {
+    pub enabled: bool,
+    /// Bitfield of [`CLIP_POLICY_TEXT`] / [`CLIP_POLICY_FILES`] — what the host currently permits.
+    pub policy: u8,
+    /// One of the `CLIP_REASON_*` values explaining `enabled`/`policy`.
+    pub reason: u8,
+}
+
+/// Symmetric ([`MSG_CLIP_OFFER`], either direction): the lazy announcement. Sent when the local
+/// clipboard changes; carries the **format list only** (comfortably inside the 64 KiB control
+/// frame). A new offer replaces the sender's previous one; `seq` lets the holder reject stale
+/// fetches (§3.4). Files are announced as one `application/x-punktfunk-files` kind — the file
+/// list itself is fetched lazily, never inlined here.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipOffer {
+    /// Monotonic per sender; newest wins.
+    pub seq: u32,
+    /// ≤ [`CLIP_MAX_KINDS`] entries.
+    pub kinds: Vec<ClipKind>,
+}
+
+/// `requester → holder` ([`MSG_CLIP_FETCH`], **fetch stream only**): the first message on a
+/// per-transfer bi-stream, naming which format (and, for files, which entry) of `seq` to pull.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipFetch {
+    /// The offer `seq` this fetch is against; the holder answers [`CLIP_FETCH_STALE`] if it is no
+    /// longer current.
+    pub seq: u32,
+    /// File index for a file transfer, or [`CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE`] for a non-file format / the
+    /// file manifest.
+    pub file_index: u32,
+    /// The requested wire MIME (≤ [`CLIP_MAX_MIME`] bytes).
+    pub mime: String,
+}
+
+/// `holder → requester` ([`MSG_CLIP_FETCH_HDR`], **fetch stream only**): the response header that
+/// precedes the raw data chunks (which run until the stream's FIN). When `status` is anything
+/// other than [`CLIP_FETCH_OK`] no chunks follow.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct ClipFetchHdr {
+    /// One of the `CLIP_FETCH_*` values.
+    pub status: u8,
+    /// Total byte count that will follow; `0` = unknown (a streaming provider — FIN ends it).
+    pub total_size: u64,
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Pairing ceremony (typed control messages): instead of a session Hello, a client may open
 // the control stream with PairRequest. The host shows a short PIN out-of-band (log/UI); the
@@ -1293,6 +1442,174 @@ impl ClockEcho {
     }
 }
 
+/// Append one [`ClipKind`] to `b`: `mime_len u8 || mime bytes || size_hint u64 LE`.
+fn put_clip_kind(b: &mut Vec<u8>, k: &ClipKind) {
+    let mime = k.mime.as_bytes();
+    let n = mime.len().min(CLIP_MAX_MIME);
+    b.push(n as u8);
+    b.extend_from_slice(&mime[..n]);
+    b.extend_from_slice(&k.size_hint.to_le_bytes());
+}
+
+/// Read one [`ClipKind`] at `off`, returning it and the next offset.
+fn get_clip_kind(b: &[u8], off: usize) -> Result<(ClipKind, usize)> {
+    if off >= b.len() {
+        return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("truncated ClipKind"));
+    }
+    let n = b[off] as usize;
+    if n > CLIP_MAX_MIME {
+        return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("ClipKind mime too long"));
+    }
+    let mime_start = off + 1;
+    let size_start = mime_start + n;
+    if size_start + 8 > b.len() {
+        return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("ClipKind overruns message"));
+    }
+    let mime = String::from_utf8_lossy(&b[mime_start..size_start]).into_owned();
+    let size_hint = u64::from_le_bytes(b[size_start..size_start + 8].try_into().unwrap());
+    Ok((ClipKind { mime, size_hint }, size_start + 8))
+}
+
+impl ClipControl {
+    pub fn encode(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        // magic[0..4] type[4] enabled[5] flags[6]
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(7);
+        b.extend_from_slice(CTL_MAGIC);
+        b.push(MSG_CLIP_CONTROL);
+        b.push(self.enabled as u8);
+        b.push(self.flags);
+        b
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode(b: &[u8]) -> Result<ClipControl> {
+        if b.len() != 7 || &b[0..4] != CTL_MAGIC || b[4] != MSG_CLIP_CONTROL {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipControl"));
+        }
+        Ok(ClipControl {
+            enabled: b[5] != 0,
+            flags: b[6],
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl ClipState {
+    pub fn encode(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        // magic[0..4] type[4] enabled[5] policy[6] reason[7]
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(8);
+        b.extend_from_slice(CTL_MAGIC);
+        b.push(MSG_CLIP_STATE);
+        b.push(self.enabled as u8);
+        b.push(self.policy);
+        b.push(self.reason);
+        b
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode(b: &[u8]) -> Result<ClipState> {
+        if b.len() != 8 || &b[0..4] != CTL_MAGIC || b[4] != MSG_CLIP_STATE {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipState"));
+        }
+        Ok(ClipState {
+            enabled: b[5] != 0,
+            policy: b[6],
+            reason: b[7],
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl ClipOffer {
+    pub fn encode(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        // magic[0..4] type[4] seq[5..9] count[9] then `count` ClipKinds
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(10 + self.kinds.len() * 16);
+        b.extend_from_slice(CTL_MAGIC);
+        b.push(MSG_CLIP_OFFER);
+        b.extend_from_slice(&self.seq.to_le_bytes());
+        let count = self.kinds.len().min(CLIP_MAX_KINDS);
+        b.push(count as u8);
+        for k in &self.kinds[..count] {
+            put_clip_kind(&mut b, k);
+        }
+        b
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode(b: &[u8]) -> Result<ClipOffer> {
+        if b.len() < 10 || &b[0..4] != CTL_MAGIC || b[4] != MSG_CLIP_OFFER {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipOffer"));
+        }
+        let seq = u32::from_le_bytes(b[5..9].try_into().unwrap());
+        let count = b[9] as usize;
+        if count > CLIP_MAX_KINDS {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("ClipOffer too many kinds"));
+        }
+        let mut kinds = Vec::with_capacity(count);
+        let mut off = 10;
+        for _ in 0..count {
+            let (k, next) = get_clip_kind(b, off)?;
+            kinds.push(k);
+            off = next;
+        }
+        if off != b.len() {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("trailing bytes"));
+        }
+        Ok(ClipOffer { seq, kinds })
+    }
+}
+
+impl ClipFetch {
+    pub fn encode(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        // magic[0..4] type[4] seq[5..9] file_index[9..13] mime(len u8 || bytes)[13..]
+        let mime = self.mime.as_bytes();
+        let n = mime.len().min(CLIP_MAX_MIME);
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(14 + n);
+        b.extend_from_slice(CTL_MAGIC);
+        b.push(MSG_CLIP_FETCH);
+        b.extend_from_slice(&self.seq.to_le_bytes());
+        b.extend_from_slice(&self.file_index.to_le_bytes());
+        b.push(n as u8);
+        b.extend_from_slice(&mime[..n]);
+        b
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode(b: &[u8]) -> Result<ClipFetch> {
+        if b.len() < 14 || &b[0..4] != CTL_MAGIC || b[4] != MSG_CLIP_FETCH {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipFetch"));
+        }
+        let seq = u32::from_le_bytes(b[5..9].try_into().unwrap());
+        let file_index = u32::from_le_bytes(b[9..13].try_into().unwrap());
+        let n = b[13] as usize;
+        if n > CLIP_MAX_MIME || b.len() != 14 + n {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipFetch mime"));
+        }
+        let mime = String::from_utf8_lossy(&b[14..14 + n]).into_owned();
+        Ok(ClipFetch {
+            seq,
+            file_index,
+            mime,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl ClipFetchHdr {
+    pub fn encode(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
+        // magic[0..4] type[4] status[5] total_size[6..14]
+        let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(14);
+        b.extend_from_slice(CTL_MAGIC);
+        b.push(MSG_CLIP_FETCH_HDR);
+        b.push(self.status);
+        b.extend_from_slice(&self.total_size.to_le_bytes());
+        b
+    }
+
+    pub fn decode(b: &[u8]) -> Result<ClipFetchHdr> {
+        if b.len() != 14 || &b[0..4] != CTL_MAGIC || b[4] != MSG_CLIP_FETCH_HDR {
+            return Err(PunktfunkError::InvalidArg("bad ClipFetchHdr"));
+        }
+        Ok(ClipFetchHdr {
+            status: b[5],
+            total_size: u64::from_le_bytes(b[6..14].try_into().unwrap()),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 /// Frame a message for the control stream: `u16 LE length || payload`.
 pub fn frame(payload: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
     let mut b = Vec::with_capacity(2 + payload.len());
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/tests.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/tests.rs
index af08942b..da3c74e9 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/quic/tests.rs
@@ -1316,3 +1316,390 @@ fn fingerprint_is_sha256_of_der() {
     assert_eq!(a, endpoint::cert_fingerprint(b"cert-a"));
     assert_ne!(a, endpoint::cert_fingerprint(b"cert-b"));
 }
+
+// ---- Shared clipboard control + fetch-stream message codecs (0x40-0x44) -----------------------
+
+#[test]
+fn clip_control_roundtrip() {
+    for (enabled, flags) in [
+        (true, 0u8),
+        (false, 0),
+        (true, CLIP_FLAG_FILES),
+        (false, 0xFF),
+    ] {
+        let m = ClipControl { enabled, flags };
+        assert_eq!(ClipControl::decode(&m.encode()).unwrap(), m);
+    }
+    // Disjoint from its host→client sibling (type byte + length) and exact length.
+    assert!(ClipControl::decode(
+        &ClipState {
+            enabled: true,
+            policy: 0,
+            reason: 0
+        }
+        .encode()
+    )
+    .is_err());
+    let bytes = ClipControl {
+        enabled: true,
+        flags: 0,
+    }
+    .encode();
+    assert!(ClipControl::decode(&[bytes.as_slice(), &[0]].concat()).is_err());
+    assert!(ClipControl::decode(&bytes[..bytes.len() - 1]).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn clip_state_roundtrip() {
+    let cases = [
+        ClipState {
+            enabled: true,
+            policy: CLIP_POLICY_TEXT | CLIP_POLICY_FILES,
+            reason: CLIP_REASON_OK,
+        },
+        ClipState {
+            enabled: false,
+            policy: 0,
+            reason: CLIP_REASON_BACKEND_UNAVAILABLE,
+        },
+        ClipState {
+            enabled: true,
+            policy: CLIP_POLICY_TEXT,
+            reason: CLIP_REASON_NO_FILES,
+        },
+    ];
+    for m in cases {
+        assert_eq!(ClipState::decode(&m.encode()).unwrap(), m);
+    }
+    // A ClipControl must not decode as a ClipState (type byte).
+    assert!(ClipState::decode(
+        &ClipControl {
+            enabled: true,
+            flags: 0
+        }
+        .encode()
+    )
+    .is_err());
+    let bytes = cases[0].encode();
+    assert!(ClipState::decode(&bytes[..bytes.len() - 1]).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn clip_offer_roundtrip() {
+    // Empty offer, one kind, and a full multi-format offer (text/rich/image/files).
+    let cases = [
+        ClipOffer {
+            seq: 0,
+            kinds: vec![],
+        },
+        ClipOffer {
+            seq: 1,
+            kinds: vec![ClipKind {
+                mime: "text/plain;charset=utf-8".into(),
+                size_hint: 12,
+            }],
+        },
+        ClipOffer {
+            seq: u32::MAX,
+            kinds: vec![
+                ClipKind {
+                    mime: "text/plain;charset=utf-8".into(),
+                    size_hint: 0,
+                },
+                ClipKind {
+                    mime: "text/html".into(),
+                    size_hint: 4096,
+                },
+                ClipKind {
+                    mime: "image/png".into(),
+                    size_hint: 1 << 30,
+                },
+                ClipKind {
+                    mime: "application/x-punktfunk-files".into(),
+                    size_hint: 5_000_000_000,
+                },
+            ],
+        },
+    ];
+    for m in &cases {
+        assert_eq!(&ClipOffer::decode(&m.encode()).unwrap(), m);
+    }
+    // Trailing bytes are rejected (get_clip_kind consumes exactly to the end).
+    let mut padded = cases[1].encode();
+    padded.push(0);
+    assert!(ClipOffer::decode(&padded).is_err());
+    // A count byte over the cap is rejected before allocating.
+    let mut over = cases[0].encode();
+    over[9] = (CLIP_MAX_KINDS + 1) as u8;
+    assert!(ClipOffer::decode(&over).is_err());
+    // Disjoint from a same-family control message.
+    assert!(ClipOffer::decode(
+        &ClipControl {
+            enabled: true,
+            flags: 0
+        }
+        .encode()
+    )
+    .is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn clip_fetch_roundtrip() {
+    let cases = [
+        ClipFetch {
+            seq: 1,
+            file_index: CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE,
+            mime: "text/plain;charset=utf-8".into(),
+        },
+        ClipFetch {
+            seq: 7,
+            file_index: 0,
+            mime: "application/x-punktfunk-files".into(),
+        },
+        ClipFetch {
+            seq: u32::MAX,
+            file_index: 41,
+            mime: String::new(),
+        },
+    ];
+    for m in &cases {
+        assert_eq!(&ClipFetch::decode(&m.encode()).unwrap(), m);
+    }
+    // Trailing + truncation both rejected (exact-length mime check).
+    let bytes = cases[0].encode();
+    assert!(ClipFetch::decode(&[bytes.as_slice(), &[0]].concat()).is_err());
+    assert!(ClipFetch::decode(&bytes[..bytes.len() - 1]).is_err());
+    // A fetch-stream message must not decode as a control-stream offer, and vice-versa.
+    assert!(ClipOffer::decode(&cases[0].encode()).is_err());
+    assert!(ClipFetch::decode(
+        &ClipOffer {
+            seq: 1,
+            kinds: vec![]
+        }
+        .encode()
+    )
+    .is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn clip_fetch_hdr_roundtrip() {
+    for (status, total_size) in [
+        (CLIP_FETCH_OK, 15u64),
+        (CLIP_FETCH_STALE, 0),
+        (CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE, 0),
+        (CLIP_FETCH_DENIED, 0),
+        (CLIP_FETCH_OK, u64::MAX),
+    ] {
+        let m = ClipFetchHdr { status, total_size };
+        assert_eq!(ClipFetchHdr::decode(&m.encode()).unwrap(), m);
+    }
+    let bytes = ClipFetchHdr {
+        status: CLIP_FETCH_OK,
+        total_size: 1,
+    }
+    .encode();
+    assert!(ClipFetchHdr::decode(&[bytes.as_slice(), &[0]].concat()).is_err());
+    assert!(ClipFetchHdr::decode(&bytes[..bytes.len() - 1]).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn host_cap_clipboard_bit_is_distinct_and_survives_welcome() {
+    // The new cap packs into the existing trailing host_caps byte with no layout change.
+    assert_ne!(HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD, HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE);
+    let mut w = Welcome {
+        abi_version: 1,
+        udp_port: 1,
+        mode: Mode {
+            width: 1920,
+            height: 1080,
+            refresh_hz: 60,
+        },
+        fec: FecConfig {
+            scheme: FecScheme::Gf16,
+            fec_percent: 0,
+            max_data_per_block: 1024,
+        },
+        shard_payload: 1024,
+        encrypt: false,
+        key: [0; 16],
+        salt: [0; 4],
+        frames: 0,
+        compositor: CompositorPref::Auto,
+        gamepad: GamepadPref::Auto,
+        bitrate_kbps: 0,
+        bit_depth: 8,
+        color: ColorInfo::SDR_BT709,
+        chroma_format: CHROMA_IDC_420,
+        audio_channels: 2,
+        codec: CODEC_HEVC,
+        host_caps: HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE | HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD,
+    };
+    let got = Welcome::decode(&w.encode()).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(got.host_caps & HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD, HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD);
+    assert_eq!(
+        got.host_caps & HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE,
+        HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE
+    );
+    // Clipboard-off host: the bit is clear, gamepad bit still set.
+    w.host_caps = HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE;
+    assert_eq!(
+        Welcome::decode(&w.encode()).unwrap().host_caps & HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD,
+        0
+    );
+}
+
+// ---- In-process QUIC loopback: the real clipstream fetch transport, both success and cancel ----
+
+mod clip_loopback {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::quic::clipstream;
+
+    /// Stand up two loopback quinn endpoints, connect, and return
+    /// `(server_ep, client_ep, host_conn, client_conn)`. Both endpoints are returned so the caller
+    /// keeps them in scope — dropping a `quinn::Endpoint` tears down its connections.
+    async fn connect_pair() -> (
+        quinn::Endpoint,
+        quinn::Endpoint,
+        quinn::Connection,
+        quinn::Connection,
+    ) {
+        let server = endpoint::server("127.0.0.1:0".parse().unwrap()).unwrap();
+        let addr = server.local_addr().unwrap();
+        let client = endpoint::client_insecure().unwrap();
+        let accept = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            let incoming = server.accept().await.expect("incoming connection");
+            let conn = incoming.await.expect("host side connects");
+            (server, conn)
+        });
+        let client_conn = client
+            .connect(addr, "punktfunk")
+            .unwrap()
+            .await
+            .expect("client side connects");
+        let (server, host_conn) = accept.await.unwrap();
+        (server, client, host_conn, client_conn)
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn fetch_text_transfers_then_cancel_resets() {
+        let (_server_ep, _client_ep, host_conn, client_conn) = connect_pair().await;
+
+        let payload = b"hello clipboard \xf0\x9f\x93\x8b".to_vec(); // text + a 4-byte emoji
+        let holder_payload = payload.clone();
+
+        // Holder = the host side: accept two fetch streams. Serve the first; cancel the second.
+        let holder = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            // Fetch #1 — serve the payload.
+            let (mut send, mut recv) = host_conn.accept_bi().await.expect("accept fetch #1");
+            let kind = clipstream::read_stream_header(&mut recv)
+                .await
+                .expect("stream header #1");
+            assert_eq!(kind, clipstream::CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH);
+            let req = clipstream::read_fetch(&mut recv)
+                .await
+                .expect("fetch req #1");
+            assert_eq!(req.seq, 1);
+            assert_eq!(req.file_index, CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE);
+            assert_eq!(req.mime, "text/plain;charset=utf-8");
+            clipstream::write_fetch_hdr(
+                &mut send,
+                &ClipFetchHdr {
+                    status: CLIP_FETCH_OK,
+                    total_size: holder_payload.len() as u64,
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+            .expect("write hdr #1");
+            clipstream::write_data(&mut send, &holder_payload)
+                .await
+                .expect("write data #1");
+
+            // Fetch #2 — read the request, then cancel mid-transfer with RESET_STREAM.
+            let (mut send2, mut recv2) = host_conn.accept_bi().await.expect("accept fetch #2");
+            clipstream::read_stream_header(&mut recv2)
+                .await
+                .expect("stream header #2");
+            let _ = clipstream::read_fetch(&mut recv2)
+                .await
+                .expect("fetch req #2");
+            send2.reset(clipstream::cancelled_code()).unwrap();
+
+            host_conn // keep alive until the requester side is done
+        });
+
+        // Requester = the client side.
+        // #1: full lazy fetch of the text payload.
+        let req = ClipFetch {
+            seq: 1,
+            file_index: CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE,
+            mime: "text/plain;charset=utf-8".into(),
+        };
+        let (_send, mut recv) = clipstream::open_fetch(&client_conn, &req)
+            .await
+            .expect("open fetch #1");
+        let hdr = clipstream::read_fetch_hdr(&mut recv)
+            .await
+            .expect("read hdr #1");
+        assert_eq!(hdr.status, CLIP_FETCH_OK);
+        assert_eq!(hdr.total_size as usize, payload.len());
+        let got = clipstream::read_data(&mut recv, 8 << 20)
+            .await
+            .expect("read data #1");
+        assert_eq!(got, payload);
+
+        // #2: the holder resets the stream — the requester surfaces an error rather than hanging.
+        let req2 = ClipFetch {
+            seq: 2,
+            file_index: CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE,
+            mime: "text/plain;charset=utf-8".into(),
+        };
+        let (_send2, mut recv2) = clipstream::open_fetch(&client_conn, &req2)
+            .await
+            .expect("open fetch #2");
+        assert!(
+            clipstream::read_fetch_hdr(&mut recv2).await.is_err(),
+            "a cancelled fetch must surface as an error, not a hang"
+        );
+
+        let _host_conn = holder.await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn read_data_enforces_size_cap() {
+        let (_server_ep, _client_ep, host_conn, client_conn) = connect_pair().await;
+
+        let big = vec![0xABu8; 200_000]; // > the 64 KiB chunk, and > the cap we set below
+        let holder_payload = big.clone();
+        let holder = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            let (mut send, mut recv) = host_conn.accept_bi().await.expect("accept");
+            clipstream::read_stream_header(&mut recv).await.unwrap();
+            let _ = clipstream::read_fetch(&mut recv).await.unwrap();
+            clipstream::write_fetch_hdr(
+                &mut send,
+                &ClipFetchHdr {
+                    status: CLIP_FETCH_OK,
+                    total_size: holder_payload.len() as u64,
+                },
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+            let _ = clipstream::write_data(&mut send, &holder_payload).await;
+            host_conn
+        });
+
+        let req = ClipFetch {
+            seq: 1,
+            file_index: CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE,
+            mime: "application/octet-stream".into(),
+        };
+        let (_send, mut recv) = clipstream::open_fetch(&client_conn, &req).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            clipstream::read_fetch_hdr(&mut recv).await.unwrap().status,
+            CLIP_FETCH_OK
+        );
+        // Cap below the payload size ⇒ read_data errors instead of buffering unboundedly.
+        assert!(clipstream::read_data(&mut recv, 64 * 1024).await.is_err());
+
+        let _host_conn = holder.await.unwrap();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/include/punktfunk_core.h b/include/punktfunk_core.h
index c93ff526..37c32c37 100644
--- a/include/punktfunk_core.h
+++ b/include/punktfunk_core.h
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@
 // application close) and the `PunktfunkStatus` −20 block itself. Additive — the close codes are
 // new application-close vocabulary an old peer simply never sends/reads, so [`WIRE_VERSION`] is
 // unchanged.
-#define ABI_VERSION 7
+// v8: added the shared-clipboard client surface — `punktfunk_connection_host_caps` and
+// `punktfunk_connection_clipboard_{control,offer,fetch,serve,cancel}` +
+// `punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard`. Additive; the wire grows only backward-compatible control
+// messages (0x40-0x44) and a new `Welcome::host_caps` bit, so [`WIRE_VERSION`] is unchanged.
+#define ABI_VERSION 8
 
 // The punktfunk/1 **wire** version — what `Hello`/`Welcome` carry and hosts equality-check.
 // Deliberately its own constant: [`ABI_VERSION`] tracks the embeddable **C surface**
@@ -192,11 +196,60 @@
 // (design/pyrowave-codec-plan.md §3). (Mirrors `quic::CODEC_PYROWAVE`.)
 #define PUNKTFUNK_CODEC_PYROWAVE 8
 
+// Host-capability bit in [`punktfunk_connection_host_caps`]: the host applies gamepad-state
+// snapshots (a capable client sends full-state snapshots instead of per-transition events).
+// (Mirrors `quic::HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE`.)
+#define PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE 1
+
+// Host-capability bit in [`punktfunk_connection_host_caps`]: the host supports the shared
+// clipboard, so a client may offer the toggle. (Mirrors `quic::HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`.)
+#define PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD 2
+
 // `*ttl_ms` sentinel written by [`punktfunk_connection_next_rumble2`] for a legacy (v1) rumble
 // datagram — an old host that sent no self-termination lease. The client then falls back to its
 // own staleness heuristic for that update instead of a host-supplied deadline.
 #define PUNKTFUNK_RUMBLE_NO_TTL 4294967295
 
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — the host announced clipboard content is available
+// (`transfer_id` = the offer `seq`; `data`/`len` = a `\n`-separated `"<mime>\t<size_hint>"`
+// format list). Fetch it lazily (only on a local paste) via
+// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch`].
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_REMOTE_OFFER 1
+
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — host ack / policy / backend update (`enabled`/`policy`/`reason`
+// valid). Reflect it in the toggle UI.
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_STATE 2
+
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — the host is pasting our offered data: answer with
+// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_serve`] (`transfer_id` = `req_id`; `seq`/`file_index` valid;
+// `data`/`len` = the requested MIME).
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_FETCH_REQUEST 3
+
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — bytes for a fetch we started (`transfer_id` = `xfer_id`;
+// `data`/`len` = the payload, borrowed until the next `next_clipboard`; `last` = final chunk).
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_DATA 4
+
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — a transfer was cancelled (`transfer_id` = the id).
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_CANCELLED 5
+
+// [`PunktfunkClipEvent::kind`] — a transfer failed (`transfer_id` = the id; `status` = a
+// `PunktfunkStatus` code).
+#define PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_ERROR 6
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Per-fetch requester-side size cap (bytes). A holder that streams more than this is treated as a
+// cap breach and the fetch fails rather than buffering unboundedly (§7). Phase 0 uses one fixed
+// value; a future host-policy `PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_MAX_MB` tightens it per session.
+#define CLIP_FETCH_CAP (64 << 20)
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Inbound-serve `req_id`s carry this high bit so they never collide with the client-assigned
+// outbound-fetch `xfer_id`s (which count up from 1). A single [`ClipCommand::Cancel`] `id` can
+// then be routed to the right table.
+#define INBOUND_REQ_FLAG 2147483648
+#endif
+
 // 16-byte AEAD authentication tag appended by GCM.
 #define TAG_LEN 16
 
@@ -496,6 +549,16 @@
 #define HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE 1
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`Welcome::host_caps`] bit: the host has a shared-clipboard service (a working OS backend)
+// **and** its operator policy does not hard-disable it, so the client may offer the clipboard
+// toggle. Absent (an older host, or `PUNKTFUNK_CLIPBOARD` off) ⇒ the client greys the toggle
+// out. Purely additive: nothing clipboard-related happens until a [`ClipControl`]`{ enabled:
+// true }` crosses (see `design/clipboard-and-file-transfer.md` §3.1). Packs into the existing
+// trailing `host_caps` byte — no wire-layout change.
+#define HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD 2
+#endif
+
 #if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
 // [`Hello::video_codecs`] bit: the client can decode H.264 / AVC. The GPU-less **software**
 // encode path (openh264) emits H.264, so a client that wants to stream from a software host MUST
@@ -606,6 +669,119 @@
 #define MSG_CLOCK_ECHO 49
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Type byte of [`ClipControl`] (client → host): enable/disable the shared clipboard for this
+// session. Idempotent; opt-in is enforced here, not just in UI.
+#define MSG_CLIP_CONTROL 64
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Type byte of [`ClipState`] (host → client): ack + unsolicited policy/backend updates.
+#define MSG_CLIP_STATE 65
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Type byte of [`ClipOffer`] (symmetric): the lazy announcement — format list only, no bytes.
+#define MSG_CLIP_OFFER 66
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Type byte of [`ClipFetch`] (requester → holder, **fetch stream only**): pull one format of the
+// current offer.
+#define MSG_CLIP_FETCH 67
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Type byte of [`ClipFetchHdr`] (holder → requester, **fetch stream only**): the fetch response
+// header that precedes the data chunks.
+#define MSG_CLIP_FETCH_HDR 68
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipControl::flags`] bit: the client permits file kinds to be offered/fetched this session.
+// Absent ⇒ files are filtered out of offers in both directions (text/rich/image only).
+#define CLIP_FLAG_FILES 1
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::policy`] bit: the host permits non-file formats (text/RTF/HTML/image). Always set
+// while enabled unless a future direction limit clears it.
+#define CLIP_POLICY_TEXT 1
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::policy`] bit: the host permits file formats. Cleared by the operator `no-files`
+// / `text-only` policy so the client can grey out "Include files".
+#define CLIP_POLICY_FILES 2
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::reason`]: normal ack, nothing exceptional.
+#define CLIP_REASON_OK 0
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::reason`]: this session type has no working clipboard backend (e.g. a gamescope
+// session with no data-control global) — the client shows "not supported in this session type".
+#define CLIP_REASON_BACKEND_UNAVAILABLE 1
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::reason`]: another client took over the single per-desktop clipboard binding; this
+// one was disabled (last `ClipControl{enabled}` wins).
+#define CLIP_REASON_TAKEN_OVER 2
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::reason`]: the host operator policy (`PUNKTFUNK_CLIPBOARD=off`) disables clipboard.
+#define CLIP_REASON_POLICY_DISABLED 3
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipState::reason`]: enabled, but the host policy forbids file transfer (`no-files` /
+// `text-only`) — surfaced so the client greys "Include files" with a footnote.
+#define CLIP_REASON_NO_FILES 4
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the requested format is being served; data chunks follow until FIN.
+#define CLIP_FETCH_OK 0
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the fetch named a `seq` that is no longer the holder's current offer;
+// the requester degrades the paste to "nothing inserted" rather than wrong data. No chunks follow.
+#define CLIP_FETCH_STALE 1
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: the format/index is not available (no backend, or it vanished). No
+// chunks follow.
+#define CLIP_FETCH_UNAVAILABLE 2
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipFetchHdr::status`]: policy/cap denies this fetch (e.g. a file fetch under `no-files`). No
+// chunks follow.
+#define CLIP_FETCH_DENIED 3
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Maximum number of [`ClipKind`] entries in one [`ClipOffer`] (resource cap, §7).
+#define CLIP_MAX_KINDS 16
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Maximum length in bytes of a [`ClipKind::mime`] string (resource cap, §7).
+#define CLIP_MAX_MIME 128
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// [`ClipFetch::file_index`] sentinel meaning "not a file fetch" (a whole non-file format, or the
+// file *manifest* itself). Real file fetches use `0..n`.
+#define CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE UINT32_MAX
+#endif
+
 #if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
 // Type byte of [`PairRequest`].
 #define MSG_PAIR_REQUEST 16
@@ -662,6 +838,27 @@
 #define ColorInfo_MC_BT2020_NCL 9
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Stream-kind byte: a clipboard fetch (request/response of one format). Future stream kinds
+// (e.g. a bulk file-content push) mux under the same [`STREAM_MAGIC`] with a different byte.
+#define CLIP_STREAM_KIND_FETCH 1
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// QUIC application error code used to `reset`/`stop` a clipboard fetch stream on cancel — sync
+// disabled mid-transfer, paste timed out, size cap exceeded, teardown. Distinct from the
+// connection close codes ([`super::QUIT_CLOSE_CODE`] `0x51` / [`super::APP_EXITED_CLOSE_CODE`]
+// `0x52`), the connection reject code `0x42`, and the pairing-rejection close block
+// `0x60`–`0x67` — stream reset codes and connection close codes are separate QUIC namespaces,
+// but the vocabularies stay disjoint on purpose so a captured code is unambiguous.
+#define CLIP_CANCELLED_CODE 112
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Chunk size for streaming fetch data (64 KiB writes — matches the control-frame bound).
+#define CLIP_CHUNK (64 * 1024)
+#endif
+
 // Consecutive no-output AUs that force a keyframe request. ~50 ms at 60 Hz — long enough not to fire
 // on a one-frame decoder hiccup, short enough that a lost initial IDR (or a mid-GOP join) unfreezes
 // almost immediately instead of never.
@@ -1089,6 +1286,47 @@ typedef struct {
 } PunktfunkRichInputEx;
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// One advertised clipboard format passed to [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_offer`].
+typedef struct {
+    // NUL-terminated UTF-8 wire MIME (e.g. `text/plain;charset=utf-8`). ≤ 128 bytes on the wire.
+    const char *mime;
+    // Best-effort size in bytes; `0` = unknown.
+    uint64_t size_hint;
+} PunktfunkClipKind;
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// A shared-clipboard event, filled by [`punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard`]. A flat tagged
+// struct (like `PunktfunkHidOutput`): read the fields named in the `kind`'s doc; the rest are 0.
+typedef struct {
+    // One of `PUNKTFUNK_CLIP_*`.
+    uint8_t kind;
+    // `State`: 1 = enabled, 0 = disabled.
+    uint8_t enabled;
+    // `State`: bitfield of `quic::CLIP_POLICY_*` — what the host currently permits.
+    uint8_t policy;
+    // `State`: one of `quic::CLIP_REASON_*`.
+    uint8_t reason;
+    // `Data`: 1 = final chunk of this transfer.
+    uint8_t last;
+    // Per-transfer id: the offer `seq` (RemoteOffer), the `req_id` (FetchRequest), or the
+    // `xfer_id` (Data/Cancelled/Error).
+    uint32_t transfer_id;
+    // `FetchRequest`: the offer `seq` the request is against.
+    uint32_t seq;
+    // `FetchRequest`: file index, or `quic::CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE`.
+    uint32_t file_index;
+    // `Error`: a `PunktfunkStatus` code (negative); 0 otherwise.
+    int32_t status;
+    // RemoteOffer/FetchRequest/Data: a pointer into a per-connection slot, valid until the next
+    // `next_clipboard` call; NULL for the other kinds.
+    const uint8_t *data;
+    // Byte length of `data` (0 when `data` is NULL).
+    uintptr_t len;
+} PunktfunkClipEvent;
+#endif
+
 // A speed-test measurement, filled by [`punktfunk_connection_probe_result`]. `done` is 0 until
 // the host's end-of-burst report lands, then 1 (the numbers are final). `throughput_kbps` is the
 // delivered wire throughput to drive a bitrate choice from; `loss_pct` is the link loss and
@@ -1772,6 +2010,96 @@ PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_mode(const PunktfunkConnection *c,
 PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_gamepad(const PunktfunkConnection *c, uint32_t *gamepad);
 #endif
 
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// The host capability bitfield the session's `Welcome` carried — a bitfield of
+// `PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_GAMEPAD_STATE` / `PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD`. A client tests
+// `caps & PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CAP_CLIPBOARD` to decide whether to offer the shared-clipboard toggle.
+// Safe any time after connect.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle; `caps` is writable (NULL is skipped).
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_host_caps(const PunktfunkConnection *c, uint8_t *caps);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Enable or disable the shared clipboard for this session (`design` §3.1). Opt-in: nothing is
+// announced or served until this is called with `enabled = true`. `flags` carries
+// `quic::CLIP_FLAG_FILES` (allow file transfer). The host replies with a `State` event.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle.
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_clipboard_control(const PunktfunkConnection *c,
+                                                       bool enabled,
+                                                       uint8_t flags);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Announce that the local clipboard changed — the lazy format-list offer. `seq` is a monotonic
+// per-sender counter (newest wins); `kinds`/`n` is the advertised formats (≤ 16). The bytes cross
+// only if the host later fetches.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle; `kinds` points to `n` `PunktfunkClipKind`s (NULL allowed only
+// when `n == 0`), each `mime` a valid NUL-terminated UTF-8 string.
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_clipboard_offer(const PunktfunkConnection *c,
+                                                     uint32_t seq,
+                                                     const PunktfunkClipKind *kinds,
+                                                     uintptr_t n);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Start pulling one format (`mime`) of the host's current offer `seq` — lazily, on a local paste.
+// `file_index` selects a file for a file transfer, or `quic::CLIP_FILE_INDEX_NONE` for a non-file
+// format. Writes the transfer id (echoed on the resulting `Data`/`Error`/`Cancelled` event) to
+// `xfer_id_out`.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle; `mime` is a valid NUL-terminated UTF-8 string; `xfer_id_out`
+// is writable (NULL is skipped).
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch(const PunktfunkConnection *c,
+                                                     uint32_t seq,
+                                                     const char *mime,
+                                                     uint32_t file_index,
+                                                     uint32_t *xfer_id_out);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Provide bytes answering a `FetchRequest` event (the host is pasting our offered data). Call
+// repeatedly to stream a large payload; `last = true` completes it. `data` may be NULL only when
+// `len == 0` (e.g. a final empty chunk). `punktfunk_connection_clipboard_cancel(req_id)` aborts.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle; `data` points to `len` bytes (NULL allowed only when
+// `len == 0`).
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_clipboard_serve(const PunktfunkConnection *c,
+                                                     uint32_t req_id,
+                                                     const uint8_t *data,
+                                                     uintptr_t len,
+                                                     bool last);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Cancel a clipboard transfer by id — either an outbound fetch (`xfer_id` from
+// [`punktfunk_connection_clipboard_fetch`]) or an inbound serve (`req_id` from a `FetchRequest`).
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle.
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_clipboard_cancel(const PunktfunkConnection *c, uint32_t id);
+#endif
+
+#if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
+// Pull the next shared-clipboard event into `*out`. [`PunktfunkStatus::NoFrame`] on timeout,
+// [`PunktfunkStatus::Closed`] once the session ended. A native client drains this on its own
+// thread and drives the OS pasteboard from it. The `data`/`len` pointer (when non-NULL) borrows a
+// per-connection buffer valid until the next `next_clipboard` call on this handle.
+//
+// # Safety
+// `c` is a valid connection handle; `out` is writable for one `PunktfunkClipEvent`.
+PunktfunkStatus punktfunk_connection_next_clipboard(PunktfunkConnection *c,
+                                                    PunktfunkClipEvent *out,
+                                                    uint32_t timeout_ms);
+#endif
+
 #if defined(PUNKTFUNK_FEATURE_QUIC)
 // The compositor backend the host actually resolved for this session (one of the
 // `PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR_*` values; the `Welcome`'s echo of the [`punktfunk_connect_ex`]