diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 68e5367..5ff8ab4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ The picker opens as a centered floating window listing recent yanks (newest firs
 | `<Up>` / `<Down>` | Same as `k` / `j` |
 | `<C-j>` / `<C-k>` | Move the **selected entry** down / up in history order (reorder) |
 | `<Enter>` | Paste the selected entry and close |
+| `y` | Copy the selected entry to the system clipboard (`+` / `*`) and keep the picker open |
 | `dd` | Delete the selected entry from history |
 | `q` or `<Esc>` | Close without pasting |
 
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ While the picker is focused, `<C-w>` does not switch windows or open which-key (
 1. Yank text as usual (`y`, `yy`, visual yank, etc.).
 2. Open ClipRing (`:ClipRing` or your mapping).
 3. Use `j` / `k` to highlight an entry, optionally `<C-j>` / `<C-k>` to reorder favorites.
-4. Press `<Enter>` to paste, or `q` to cancel.
+4. Press `<Enter>` to paste, `y` to copy to the system clipboard without pasting, or `q` to cancel.
 
 With `persist = true`, history is restored after you restart Neovim (stored under `persist_path`).
 
@@ -101,12 +102,15 @@ require("clipring").setup({
   open_mapping = "<leader>y",  -- string, list of strings, or false (nil = no keymap)
   reorder_down_mapping = "<C-j>", -- picker: move entry down in history (false to disable)
   reorder_up_mapping = "<C-k>",   -- picker: move entry up in history (false to disable)
+  copy_mapping = "y",             -- picker: copy to system clipboard (false to disable)
 })
 ```
 
 **`open_mapping`** — set a string (e.g. `"<leader>y"`) or multiple (`{ "<leader>y", "<M-y>" }`) to open ClipRing from Normal, Visual, and Insert. Leave unset or `nil` to use only `:ClipRing`. Use `false` to clear a keymap after a previous `setup()`.
 
-Omit `reorder_down_mapping` / `reorder_up_mapping` to keep the defaults above. Set either to `false` to turn off that binding.
+Omit `reorder_down_mapping` / `reorder_up_mapping` / `copy_mapping` to keep the defaults above. Set any of them to `false` to turn off that binding.
+
+Copy uses Neovim’s `+` and `*` registers (and the unnamed `"` register). You need clipboard support in Neovim (`:checkhealth clipboard`); on remote SSH, OSC52 or a clipboard provider may be required.
 
 If `<C-j>` / `<C-k>` conflict with global maps (e.g. `:move`), use different keys: `reorder_down_mapping = "<A-j>"`.
 
diff --git a/lua/clipring/config.lua b/lua/clipring/config.lua
index 1004e61..71d5687 100644
--- a/lua/clipring/config.lua
+++ b/lua/clipring/config.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local M = {}
 ---@field open_mapping string|string[]|false|nil keymap(s) to open picker (`nil` = `:ClipRing` only)
 ---@field reorder_down_mapping string|false|nil move selected entry down in picker (default `<C-j>`)
 ---@field reorder_up_mapping string|false|nil move selected entry up in picker (default `<C-k>`)
+---@field copy_mapping string|false|nil copy selected entry to system clipboard in picker (default `y`)
 
 M.defaults = {
   max_entries = 100,
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ M.defaults = {
   open_mapping = nil,
   reorder_down_mapping = "<C-j>",
   reorder_up_mapping = "<C-k>",
+  copy_mapping = "y",
 }
 
 ---@type ClipRingConfig
diff --git a/lua/clipring/paste.lua b/lua/clipring/paste.lua
index 14321b0..ca6af7f 100644
--- a/lua/clipring/paste.lua
+++ b/lua/clipring/paste.lua
@@ -307,4 +307,19 @@ function M.apply(entry, opener_mode, visual_marks, opener_win, opener_cursor)
   end
 end
 
+--- Copy ring entry to unnamed and system clipboard registers without pasting.
+---@param entry ClipRingEntry|nil
+---@return boolean
+function M.copy_to_clipboard(entry)
+  if not entry or not entry.lines or #entry.lines == 0 then
+    return false
+  end
+  local lines = entry.lines
+  local regtype = entry.regtype or "v"
+  vim.fn.setreg('"', lines, regtype)
+  vim.fn.setreg("+", lines, regtype)
+  vim.fn.setreg("*", lines, regtype)
+  return true
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/clipring/ui.lua b/lua/clipring/ui.lua
index 0a99533..9c769fb 100644
--- a/lua/clipring/ui.lua
+++ b/lua/clipring/ui.lua
@@ -139,6 +139,17 @@ local function select_current()
   paste.apply(entry, mode, marks, opener_win, opener_cursor)
 end
 
+local function copy_current()
+  local all = ring.get_all()
+  if #all == 0 then
+    return
+  end
+  local entry = all[state.index]
+  if entry then
+    paste.copy_to_clipboard(entry)
+  end
+end
+
 local function delete_current()
   local all = ring.get_all()
   if #all == 0 then
@@ -236,6 +247,12 @@ local function attach_keymaps()
   map("<CR>", function()
     select_current()
   end, "ClipRing: paste entry")
+  local copy_key = picker_mapping("copy_mapping", "y")
+  if copy_key then
+    map(copy_key, function()
+      copy_current()
+    end, "ClipRing: copy entry to system clipboard")
+  end
   map("dd", function()
     delete_current()
   end, "ClipRing: delete entry")
diff --git a/tests/paste_spec.lua b/tests/paste_spec.lua
index ac7f2e6..6ff88ac 100644
--- a/tests/paste_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/paste_spec.lua
@@ -150,4 +150,12 @@ describe("clipring.paste", function()
     assert.are_not.equal("hola mundofoo", h.buf_text(buf))
   end)
 
+  it("copy_to_clipboard sets registers with regtype", function()
+    local entry = h.entry({ "one", "two" }, "V")
+    assert.is_true(paste.copy_to_clipboard(entry))
+    -- Unnamed register is always available (headless has no OS clipboard for +).
+    assert.same({ "one", "two" }, vim.fn.getreg('"', 1, 1))
+    assert.are.equal("V", vim.fn.getregtype('"'))
+  end)
+
 end)
diff --git a/tests/ui_spec.lua b/tests/ui_spec.lua
index 7b4f758..7fabed9 100644
--- a/tests/ui_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/ui_spec.lua
@@ -107,6 +107,30 @@ describe("clipring.ui", function()
     ui.close()
   end)
 
+  it("maps y to copy the selected entry to clipboard registers without closing", function()
+    ui.open()
+    local clip_buf = feed_clipring("j")
+    assert.are.equal(2, h.clipring_selected_line(clip_buf))
+    feed_clipring("y")
+    assert.are.equal("older", vim.fn.getreg('"'))
+    assert.is_true(vim.fn.bufwinid(clip_buf) > 0)
+    ui.close()
+  end)
+
+  it("maps custom copy key from config", function()
+    require("clipring.config").setup({
+      max_entries = 20,
+      deduplicate = true,
+      min_length = 1,
+      persist = false,
+      copy_mapping = "c",
+    })
+    ui.open()
+    feed_clipring("c")
+    assert.are.equal("newer", vim.fn.getreg('"'))
+    ui.close()
+  end)
+
   it("maps Ctrl-j and Ctrl-k to reorder yanks in the ring", function()
     ui.open()
     assert.are.equal("newer", ring.get(1).lines[1])