How to fix copy and paste not working on Excel

Stewart Griffiths 0 Reputation points
2026-09-30T09:15:40.8933333+00:00

I have not long had new download of Microsoft Office but when i try to use the function copy & paste it does not work, any ideas please.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | Other | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-30T09:15:57.2233333+00:00

    If copy and paste in Excel does nothing, start with these checks:

    1. Install the latest Office updates A known Excel issue caused paste to fail silently in Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Office Online Server. Microsoft states this is fixed in the latest updates, so installing the latest Office updates is the first step.
    2. Try Paste Special as a workaround In Excel, go to Home > Paste dropdown > Paste Special. Then try one of these options:
      • Formula
      • Formula and number formats
      • Values
      • Values and number formats
      • Paste Link
    3. Make sure Paste options are enabled Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under Cut, copy and paste, make sure Show Paste Options button when content is pasted is checked.
    4. Test whether an add-in is causing the problem Start Excel in Safe Mode:
      • Find the Excel icon
      • Press and hold CTRL and double-click Excel
      • Select Yes when asked to start in Safe Mode
      If paste works in Safe Mode, an add-in is likely causing the conflict. Re-enable add-ins one at a time and leave the problematic add-in disabled or uninstall it.
    5. Close web browsers Browser processes can conflict with Paste Special. Close all browser windows and test again.
    6. If using two Excel windows opened as separate instances Open both workbooks in the same Excel instance. When workbooks are in different Excel instances, Excel may show the Windows Paste Special dialog instead of the Excel one, and Excel attribute pasting will not work correctly.
    7. If pasting a large range or structured data In Excel for Mac guidance, Microsoft recommends checking that:
      • the destination columns have the correct cell format
      • enough columns exist for the pasted data
      • the paste area matches the copied area size and shape

    If the problem started right after a recent Office update, this matches a known Excel issue where paste fails silently. Updating Office is the main fix.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Estrella721 46,550 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-30T09:59:16.8933333+00:00

    Hi,

    Since you recently installed Microsoft Office, the issue may be related to the Office installation or an Excel add-in.

    First, try closing Excel and reopening it, then check if copy and paste works.

    If the issue persists, try starting Excel in Safe Mode by pressing Windows + R, typing excel /safe, and pressing Enter. If copy and paste works in Safe Mode, an add-in may be causing the issue.

    You can also try repairing Microsoft Office using an Online Repair.

    In the search bar, type Control Panel > Programs and Features > find Microsoft 365/Office > right-click it > select Change > then run Online Repair.

    If none of the above solutions fix the issue, as a last resort, you can use the Office Uninstall Support Tool (Uninstall Troubleshooter) to completely remove Microsoft Office from your device and then reinstall it.

    https://aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstallFromPC

    Once you open the link, click Get Help. When the tool launches, select Yes, then click Next. Choose the option to uninstall Microsoft 365 and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

    To reinstall Office:

    Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services

    Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Office license.

    Locate Microsoft Office and click Install.

    Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

    Once installed, open an Office app such as Word or Excel and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your purchase to activate Office.

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  3. Stewart Griffiths 0 Reputation points
    2026-10-02T08:22:54.7166667+00:00

    I tried the updates but that reloaded my old office which no longer worked so I tried reloading my current Office 2024 and it worked and all appears to be working now. Thank you.

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  4. Estrella721 46,550 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-02T09:36:40.7+00:00

    You're welcome. I'm glad to help.

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