Excel cut and paste not working after Updates

Question

Excel cut and paste not working after Updates

James Michael 0

Initially the Excel cut and paste functionality failed after the KB5002914 update. I have removed the update and installed the replacement KB5002665. However the error has now returned.

The error exist in worksheets that dont have conditional formatting.

James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-10-14T06:50:04.6033333+00:00

The issue exists only in older worksheet and does not exist in new worksheets

2 answers

Your answer

James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-10-14T06:50:04.6033333+00:00

The issue exists only in older worksheet and does not exist in new worksheets

Answer 1

James Michael 0

The build particulars are: Microsoft excel 2016 (16.5.5574.1004) MSO (16.0.5569.1003) 64-bit.There is a distinction in my previous notes that is perhaps not being clearly made.The particular files I have are a chronological sequence with 2 files being produce a month.

All the older files worked after the KB5002914 rollback fix and KB5002665 installation.

However after the re-occurance of the error, none of the older files work.

No cut and paste functionality works from the older files; there is some success using paste special "values" but data is lost from merged cells.

It is not possible to move / copy the entire worksheet within the file or to a new file.

Renaming the file(s) does not work.

The symptoms exhibited mirror exactly the issues with update KB5002914.

Timeline

The update KB5002914 was installed, and the cut and paste functionality failed.
The update KB5002914 was rolled back using commands posted in the learnmicrosoft.com website and the cut and paste functionality returned.
The update KB5002665 was installed and the cut and paste functionality was unaffected.
The files were being accessed and used on Monday (12 October 2026)
The files were accessed and being used successfully on Wednesday (14 October 2026) but during use the error appeared and all the older files are affected.

Kai-H 28,700 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T09:16:08.6233333+00:00

Hi, James Michael

Thank you for the detailed chronology. You are correct that the pattern is not consistent with ordinary workbook corruption:

The older files worked after KB5002914 was rolled back and KB5002665 was installed.

New worksheets still accept cut and paste.

All older workbooks became affected again during the same period.

The symptoms closely reproduce the silent paste failure introduced by KB5002914.

A new Excel 2016 MSI security update, KB5002934, was released on October 13, 2026. Reports from users running Excel build 16.0.5574.1004 describe the same recurrence after that update, including normal behavior returning when KB5002934 is removed. This is currently evidence of a possible regression, not yet an officially confirmed known issue in Microsoft’s KB5002934 documentation.

Please check Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updates for KB5002934 and note the installation date. If the date corresponds with the return of the problem, and your security or IT policy allows it, temporarily uninstall KB5002934, restart the computer, and test one affected workbook. Back up the workbook before testing.

If normal cut, copy, paste, and worksheet movement return after removal, that would strongly indicate an update regression. Because KB5002934 is a security update, removal should be treated only as a short diagnostic measure while awaiting a corrected package.
James Michael 0 Reputation points

2026-10-16T07:10:55.8266667+00:00

That did not work either

Answer 2

Hi, James Michael

The fact that cut and paste works in new worksheets but fails in older ones points to workbook-level damage or legacy formatting left behind in those files, rather than a general clipboard problem.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

First, make a backup copy of the affected workbook. In Excel, select File > Open > Browse, select the workbook once, then select the arrow beside Open > Open and Repair > Repair. This can rebuild damaged workbook components without removing the data.

If that does not help, create a blank workbook, then right-click each affected worksheet tab and select Move or Copy. Under To book, choose the new workbook, check Create a copy, and save it with a new name. Since newly created worksheets work normally, rebuilding the workbook container may remove the damaged worksheet metadata.

If moving the entire sheet carries the problem over, copy only the used cell range into a new worksheet, testing after each sheet. Recreate charts, buttons, or named ranges separately rather than copying the complete worksheet.

If the workbook uses the older .xls format, it is also recommended that you save the rebuilt copy as .xlsx. Keep the original file until formulas, links, and macros have been checked.