My windows clipboard is not working,

William Hurley 10 Reputation points
2026-11-09T23:43:06.19+00:00

When the computer starts it works for a few minutes then stops. Copied items not added to the clipboard and when yo try to past from the clipboard nothing happens, The computer needs to be restarted.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows
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  1. William Hurley 10 Reputation points
    2026-11-11T16:24:08.4433333+00:00

    Thanks Michelle. I was able to copy the paste from notepad and paste it into a word document, no problem. But the copied text did not appear in the clipboard

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  2. William Hurley 10 Reputation points
    2026-11-11T16:22:26.1233333+00:00

    Thanks Michelle. I was able to copy the text from notepad and paste it into a word document, no problem. But the copied text did not appear in the clipboard

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  3. William Hurley 10 Reputation points
    2026-11-10T01:29:57.21+00:00

    Windows 11. I do not understand what you mean by exact version and OS build

    When the issue occurs newly copied items do not appear in the clipboard and any items that are already in the clipboard cannot be pasted, the computer needs to be restarted

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  4. AI answer

    2026-11-10T00:54:32.4266667+00:00

    Reset the local Windows clipboard data first, because this repair most closely matches a clipboard that works after startup and then stops until the next restart.^1^

    Reset the clipboard data

    Deleting this data may remove locally stored clipboard history, including pinned entries.

    1. Close Excel and other applications.
    2. Open File Explorer.
    3. Enter this path in the address bar and press Enter: 
         %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Clipboard
    4. Delete the contents of that folder, but leave the Clipboard folder itself.
    5. Select Start → Power → Restart. Use Restart, not Shut down.
    6. After signing in, copy and paste several short pieces of text in Notepad, then press Windows key + V and confirm that new entries appear.

    If Clipboard history is disabled, press Windows key + V and select Turn on. It can also be cleared through Settings → System → Clipboard → Clear clipboard data.^2^

    If Suggested actions is enabled

    This workaround applies only if Settings → System → Clipboard → Suggested actions is present and enabled:

    1. Turn Clipboard history off and back on.
    2. Turn Suggested actions off.
    3. Press Windows key + V.
    4. Test copying and pasting.
    5. If it now works, optionally re-enable Suggested actions and test again.

    A matching clipboard failure has been associated with Suggested actions, although this sequence is a workaround rather than a permanent repair.^3^

    Determine whether Windows or Excel is affected

    When the failure returns:

    • Copy and paste plain text between two Notepad windows.
    • Then repeat the test in Excel.

    If Notepad also fails, the problem is Windows-wide. If Notepad works but Excel does not, skip to the Excel section.

    If it is Windows-wide

    Isolate a background clipboard conflict

    Only one application can hold the Windows clipboard open at a time, so background utilities can interfere with clipboard operations.^4^

    Perform a clean boot:

    1. Sign in with an administrator account.
    2. Search for msconfig and open System Configuration.
    3. On Services, select Hide all Microsoft services, then Disable all and Apply.
    4. On Startup, select Open Task Manager and disable each enabled startup item. Record what you disable.
    5. Restart and test long enough for the clipboard normally to fail.

    If the clipboard remains working, re-enable services and startup items in halves until the conflicting program is identified. Clipboard managers, screen-capture utilities, remote-access software, and Office add-ins are useful categories to examine. Restore normal startup afterward.^5^

    A clean boot temporarily disables non-Microsoft services and startup software. On a managed business computer, ask IT before changing these settings.

    Repair Windows components

    If the clipboard still fails during a clean boot, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

    Allow DISM to finish before starting SFC, wait for verification to reach 100%, and then restart Windows.^6^

    If only Excel is affected

    1. Press Windows key + R.
    2. Enter excel /safe and select OK.
    3. Test copy and paste in Excel Safe Mode.

    If it works there, go to File → Options → Add-ins. At the bottom, select Excel Add-ins or COM Add-ins → Go, then disable add-ins one at a time and retest normally.^7^

    If Safe Mode does not help, repair Office:

    • Windows 11: Start → Installed apps → Microsoft 365/Office → … → Modify
    • Windows 10: Start → Apps and Features → Microsoft 365/Office → Modify
    • Choose Online Repair → Repair.^8^

    For Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, or 2024 specifically, Microsoft also documents a fixed silent-paste defect. Install the latest Office updates if using one of those editions; that documented defect does not list Microsoft 365 Apps as affected.^9^

    References

    1. Windows + v is not working - Microsoft Q&A
    2. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/apps/using-the-clipboard#summary)
    3. Clipboard Functionality Issue with Suggested Actions Enabled - Microsoft Q&A
    4. Clipboard Operations
    5. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/startup-boot/how-to-perform-a-clean-boot-in-windows)
    6. Using System File Checker in Windows | Microsoft Support
    7. Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC | Microsoft Support
    8. Repair an Office application | Microsoft Support
    9. The paste operation might fail with no notifications in Excel | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  5. Michelle Nguyen 2,780 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-10T00:29:48.83+00:00

    Hi @William Hurley

    Could you please confirm whether the clipboard stops working in all applications or only in certain apps?

    After restarting the computer, how long does the clipboard continue working before it stops again?

    Based on my research, Windows Clipboard History can store up to 25 items, with a maximum size of 4 MB for each supported item. First, please try restarting Windows Explorer:

    Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

    On the Processes tab, locate Windows Explorer.

    Right-click Windows Explorer, then select Restart.

    If the issue persists, please provide the following information:

    • Are you using Windows 10 or Windows 11? What is the exact version and OS build?
    • When the issue occurs, does Windows + V still open Clipboard History, or does it open but fail to display newly copied items?
    • Did the issue begin after you installed or updated any application?

    Please note that I am just a regular community user, not a Microsoft employee. I will do my best to assist you based on the information you provide and the publicly available documentation.

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