When I copy and paste or cut and paste text from Word to PowerPoint, I get an error message that says "We're sorry. Something went wrong that might make PowerPoint unstable. Please save your presentations and restart PowerPoint." It is Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint version 2411 (Build 18227.20046 Click-to-Run) It is only text from Word. Text from other sources work fine. It is only text. Images can be copied and pasted with no problem. It is text of all sizes, including just one word from a brand-new doc. I've tried: Restarting PowerPoint Restarting Word Restarting the computer Restarting PowerPoint in Safe Mode I've tried text from different Word documents, including new docs I've just created for this purpose I've tried text with just one word, and text with a lot of words I've tried adding a new user and doing it from that user's account (same computer though)

Why is pasting word content into a powerpoint causing an instability warning.

No one in this forum is a Microsoft programmer, so we can't answer "why" questions. Please choose Help>Feedback>Report a problem to report the bug to the PowerPoint programming team.

I received an update today. It seems to be working again.

As has been pointed out, many of us have used Copy and Paste for years and only within the past year had this problem. Yes, paste text only works, but that's sad that we can't simply copy and paste from apps that are all part of Microsoft Office 365.

Good news! How did you receive the update? Was it emailed by Microsoft?

Pasting from Word to PowerPoint is causing an error message

Anonymous

When I copy and paste or cut and paste text from Word to PowerPoint, I get an error message that says "We're sorry. Something went wrong that might make PowerPoint unstable. Please save your presentations and restart PowerPoint."

It is Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint version 2411 (Build 18227.20046 Click-to-Run)
It is only text from Word. Text from other sources work fine.
It is only text. Images can be copied and pasted with no problem.
It is text of all sizes, including just one word from a brand-new doc.

I've tried:

Restarting PowerPoint
Restarting Word
Restarting the computer
Restarting PowerPoint in Safe Mode
I've tried text from different Word documents, including new docs I've just created for this purpose
I've tried text with just one word, and text with a lot of words
I've tried adding a new user and doing it from that user's account (same computer though)

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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24 answers

Anonymous

2025-04-03T14:12:37+00:00

Why is pasting word content into a powerpoint causing an instability warning.
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John Korchok 236.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-04-03T15:24:18+00:00

No one in this forum is a Microsoft programmer, so we can't answer "why" questions. Please choose Help>Feedback>Report a problem to report the bug to the PowerPoint programming team.
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Anonymous

2025-05-02T20:46:22+00:00

I received an update today. It seems to be working again.
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Anonymous

2025-05-03T15:06:20+00:00

As has been pointed out, many of us have used Copy and Paste for years and only within the past year had this problem. Yes, paste text only works, but that's sad that we can't simply copy and paste from apps that are all part of Microsoft Office 365.
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2025-05-03T17:34:11+00:00

Good news! How did you receive the update? Was it emailed by Microsoft?
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