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)

It helps in the sense that copying from a safe-Word open document into PowerPoint yields the layout as it was in Word. It does not solve the issue that copying from (non-safe) Word to PowerPoint yields the error. It keeps on being annoying, since issue is between Word and Powerpoint only.

Win+R winword /safe Press the Windows button plus the R - or right click on the start button and choose Run. Type winword /safe and press Enter.

There is a thread of probably the same issue, closed without solution: Copying from Word does not retain text/html type - shows 'Empty String' Also seems to be the same case in this unresolved November post here: Pasting from Word no longer carries over format The bug is still present in M365 version 2502 (build: 18526.20168 click-to-run)

I'm having this same problem so there must be an error that is affecting many. I hope someone from Microsoft can provide a fix.

Hello Amy Ricketts, welcome to the Microsoft Community. I understand that you encountered an issue when copying from Word to PowerPoint. I would like to know when this issue started occurring. Confirming this might help identify the cause of the problem. On the other hand, you can perform a simple test by: Copying from Word to Excel Copying from Excel to PowerPoint Using Excel as an intermediary can help us determine whether the issue lies with Word or PowerPoint. Additionally, repairing Office often resolves most issues, so I recommend you try this first: <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/repair-an-office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b#:%7E:text=%E4%BF%AE%E5%A4%8D%20Office%20%E5%BA%94%E7%94%A8%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%8F%201%20%E5%8F%B3%E9%94%AE%E5%8D%95%E5%87%BB%E5%B7%A6%E4%B8%8B%E8%A7%92%29%20%28%E2%80%9C%E5%BC%80%E5%A7%8B%E2%80%9D%20%E6%8C%89%E9%92%AE%EF%BC%8C%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E%E5%9C%A8%E5%BC%B9%E5%87%BA%E8%8F%9C%E5%8D%95%E4%B8%AD%E9%80%89%E6%8B%A9%E2%80%9C%20%E5%BA%94%E7%94%A8%E5%92%8C%E5%8A%9F%E8%83%BD,%E6%9B%B4%E6%94%B9%E5%AE%89%E8%A3%85%20%E2%80%9D%E4%B8%AD%EF%BC%8C%E9%80%89%E6%8B%A9%E2%80%9C%20%E4%BF%AE%E5%A4%8D%20%E2%80%9D%EF%BC%8C%E7%84%B6%E5%90%8E%E5%8D%95%E5%87%BB%E2%80%9C%20%E7%BB%A7%E7%BB%AD%20%E2%80%9D%E3%80%82%204%20%E6%8C%89%E7%85%A7%E5%B1%8F%E5%B9%95%E4%B8%8A%E7%9A%84%E8%AF%B4%E6%98%8E%E5%AE%8C%E6%88%90%E4%BF%AE%E5%A4%8D%E3%80%82" title="support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support If a quick repair does not work, consider an online repair. This will re-download the Office applications and overwrite the currently installed applications to fix any potential errors. It takes longer, so I suggest trying it during your free time. The following solutions are also worth trying: Reset Office Close all office applications. Press Windows + R , in the run box that opens type: regedit and press enter. Locate the following key value and rename the Office folder (right-click on it and select Rename, e.g. rename Office to Officeold) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office Then check if the problem is solved. Create a new local account Press Windows + S, search for cmd, and run the Command Prompt as an administrator. Enter and run the following two commands separately: net user User /add net localgroup administrators User /add Replace User with the username for the new account. You can choose any name you like, but it's recommended to use English. After completing this, click on the user icon in the Start menu and switch users. You may see a setup guide; complete it to enter the system. Test whether the issue occurs in the new user environment. Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article. If you think this information is helpful, or if you still have any questions about it, feel free to let me know in your reply!Best RegardsEliac | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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

2025-03-26T08:17:35+00:00

It helps in the sense that copying from a safe-Word open document into PowerPoint yields the layout as it was in Word. It does not solve the issue that copying from (non-safe) Word to PowerPoint yields the error. It keeps on being annoying, since issue is between Word and Powerpoint only.
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Anonymous

2025-03-25T16:34:44+00:00

Win+R

winword /safe

Press the Windows button plus the R - or right click on the start button and choose Run.

Type winword /safe and press Enter.
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Anonymous

2025-03-25T14:51:59+00:00

There is a thread of probably the same issue, closed without solution: Copying from Word does not retain text/html type - shows 'Empty String'

Also seems to be the same case in this unresolved November post here: Pasting from Word no longer carries over format

The bug is still present in M365 version 2502 (build: 18526.20168 click-to-run)
Was this answer helpful?

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Anonymous

2025-03-24T22:03:08+00:00

I'm having this same problem so there must be an error that is affecting many. I hope someone from Microsoft can provide a fix.
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Anonymous

2024-12-01T07:33:38+00:00
Hello Amy Ricketts, welcome to the Microsoft Community.

I understand that you encountered an issue when copying from Word to PowerPoint. I would like to know when this issue started occurring. Confirming this might help identify the cause of the problem.

On the other hand, you can perform a simple test by:
- Copying from Word to Excel
- Copying from Excel to PowerPoint
Using Excel as an intermediary can help us determine whether the issue lies with Word or PowerPoint.

Additionally, repairing Office often resolves most issues, so I recommend you try this first: Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support

If a quick repair does not work, consider an online repair. This will re-download the Office applications and overwrite the currently installed applications to fix any potential errors. It takes longer, so I suggest trying it during your free time.

The following solutions are also worth trying:

Reset Office
- Close all office applications.
- Press Windows + R , in the run box that opens type: regedit and press enter.
- Locate the following key value and rename the Office folder (right-click on it and select Rename, e.g. rename Office to Officeold)
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office
- Then check if the problem is solved.
Create a new local account
- Press Windows + S, search for cmd, and run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Enter and run the following two commands separately:
  net user User /add net localgroup administrators User /add
- Replace User with the username for the new account. You can choose any name you like, but it's recommended to use English.
- After completing this, click on the user icon in the Start menu and switch users. You may see a setup guide; complete it to enter the system.
- Test whether the issue occurs in the new user environment.
Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

If you think this information is helpful, or if you still have any questions about it, feel free to let me know in your reply!Best RegardsEliac | Microsoft Community Support Specialist
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