Clipboard problems (can not copy/paste) in Windows 11

Anonymous
2023-11-27T07:08:13+00:00

Clipboard stops to working in random time during the working day. Can't copy/paste, clipboard manager is empty. No any special actions done before this: it just stops to work in regular routine. I just have to restart Windows and hope to work for a next few hours.

It's make me crazy to restart my computer few times a day. I have complicated environment with VM's, Docker, IDE, SSH Terminals and should restart it JUST BECAUSE SUDDENLY I HAVE NO CLIPBOARD.

HOW IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE TO BREAK THE CLIPBOARD??? I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT JOKE

Windows 11 is broken! Please fix it!

I know here a lot of people with same issue. Please comment: let's make this problem visible to MS.

Please no generic advises about restart explorer, dism/sfc, troubleshooting and reinstalling my OS.

All of this was tried many times and doesn't solve this deep Windows bug.

My system information:

Windows 11 22H2 (x64), build 22621.2715, all the updates installed (Nov 2023)

Ryzen 7 5800H, 32 Gb RAM

•

UPDATES:

SOLUTION #1 (JUNE 2024): confirmed and tested

As I noticed before, clipboard issue was always after my computer was left for some time switched on. During this my screensaver was shown and SOME BACKGROUND TASKS performed. This caused the issue 100% of time! I was trying to find and disable background tasks - but it doesn't help.

So, here's my solution: don't let PC to get idle. I've installed Caffeinated utility and keep my PC always awake, even when I'm go out for a few hours or night. AND IT WORKS! For 1 month already no more Clipboard Problem, no any restart! So I recommend to try this method.

SOLUTION #2 (doubtful: works for some)

Discovered by Glen Decker, instructions by Kim-LarryPapp

I hope it can help shine a light. You can follow the steps below. Some things to note, I've placed keystrokes in square brackets to indicate the keyboard touches, and the 'WIN' key refers to the Windows Key on the keyboard. (e.g. [ctrl+alt+del])

  • [Win + R] to open the Run Window
  • [services.msc] => [enter]
  • Click the 'Name' column heading to be sure the items are listed in alphabetical, A to Z.
  • Scroll down to find the item listed 'Connected Devices Platform Service' (Служба платформы подключенных устройств)
  • Double-Click the item to open the properties window.
  • Change the 'Start-up Type' in the drop-down to 'Disabled'. Mine was set to 'Automatic (Delayed)'.
  • Reboot

UPDATE FROM SEPTEMBER 2024:

From the moment I discovered solution #1 I have no issues with clipboard at all - for 3 months in a row!

Just using Caffeinated utility or PowerToys Awake - yes, not fix, but stable workaround. At least I can do my job while Microsoft ignores this issue.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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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  1. Anonymous
    2024-04-09T19:19:09+00:00

    So my problem was and LG application called "Dual Controller" which came with my 35 inch widescreen monitor. This software was supposed to enable copy/paste between 2 separate computers. I uninstalled it and all seems good :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-29T16:02:08+00:00

    This has nothing to do with a large amount of data. Even copying a single cell generates the same error ... however

    TO MICROSOFT: This appears to be related to my dual monitor setup. When I use my laptop unconnected from my external monitor via HDMI (LG 35 inch widescreen), it appears the problem is gone.

    I hope someone from MS is watching this thread and they will fix this. Does anyone have this problem on a single monitor environment?

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-03-29T11:35:18+00:00

    Besides other answers, here is a related aspect if attempting to copy large amounts of data:

    if you've ever tried to copy a large amount of data using the Windows clipboard and it didn't work, this may explain why...

    Microsoft's Raymond Chen recounts how a customer wanted to copy over 300,000 rows of an Excel spreadsheet using the Windows clipboard, but attempting to access the data after copying it failed and returned NULL instead (meaning having no value)...

    "Instead of putting the data on the clipboard, you say, 'If anybody asks, let me know, and I’ll produce the data.' This is known as clipboard delay-rendering, and it is a common optimization for data formats that are rarely used or expensive to produce."...

    Windows allows 30 seconds for that data to be returned in the correct format. If it isn't, the request is abandoned and the action returns a NULL value instead. - https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-explains-why-windows-clipboard-fails-to-copy-data-sometimes

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-27T07:58:24+00:00

    I have the exact same problem, seems to have been happening since I went to dual monitors with one being run off USB. When the computer turns off the monitors (after some time idle), something breaks internally in Win11 with the two monitors and when I move the mouse to turn the monitors back on, several things happen.

    1. The "folder view" in the top of the windows explorer file browser is all distorted graphically and unreadable
    2. Clipboard functionality is gone, I can no longer copy/paste anything. In fact, the "paste" option is greyed out in the explorer right click menu. Cannot copy any screenshots to the clipboard.

    There is no way to fix this that I am aware of without logging out or rebooting.

    Restarting explorer, disabling clipboard sharing/history, restarting services, nothing works. Once the clipboard goes down, it's down like Jimmy Doyle.

    Absolute shame that this sort of stuff is happening with a product like "Microsoft Windows". I guess they must have fired all the QC programmers and replaced them with ChatGPT.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-03-23T07:56:17+00:00

    Ich würde Windows 11 installieren,wenn der gleiche Dateien Explorer wie bei Windows10 wär!!

    Mit freundlichen Grüßen

    M.Richter

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