right click paste suddenly stopped working in outlook email

Anonymous
2023-01-25T18:19:01+00:00

Normally I can use my mouse to highlight, copy and paste text and URL's from just about anywhere (files on my computer or online) and paste into the body of an email in outlook - have been doing this without any issue for more than five years.

Now, suddenly and without any changes made by me and without any obvious explanation -or solution- I can only copy and paste ONE time after a fresh sign in. Thereafter I cannot copy and paste with my mouse - when I attempt to, a different window opens, it has a paste option in the menu but it does nothing other than close the window.

I can paste with the mouse in the to, cc and subject fields as usual / normal - only the body of the email is affected.

I can paste into the body of the email from the keyboard with Ctr-V - please don't answer with that as the solution - it isn't, it's an alternative.

I am looking to fix the mouse problem - it is how I work and want to continue to work.

Thanks

p.s. Instructions here suggest inserting a screen shot - made two, tried inserting / uploading here but ... that appears not to work either - I don't see any screen shots here do you ?

Outlook | Web | Outlook on the web for business | Email

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.

0 comments No comments

95 answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-04-18T21:36:57+00:00

    I am ready to rip my hair out. I have just spent 3 hours trying to copy and paste either a website url or text from a Word Document into the body of my hotmail/outlook email message.

    I have tried every suggestion on this list.

    Today is April 18, 2023 so I have all the Windows 11 updates.

    When someone said to click the 3 dots, there are 3 dots in every different view (home, view, message, help, insert) and there are NO options to access the clip board.

    I also do not see a tiny clip board on the right hand upper side when I am open my Outlook in Firefox Browser.

    The only way is if I have open up the OWA and then copy and paste there, then re-open in Outlook Mail/365 on my Firefox Browser. 20 steps to just cut and paste.

    I cannot even copy and paste a screenshot (using the snipping tool in Windows 11 is also a nightmare) to show you.

    CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ACCESS AND FIX THE ABILITY TO PASTE TEXT/LINKS, ETC INTO THE BODY OF A HOTMAIL/OUTLOOK/MICROSOFT 365 ON THE WEB EMAIL? None of the answers in this thread have worked for me.

    Thank you,

    Susan

    Was this answer helpful?

    7 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-04-17T23:44:44+00:00

    On my previous post I left out something. While in Outlook, if you click on the 3 vertical dots on the upper right, there will be an option; Open in Outlook (PWA). When you click on it, it will put that clipboard on the very top of the screen next to extensions. Then you can click on the clipboard and choose allow. Then cut copy paste will work again using your touchpad or mouse. I believe you can also click on the extensions, puzzle piece looking icon, choose manage extensions, then click the details tab of the browser you are using and click allow.

    Hope that helps.

    Mark

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-04-17T23:21:06+00:00

    I had the same problem in Hotmail/Outlook using the Chrome browser. I believe it happened when downloading one of Microsofts many unnecessary updates. After months of trying to figure it out searching for answers online to no avail, I found the problem. While in Outlook, on the home page, there is a very tiny clipboard (the hand held type) at the very top of the right side of the screen, the left most icon. It had a little red mark on it, probably a circle with an X, but too tiny to see. I clicked on it and it gave me an option to allow my clipboard to be accessed. So I clicked on that box, of the 2-choices, and now cut copy paste works again using my touchpad. It should be the same for anyone using a mouse. You can always use cut copy paste shortcuts with your keyboard too.

    Mark

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-04-12T02:29:01+00:00

    Why is Microsoft unable to fix this issue that SO MANY people are having??? I have the same issue, not on the web, but on my desktop app. I an using Microsoft 365 and only have this problem in Outlook. It only happens in the body of the emails. Please stop guessing and find the actual fix. Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-04-05T01:00:41+00:00

    Solution found by a colleague who clicked on paste and instead of the window closing and doing nothing, it triggered a prompt window that says "outlook,com want to see text and images copied to the clipboard" along with "Allow" and "Block" Buttons ( I have no recollection of seeing this prompt nor did it appear when I attempted to paste, not even after restarting the computer) I guess one can click allow OR click on the lock icon to the left of the outlook URL and turn on Clipboard in permissions- problem solved.

    Now the only question is why did this even happen at all, since I didn't change any permissions ?

    Thanks Noel,

    I clicked the lock icon and turned on the clipboard. Microsoft support was unable to help and I finally found your answer after 3 hours of Google.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments