Clipboard problem in Excel 2016

Anonymous
2016-04-16T23:39:19+00:00

I am running Excel 2016 on a Windows 10 Machine.

When I copy a cell (or cut a cell, or move a cell) I get one of two error messages:

"Cannot open the Clipboard"

"We couldn't free up space on the Clipboard.  Another program might be using it right now." 

I am then able to successfully paste what Excel told me it could not copy.  To restate for clarity...Excel throws error messages, but I am able to successfully copy and paste.

The problem is that it throws the error messages every single time I try and copy or cut or whatever.

Things I have tried:

I've ensured all other programs are not running (or using the clip board)

I've cleared the %temp% folder

I've cleared the Clipboard within Excel

Word does not have this problem...

Please help.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2017-02-28T16:18:02+00:00

Hello,

I have an update on this error dialog: “There's a problem with the clipboard, but you can still paste your content within this workbook."

When Excel shows this dialog after a copy (CTRL+C) action, it means that another app has a lock on the system clipboard.  In this situation you can still paste within Excel.  However you cannot paste to another app like Word or Outlook which uses the clipboard.

Last year we made some improvements to Office365 users so that this error message only shows once per Excel instance.  This is based on customer feedback - the design change prevents it popping up multiple successive times when the clipboard is locked.  We have also considered never showing the error dialog, but there was user feedback that this message is informative and helpful in some cases. 

We hope this helps shed some light on this error message.  For any design suggestions or new ideas on improving the Excel copy-paste experience, please post to Excel UserVoice.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-16T04:42:58+00:00

    Having just upgraded to MS 365, I'm wondering if I erred at best

    Given the issue has existed for several months, I wonder if the employees are high school drop outs or at worst, not high on your agenda to 'fix'

    Seriously speaking, if MS cannot resolve the most basic problem of 'copy and paste' , it  gives me very little confidence in using MS office.

    So, the simple question to the Ivory tower

    When do you guys expect to resolve this matter, as pasting the sheet into my Browers is both time consuming and INEFFICIENT

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-12T15:58:39+00:00

    Having the same issue on a Windows 10 64-bit system.  Only affects Excel.  When I try to copy a cell, no matter how small its contents are, I'll get an error that the clipboard is full.  Even if I've previously emptied the clipboard.  Closing and reopening Excel several times will eventually allow me to copy and paste, but then I'll start getting the error again.

    The only addon is Microsoft Power Map, and it is not enabled.  The only background apps running are Zone Alarm, Epson Event manager, Dell Audio, and Dell Update.

    I've read somewhere that the Windows Snipping tool could cause this error, but I've set it to not save snips to the clipboard, and that did not seem to resolve the issue.

    I noticed in your message you have Zone Alarm running in the background.  The is the new antivirus I added on Sep 9.  Could this be our common issue?

    Are the other people using "Zone Alarm"?  And why is it only affecting Excel?

    Just a thought.  Thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-12T15:54:23+00:00

    Hi Tony,

    I'm sorry, I do not have any new information to share. I have checked with the Excel team and they are actively investigating this issue. I will let you know when we have anything more concrete.

    Best,

    Freya

    Office Newsroom

    Hello,

    I'm using the 365 Office for the second year now.  I had never had any problems with the clipboard until today.  Like others, I cleared the clipboard within Excel.  The only change I made to this laptop is using a different company program for the antivirus, malware, spyware, and other ....ware.  The change was done on Sep 9.  No problem with copy/paste on Saturday.

    Have you found a solution to this problem?

    Thank you,

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-08T16:45:16+00:00

    Having the same issue on a Windows 10 64-bit system.  Only affects Excel.  When I try to copy a cell, no matter how small its contents are, I'll get an error that the clipboard is full.  Even if I've previously emptied the clipboard.  Closing and reopening Excel several times will eventually allow me to copy and paste, but then I'll start getting the error again.

    The only addon is Microsoft Power Map, and it is not enabled.  The only background apps running are Zone Alarm, Epson Event manager, Dell Audio, and Dell Update.

    I've read somewhere that the Windows Snipping tool could cause this error, but I've set it to not save snips to the clipboard, and that did not seem to resolve the issue.

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