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

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
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

255 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-04-18T07:49:05+00:00

    There is NO LOCK. And has never been. So nothing can be UNlocked.

    The message and Mike's post are pure BS (i.e. inaccurate).

    Contrary of Mike's post there has been made no improvement at all. The only change that has been made was a DISimprovement in terms of what the message says and how often it appears.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-04-15T17:28:04+00:00

    Mike, for the sanity of ALL Excel customers everywhere who actually want to use their program and cut/copy in peace, PLEASE just make this an option we can disable in the application. As of 1701 Build 7766.2060, I get the error messages EVERY TIME I click and drag a cell to move it from one area to another.

    I CANcopy and paste into other applications **WITHOUT ISSUE.**The dialog does not help me, it interferes in my usage of Excel. I won't claim to know the cause of the issue for all users but regardless, PROVIDE AN OPTION TO DISABLE IT!

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-05T08:55:52+00:00

    Due to the preamble of the Code of Conduct it is required to "keep it ... helpful".

    This post is NOT helpful. Despite many objections (e.g. UweHa on March 3, 2017) it is still marked as answer.

    Problem still unsolved!!!

    I reported abuse twice on Mike's post.

    Nothing happened. Why?

    Is he the one to mark his own post as answer AND handling with abuse notes on his own post?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-03-29T13:13:59+00:00

    Not fixed for me. Still getting the “There's a problem with the clipboard, but you can still paste your content within this workbook." multiple times with Excel 2016 version 1702 (build 7870.2020)

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments