Clipboard problem in Excel 2016

Anonymous

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.

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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Anonymous

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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255 additional answers

Anonymous

2017-03-21T20:31:44+00:00

Agreed.

This sounds like the NEVER EVER FIXED Windows 7 problem with File Explorer. If you set focus on a folder in the Explorer window, then often the focus will suddenly move away to another folder, because the program insists on refreshing the display, despite what you are in the middle of doing. Extremely annoying, and still not fixed.

THIS EXCEL PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GET FIXED.

Steve
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Anonymous

2017-03-20T23:18:31+00:00

Hi Mike,

I agree. I moved data all around a spread sheet yesterday and got this irritating message at least a dozen times. So whoever said it only pops up once per session hasn't actually used the program.

I don't think ranting and raving does much good here but pretending that the problem is solved is much worse. Each BS excuse for a solution just prolongs getting a real one. Part of the reason it is taking so long.

Gary
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Anonymous

2017-03-20T09:17:07+00:00
Hi Mike,

why is this still marked as answer???

It is
1. no solution of the people's problem
2. it is wrong regarding the explanation
3. not helpful
see my comments from March 3, 2017.

By the way: nobody took notice of the problem at the UserVoice.
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Anonymous

2017-03-19T09:35:29+00:00

Is it really that hard? What is Microsoft paying their engineers for? Why are other programs allowed to use Microsoft Excel clipboard????? Is it that hard to restrict other programs from using Excel clipboard while user is working in it? I hope that there are consumers associations in USA which protect consumers right. Microsoft should be sued and fined for this. They are selling buggy software and their engineers are incompetent of solving bugs. Microsoft is making fun of their customers.
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