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
    2016-08-18T15:56:12+00:00

    I am also having the same issue with Excel files Only.  I have closed all other applications, disabled all add-ins, and uninstalled multiple programs from my computer to ensure that the issue wasnt an incompatibility with Excel, and still it continues.

    When this error starts you also cannot change the color of a cell our group of cells.  Has anyone else run into this problem too?

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-08-17T16:45:23+00:00

    forget my old answer, doesn't work for long time, after restart the error is back.

    I've read that every time an Office program runs it initiate SPP service (Software Protection Platform).

    I did what was suggested in this thread:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_2010-office\_install/how-to-disable-background-tasks-in-office-2010/2a6a5455-ed48-40b0-91b8-7e7f2d5f0f35

    and i think it works, but not fully.

    can someone check with MS tech team about this?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-08-16T07:27:51+00:00

    Have Office 2016 Professional Plus

    Found the solution for Excel 2016:

    1. run sfc /scannow to find errors if any (i didn't)
    2. go to Internet Options --> Programs --> Manage Addons --> disable everything you don't need

    (i didn't need anything so i disabled everything)

    1. restart computer
    2. now Excel runs like a rocket, and the copy/paste/no memory/no freespace etc. bugs are gone
    3. done

    This might well work but I cannot accept a solution that disables some other functionality i.e. an add-on, that might be useful or important to that user.  Running a system file check is something I always do whenever I encounter some unusual issues as it often does resolve issues.  Anyway, although nothing public has been said I suspect that the developers have made changes in recent Office updates as I am finding that the problem seems to have gone away or at least I have not encountered it recently. 

    Do check that you have installed the latest Office updates.  I have found that even though I have my settings to allow them to be installed automatically, this does always seem to happen.  Running a manual check often installs an incremental update.  My version of Office 365 now shows 16.0.7167.2026.  I am opted in to "First Release for Current Channel (Office Insiders)."

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-08-15T20:11:19+00:00

    Have Office 2016 Professional Plus

    Found the solution for Excel 2016:

    1. run sfc /scannow to find errors if any (i didn't)
    2. go to Internet Options --> Programs --> Manage Addons --> disable everything you don't need

    (i didn't need anything so i disabled everything)

    1. restart computer
    2. now Excel runs like a rocket, and the copy/paste/no memory/no freespace etc. bugs are gone
    3. done

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments