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.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

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.

0 comments

255 additional answers

Anonymous

2017-06-12T07:50:09+00:00

Hi Josef, I feel free.

Your link is wrong. This is the correct link:

https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/18508126-remove-the-pointless-message-there-s-a-problem-wi

Since March. And nobody from Microsoft seems to take notice of it. Although it was recommended several times on the thread here on Microsoft Community to post this problem again at another place, i.e. the Uservoice.

And since February there is a wrong, useless and not helpful post marked as "answer" here on this thread on Microsoft Community. But neither Mike Maxey nor the Forum Administration react to the request to unmark it as "Answer" and open the thread again as unanswered.

I recommend to read my post from March 3rd, 2017 here on this thread.

There is everything you need to know if you want to be the first to really help on this issue.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-06-12T10:44:30+00:00

Thank you for your reply. We will try to get this checked with the developers and see if we can provide with a better solution to everyone who's experiencing the same error.

We'll get back to you once we have this coordinated with the developers.

Regards
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-06-12T11:04:25+00:00

I note that there have been some changes to the clipboard handling in version 1705.(link)

Has anyone noted any change or improvement after updating to this version?

I haven't had it occur yet but I have not done much intensive Excel work since the update so it might be by chance.

Peter
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2017-06-12T12:17:28+00:00

@ Peter Hull

@ Josef Bri

Update 10 minutes ago. Version 1705, Build 8201.2075 (Office Professional Plus 2016)

All problems occur the same way I described them in my post from March 3rd, 2017
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments