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
    2016-09-28T16:02:42+00:00

    I am getting similar problems with Excel, version 16.0.7341.2032 and also now with the newer 16.0.7167.2060.

    I have also seen a message which I don't think has been reported here:

    "There's a problem with the clipboard, but you can still paste your content within this workbook. "

    ![](http://fud.community.services.support.microsoft.com/Fud/FileDownloadHandler.ashx?fid=2b51e39d-fa53-4307-aa83-2d49c487bd82)

    As reported elsewhere the paste still seems to work correctly.

    I have erased the problem by removing the program/apps Zone Alarm.  I have not installed the new version and Excel is working like a charm.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-28T10:29:46+00:00

    I am getting similar problems with Excel, version 16.0.7341.2032 and also now with the newer 16.0.7167.2060.

    I have also seen a message which I don't think has been reported here:

    "There's a problem with the clipboard, but you can still paste your content within this workbook. "

    As reported elsewhere the paste still seems to work correctly.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-22T22:21:49+00:00

    Hello! We've released a build that should include improved behavior for this situation. Can you please update to 16.0.7341.2032? Let us know if the issue recurs after updating.

    Thank you so much for your patience!

    Freya

    Office Newsroom

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-16T17:21:14+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

    I have resolved my issue by removing Zone Alarm program (Anti-virus, malware,....wares) I had purchased on Sep 9 and installed.  The issue started the following Monday.  I found a post on one of MS forum stating that some apps such Bing, Zone Alarm, and many others are not compatible with Excel copy/paste option.  I don't have Bing installed on my computer.   I contacted Zone Alarm and they were like : "This is a rare issue".  NO, this has been going on for many years.  So, the question is WHO has to fix their program?  MS or the others guys? 

    From :  PrestonMitchell

    YOU WILL FIND A LONG LIST OF SOFTWARE THAT CAUSES THE EXCEL ERROR IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS MSFT TECHNET ARTICLE at:  https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/the_microsoft_excel_support_team_blog/2013/01/25/we-couldnt-free-up-space-on-the-clipboard-another-program-might-be-using-it-right-now-updated-212013/

    Another list of software hated by Excel is found at:  

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_365hp-excel/excel-error-we-couldnt-free-up-space-on-the/0ebf3553-996b-44e1-87b3-3b72bad5f09e

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