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
    2017-06-16T11:56:47+00:00

    Please remove this message ASAP. It is a complete nightmare showing up every couple of copy-paste actions, after which my cursor disappears until I have closed and re-opened the document. Trying a complete Office re-install now :-(

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-06-13T13:07:55+00:00

    You did not answer as to how to clear the problem. The problem is not the error message but the inability to cut and paste?

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-06-13T07:19:31+00:00

    Sorry, no Windows 10. Only Windows 8.

    But I am sure my description is not less accurate and detailled and useful here than in any other form or app.

    And if there is REALLY a need for more info, a designated qualified person (who before worked himself through my post from March 3rd 2017) is welcome to contact me on email and share my screen on teamviewer.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-06-12T18:50:24+00:00

    I did the update this morning, 12 June 2017 around 9am, and guess what? The update did not solve the problem. I was no more then five copy/paste and the box came up that a problem accord with clipboard.

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