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

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
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.

Was this answer helpful?

70+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

255 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-07-20T14:56:02+00:00

    I have Version 1706, build 8229.2073

    I have run the repair twice as recently as a couple months ago, but have not reinstalled it.  I downloaded it from Amazon, I don't know how to reinstall it since I don't have the disk.

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-07-18T13:00:59+00:00

    Hi Louie,

    uninstalling/reinstalling is no solution. It doesn't change anything to the reason (Excel's idea of being the Lord of the Clipboard). The trigger is some kind of telephone-related program. But the reason for our problems is the unnecessary reaction of Excel to this program.

    For detailed information and correlations please read my post from March 3rd.

    Maybe updating is a solution.

    My recent version is 1706 (Build 8229.2073) - Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016.

    Now this message occurs only when dragging and dropping a cell within a sheet - every time.

    It doesn't occur anymore with Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, or using the Format Painter.

    At least for the moment. Because in the past time after short periods of little improvement it always got bad again - if not worse as after the end of February.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-18T12:40:00+00:00

    Hi Tom,

    Regarding your concern about Excel, we’d like to confirm the version of Excel that you’re using. To check the version that you have, please check on this link for the steps. Also, we’d like to know if you’ve tried already to uninstall and reinstall the Office applications on your PC. To do this steps, click on this link.

    We'll wait for your response.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-07-17T19:27:37+00:00

    Hi Tom,

    It seems that the suggested workaround for the issue didn't take effect. May we suggest posting a feedback on this link regarding the Excel issue you have. To help you get started, here's the link. The developers should be able to take a look into the issue you repeatedly get.

    Feel free to post back should you need further assistance.

    Josef Bri,

    I posted feedback at your link.  What is the status of this problem?

    Thank you.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments