We could not copy the content to the Clipboard, it is in use by another application. You can still paste your content within this workbook but it will not be available in other applications.

Hi BSM#48

Thanks for choosing Microsoft Community.

Based on your description, don't worry, we can work together to get closer to the answer.

According to the category Microsoft 365 and Office / Excel you posted, we can know that your problem is "I encountered an error message when using the copy and paste function in Excel 2016" If my understanding is wrong, please feel free to correct me. I can understand that it is frustrated at times that something goes wrong, and the fact that it has not been resolved is troubling.

Although there is no fixed reason, in many cases, the copy-paste function in Excel may behave like this. It seems that other third-party programs are calling the content of the clipboard, so this situation occurs. We may need to get some details on whether this problem occurs when using copy and paste in other Office applications. For example Word/PowerPoint/Onenote

To rule out other programs interfering, we recommend that you try the troubleshooting steps using a clean boot of Window, then go back to Excel 2016 and try the copy and paste feature. Check if the problem exists. For the operation method of clean boot, you can refer to the official guide from Microsoft, click here .

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem. 

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get you back on track.

Please feel free to let us know if any updates.

Chandy| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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With all due respect:

"the copy-paste function in Excel may behave like this"- why? If it is a known problem why isn't it fixed?

What you are proposing that I do is essentially a "work-around". It is NOT a Windows/Office solution.

You expect me to go through a "safe boot", alter my configuration settings and disenable my start-ups in order to discover the app at fault?

I have 38 programs in my start-up list and you want me to go through a "binary chop" exercise? And then re-instate my original configuration?

Get real Microsoft and fix the problem permanently.

This problem happens to me also. Very annoying and reduces confidence in the software.

I agree with BSM#48. If it is helpful to Microsoft I can tell you that I did not have this problem until I recently uninstalled Office 2016 and redownloaded Office 365 software.

I'm with you on this. There is no reason for another app to be using the clipboard, so that's not the answer. What I would say though is that excel isn't actually frozen for me, it's just that the active cells that you are in aren't highlighted. So to fix that, if you click in a cell or three and then press esc, the highlighting returns.