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.

Anonymous
2022-05-18T13:29:01+00:00

Win 10 version 21H2 Build 19044.1706

Excel 2016 Version 2204 Build 15128.20224

This problem occurs randomly and with only a few cells being copied. The spreadsheet locks up and the only way out is Save>Close and open the book again. Sometimes that doesn't work and I have to close Excel completely.

Sometimes the top ribbon completely greys out and I can't do anything.

This is becoming a significant problem.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-11-11T14:36:32+00:00

    Thank you Neil Pearson1 on another thread for finding the actual answer! Although some Microsoft guy marked his own nonsense as the answer naturally.

    Neil Pearson1

    Replied on August 4, 2022Report abuse

    ReplyIn reply to Ravikumar Vadamalai's post on August 3, 2022 Un-marking the "Enable The Live Preview" Option seems to have worked.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-11-11T16:10:05+00:00

    The problem, for the most part, has stopped. Not sure what could have fixed it. I do ocassionally get a different warning where it suggest I have a copy function selected already and pending. It then prevents me from selecting cells. I have found that saving the Excel document and restarting reset its normal function.

    As for enabling Live Preview, here is a link with the procedure:

    How to Enable Live Preview - ExcelNotes

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-11-16T01:16:51+00:00

    Thank you KA, this solution worked for me! I was struggling from past 2 days so much appreciated

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-12-02T15:26:14+00:00

    Same issue here. Reboot is the only thing that fixes this. Something happens after the PC goes to sleep and wakes up. I'm on Windows 11 and after my PC has gone to sleep and woken up I start getting these weird clipboard/copy & paste issues intermittently. It never happens if the PC doesn't first go to sleep. The excel error is the latest of these and I suspect whatever is the root if this is at the root of the copy & paste, in general, just not working. That also includes sometimes even the ability to click the shutdown or reset icons on my PC. Not only that, Windows 11 hijacks your normal force shutdown by making you slide a window down to shutdown the PC if you hold the power button. If that freezes, and you are on a laptop, better have a pin handy.... I'm so frustrated by this, and frustrated that Microsoft is trying to be Apple. Have your own identity Microsoft, there as a reason I didn't go Apple.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-12-07T15:39:25+00:00

    I totally agree with BSM#48. It happens to me every time I open Excel. I get that stupid message. Click off of it, and then the clipboard works.

    It seems that Microsoft is more concerned with inventing "features" with no useful purpose, than in fixing it's screwups.

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