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.

I have tried using Esc but it makes no difference. I end up having to Save the file, close Excel and then re-open it. Why does Microsoft think this is so acceptable that they won't look at the problem. I NEED Excel.

As a former MVP, I've tried a few things to remedy this since it emerged a few days ago. I'm using Microsoft 365 for Excel and other Office apps, but this only occurs with Excel. I can reproduce the problem when I copy a formula and try to paste the result as a value. Another feature of the problem is that I also lose the ability to highlight a cell. I can usually access the cell with my mouse but I don't see it highlighted until after the copy function starts working normally again (usually by closing and reopening the file).

The only recent system changes were 2 weeks ago installing the 2022-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5015814) & a few days ago installing an Intel graphic driver. I have also installed another 2022-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 for x64-based Systems (KB5015882). The cumulative update predated the problem by a week so that is unlikely to be the cause. I uninstalled the graphics driver and rebooted but it made no difference, so I've eliminated that as a cause.

There is therefore no system change that I can tell which is responsible for the problem.

I've done a quick repair of 365 but it has made no difference. I wondered if it was because I've saved (through autosave) multiple copies of the main file I use daily but it also happens in other files where this is not the case.

I might try a safe reboot to see it that makes any difference but otherwise, I'm stumped!

I think we've talked about this, but please, be all you guys sure that "enable live preview" is cleared.

Also, COM Add-ins are all cleared except Adobe:

Hope it helps. Kind regards.

I may have a solution - Haven't tested it in every case and don't understand why it worked. On the excel tech usergroup https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel/copy-paste-no-longer-working-in-excel/m-p/112995/page/5 There is a post from JOHN EICHMANN Aug 12 2020 05:46 AM saying: ‎ "This is what broke my cut-and-paste abiltiy in Excel. @Jon Firooz 

I produce some spreadsheets programmatically with powershell in a scheduled task.

This only works if you add these directories to your machine

C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop  

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\Desktop

That solution comes from here.

 https://superuser.com/questions/579900/why-cant-excel-open-a-file-when-run-from-task-scheduler

When you add those directories your cut and paste in excel will stop working.  It is real time, you do not even need to open/close excel.  Open a spreadsheet add those directories cut and paste in excel will stop working.  Remove those directories it will start working again.  The issue is that MS does not test their stuff to be run in an automated way, everything is based on user interaction, another link within the page above."

T

On my ystem, I didn't have the directory:  C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop

so I added it via windows explorer (initially didn't have permission to access the folder but just went ahead by clicking 'Continue'

I already had the 2nd directory mentioned: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\Desktop

That's all I did.

So far copy and paste are working properly and a few other minor issues are cleared up. I haven't deleted those folders as Eichmann suggests. And I have no idea why this should work or why Microsoft hasn't done anything about trying to solve it.

I do not use the Cloud for anything except the occasional up/dowload from OneDrive.