Fix for "Clipboard Error. We couldn't copy the content of the clipboard"

Anonymous
2024-04-29T02:20:04+00:00

There have been many posts on how to fix the message Clipboard Error. We couldn't copy the content to the clipboard because its in use by another application.

I tried many of the suggestions:

  • Turn off live preview
  • Clear the clipboard
  • Reboot
  • Repair Excel
  • Add special folders to the Windows directory.
  • Issue the command prompt 'Echo Off | clip
  • Use the statement "Application.CutCopyMode = False after doing a copy and before closing a file
  • Copying one cell before closing a file
  • Removing com add-ins
  • Closing all other applications
  • And a score of others

None worked. I have a test macro that works for several minutes and does many copy/paste, graphics, formatting, etc. It would display the clipboard error at least once every 2 or 3 executions, and often every execution. I used it to test all the posted cures.

What I finally realized is that the application that was using the clipboard and causing the error was Excel itself. Excel was basically not able to keep up with the command to clear the clipboard.

The cure then became simple. Slow excel down by using the statement "DoEvents" right after I issued the command "Application.CutCopyMode = False". And to put the Application.CutCopyMode = False after I was finished with any copy that I did and right before any workbook close command. I've run my macro 10 times and no clipboard error message appears.

Please give it a try.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-06T09:09:55+00:00

    I had the same problem, very annoying.
    I noticed on my computer that Logi Options+ also adds the following parts:

    • LogiOptionsPlusExcelAddin
    • LogiOptionsPlusPowerPointAddin
    • LogiOptionsPlusWordAddin

    I'm removing them now and will see if it helps.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-17T18:00:24+00:00

    I agree with your analysis. I no longer have the problem -reinstalled three updates some time ago, removed the Logitech application, and I don't use One Drive. I think the updates were the key issue. Sorry, I don't remember their names, but when they were uninstalled it worked fine. Of course Microsoft immediately reinstalled them. This occurred three times and somehow the problem went away. So, it may have been the software or the update process. The updates may have assumed that some property existed when it did not.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-07T19:27:10+00:00

    Good catch.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-03-06T21:34:10+00:00

    I'm glad you found a solution. I never saw a process or service named clipboard.

    I rarely us Word, so I'm not any help there.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-03-06T20:51:26+00:00

    I went to the task manager and found an application running with name in saying something like "clipboard" and ended task and resolved my issue

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