unable to copy&paste or cut&paste an image into OneNote

Nelson R 20 Reputation points
2026-07-04T15:26:17.59+00:00

Repost :

OneNote 365 does not paste images copied from OneNote, within OneNote

I can copy an image from OneNote and paste it outside of OneNote without issues.

I can copy an image from another application and paste it into OneNote without issues

Trying to copy an image from One Note and Paste it into OneNote (same page, different page, different section, different notebook - doesn't matter) results in NOTHING being pasted.

Microsoft: TREAT THIS AS A BUG REPORT. Please investigate PAST posts with this IDENTICAL ISSUE.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Norah-L 10,830 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-07-05T05:18:56.3+00:00

Hello Nelson R,

I'm sorry you're facing this. From what you described, OneNote can copy and paste images normally with other apps, but images copied from OneNote do not paste back into OneNote itself, even on the same page or another notebook.

This behavior might be related to the default paste option in OneNote. If the default paste behavior has somehow been set to Keep Text Only, images may not paste back into OneNote, even though copying and pasting text still works.

First, please try changing the default paste option:

  1. Copy a few words of text.
  2. Paste them into OneNote.
  3. When the small paste options pop-up appears, click the downward arrow.
  4. Choose Keep Source Formatting (K) and set it as the default paste option.

User's image

After that, try copying and pasting the image again within OneNote.

If the issue still continues, I suggest submitting feedback directly from the OneNote app so it can reach the product team for further investigation: Open any OneNote notebook page > Feedback icon in the top-right corner > Select Report a problem.

Since this is a user-to-user community forum, we can only share suggestions based on our findings and personal experience, and reports posted here may not reach the product team directly.

User's image

In the meantime, you can try these workarounds:

  • Use OneNote for the web temporarily.
  • Right-click the picture and choose Copy Text from Picture. This workaround has helped some users with similar previous issues.
  • Paste the image into Word or Paint first, then copy it again into OneNote.

Also, Keep Windows and OneNote up to date so you won’t miss any fixes or improvements when they become available.

Feel free to post back to let me know how it goes. Thank you so much for your patience!

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Nelson R 20 Reputation points
    2026-07-07T00:36:41.8+00:00

    This solution have worked. Thank you!!!

    Changing the default paste option:

    1. Copy a few words of text.
    2. Paste them into OneNote.
    3. When the small paste options pop-up appears, click the downward arrow.
    4. Choose Keep Source Formatting (K) and set it as the default paste option.

    User's image

    After that, try copying and pasting the image again within OneNote.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.