Paint → Word copy/paste leaves a remnant image that won’t delete

Question

Paint → Word copy/paste leaves a remnant image that won’t delete

Bill Brady 45

I’m seeing a strange issue when copying an image from Paint and pasting it into Word. After I paste the image, a small “remnant” or ghost image appears in the document. It looks like a tiny leftover piece of the original image.

The remnant cannot be selected, deleted, moved, or resized. It behaves like it isn’t really part of the document, but it stays visible.

This happens only on one of my Windows 11 machines. On my other PC, the same copy/paste steps work normally with no remnant.

Here is what I’ve already tried:

Restarting Word

Restarting Windows

Repeating the copy/paste steps

Checking clipboard behavior

Testing with different images

The remnant still appears every time.

I’m hoping someone can help me understand what causes this and how to remove or prevent the leftover image fragment.

Thank you, Bill Brady

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Answer accepted by question author

Jesus Rodriguez Jr 100

Try taking a screenshot of what you are copying from Paint using the Windows Snipping Tool and paste the screenshot into Word?

Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:29:22.4266667+00:00

I used to be able to create things like the canvas seen here, Manage Jung meds 06.png.

Making this involves collecting two screen snips. First, I snipped from a File Explorer window the folders and file, as seen here, Archive folder, Current screen shots and Manage Jung meds. The snip was pasted into a new Paint canvas. With that piece collected, I returned to the same File Explorer window and collected the path. I brought the path information to Paint and cut it into a couple of pieces and put it above the snip of the two folders and the icon for the Word document. Next, I used the Paint text tool and added the name that this assembly would be called. Finally, I saved this as a .png canvas.

With the canvas saved, I would place it in a Word document and it would look like what is seen in above in Manage Jung meds 06.png.

I had a prepared a longer explanation but let's just move to what happens recently when I try this process. When I assemble the first piece, the three folders, if that is all wanted, I can usually deliver that just fine to the Word document. However, when I add the path to the canvas...

Instead of what you see is what you get, there are what I call remnants. In work flow 06.png, you see that the path piece was included twice, the second copy placed over the first one. It's is a little difficult to make this as clear I would like, there is some irony involved, I have to rely on Paint and Word to connect with each other when that is the problem. I made several attempts to fix this issue with the help of AI, changing various settings within Word and Paint (that I never knew about) but with no success.

So your suggestion is actually what the problem is, but sincerely,thank you, Mr. Rodriguez for taking the time to offer your help. It used to work just the way you suggested.
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:33:12.37+00:00

Perhaps I should have read your suggestion a little closer. You are suggesting that instead of Copy and Paste, take a snip of the screen that exists in Paint! I will give that a try.
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:41:09.7633333+00:00

It is early days, but your suggestion worked the very first time. I will give it a good trial and get back soon and let you know if luck holds, thank you!
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-09T16:52:24.5033333+00:00

Hello Jesus, I have used your suggestion for several days now and it continues to be a success. Thank you. I tend to go on, but a little context, your 'fix' to my problem allows me to continue to organize a medical record I maintain for my wife and it was going to be really difficult with this remnant problem. As a permanent reminder of your contribution, the font color used to tag the Paint creations is changed to green in your honor, thanks again.
Jesus Rodriguez Jr 100 Reputation points

2026-08-10T02:26:55.7733333+00:00

@Bill Brady I am glad to see my suggestion worked out for what you needed to do and am honored to help. Hopefully, you are able to discover what the true issue is and that it is not as complex as having to replace any programs or hardware. I would say look up the possibilty of maybe a graphics driver issue or a color profile issue or maybe run 'sfc' in case there is a corrupted windows file causing this. Best of luck!
Jesus Rodriguez Jr 100 Reputation points

2026-08-10T02:58:44.9433333+00:00

@Bill Brady Also, if you are just copy and pasting something into Paint, you should be able to just take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool use the copy features in Snipping Tool, and skip Paint altogether? You might find Snipping Tool more functional and customizable for what you are doing. Let me know how it goes!

1 additional answer

Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:29:22.4266667+00:00

I used to be able to create things like the canvas seen here, Manage Jung meds 06.png.

Making this involves collecting two screen snips. First, I snipped from a File Explorer window the folders and file, as seen here, Archive folder, Current screen shots and Manage Jung meds. The snip was pasted into a new Paint canvas. With that piece collected, I returned to the same File Explorer window and collected the path. I brought the path information to Paint and cut it into a couple of pieces and put it above the snip of the two folders and the icon for the Word document. Next, I used the Paint text tool and added the name that this assembly would be called. Finally, I saved this as a .png canvas.

With the canvas saved, I would place it in a Word document and it would look like what is seen in above in Manage Jung meds 06.png.

I had a prepared a longer explanation but let's just move to what happens recently when I try this process. When I assemble the first piece, the three folders, if that is all wanted, I can usually deliver that just fine to the Word document. However, when I add the path to the canvas...

Instead of what you see is what you get, there are what I call remnants. In work flow 06.png, you see that the path piece was included twice, the second copy placed over the first one. It's is a little difficult to make this as clear I would like, there is some irony involved, I have to rely on Paint and Word to connect with each other when that is the problem. I made several attempts to fix this issue with the help of AI, changing various settings within Word and Paint (that I never knew about) but with no success.

So your suggestion is actually what the problem is, but sincerely,thank you, Mr. Rodriguez for taking the time to offer your help. It used to work just the way you suggested.
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:33:12.37+00:00

Perhaps I should have read your suggestion a little closer. You are suggesting that instead of Copy and Paste, take a snip of the screen that exists in Paint! I will give that a try.
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-04T01:41:09.7633333+00:00

It is early days, but your suggestion worked the very first time. I will give it a good trial and get back soon and let you know if luck holds, thank you!
Bill Brady 45 Reputation points

2026-08-09T16:52:24.5033333+00:00

Hello Jesus, I have used your suggestion for several days now and it continues to be a success. Thank you. I tend to go on, but a little context, your 'fix' to my problem allows me to continue to organize a medical record I maintain for my wife and it was going to be really difficult with this remnant problem. As a permanent reminder of your contribution, the font color used to tag the Paint creations is changed to green in your honor, thanks again.
Jesus Rodriguez Jr 100 Reputation points

2026-08-10T02:26:55.7733333+00:00

@Bill Brady I am glad to see my suggestion worked out for what you needed to do and am honored to help. Hopefully, you are able to discover what the true issue is and that it is not as complex as having to replace any programs or hardware. I would say look up the possibilty of maybe a graphics driver issue or a color profile issue or maybe run 'sfc' in case there is a corrupted windows file causing this. Best of luck!
Jesus Rodriguez Jr 100 Reputation points

2026-08-10T02:58:44.9433333+00:00

@Bill Brady Also, if you are just copy and pasting something into Paint, you should be able to just take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool use the copy features in Snipping Tool, and skip Paint altogether? You might find Snipping Tool more functional and customizable for what you are doing. Let me know how it goes!

Answer 1

Louis 0

My client has the same issue and has been using the software for years. I personally prefer the snipping tool but this is a new issue and should be looked at.

Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-27T18:50:16.7066667+00:00

@Louis

If you are seeing this only in Word, report the issue via the Help > Feedback facility.

Also/alternatively, you may want to start a new thread on the topic, for better visibility. Use the Ask a question option (see the screen shot below).

Good luck.