Excel 2016 – Paste Function and Formatting Issue

sagar mitkar 5 Reputation points
2026-09-09T13:35:37.09+00:00

I am using a licensed Microsoft Office 2016 installation on my system. While working in Excel, the Paste function suddenly stopped working.

I checked the latest Windows updates and temporarily uninstalled the recently installed updates. After the restart, the Paste function started working again, but the issue has not been completely resolved.

The current issue is that when I copy data from Excel, it is not pasting with the original formatting. Instead, it is being pasted as plain/simple text. In Paste Special, I can see Unicode Text selected by default, with Text as another available option, rather than the normal Excel formatting options.

The same issue has been observed on 4–5 systems within the same workgroup/network, so this appears to be a common issue rather than an individual system problem.

Please guide us on the possible cause and recommended solution, particularly whether this could be related to Office 2016, Windows updates, Excel configuration, or any common network/workgroup setting.

We would appreciate a solution that can be safely applied across the affected systems.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-09T13:36:05.8633333+00:00

    The behavior points to Excel using the Windows Paste Special dialog instead of Excel’s own Paste Special dialog. That is why Unicode Text and Text appear, and why formatting is not preserved.

    The supported causes in this scenario are:

    1. The source and destination workbooks are open in different Excel instances
      • When Excel runs multiple instances, it cannot use its internal copy/paste functionality.
      • In that case, Excel falls back to the Windows Paste Special dialog, which does not offer Excel options such as Formulas, Values, Formats, or Comments.
      • Fix: open both workbooks in the same Excel instance.
    2. An Excel setting or event/add-in is interfering with Paste Special
      • Check File > Options > Advanced.
      • Under Cut, copy and paste, make sure Show Paste Options button when content is pasted is enabled.
      • If a workbook uses the Worksheet_SelectionChange event, it can clear the clipboard and disable Paste Special. In that case, setting Application.EnableEvents to False enables the option.
      • Third-party add-ins can also conflict with Paste Special.
    3. Browser or add-in conflict
      • Close all browser instances and test again.
      • Start Excel in Safe Mode by holding CTRL while starting Excel, then confirm the prompt.
      • If paste works correctly in Safe Mode, re-enable add-ins one at a time until the conflicting add-in is identified. Leave that add-in disabled or uninstall it.
    4. Office build issue or damaged Office installation
      • A reported Office 2016 issue affected copy/move behavior in a preview build and was fixed in released builds.
      • Ensure affected systems are on a released Office build and fully updated.
      • If the issue started after an update and persists across several systems, update Office first. If still unresolved, an Online Repair of Office is an appropriate next step.

    Recommended rollout order for the affected systems:

    1. On one affected machine, verify whether users are copying between two files opened in different Excel instances.
      • If yes, retest with both files opened from the same Excel window/process.
      • Expected result: Excel’s normal Paste Special options return and formatting pastes correctly.
    2. Check the Excel paste setting:
      • File > Options > Advanced > Cut, copy and paste
      • Enable Show Paste Options button when content is pasted.
    3. Close all web browsers and retest.
    4. Start Excel in Safe Mode and test copy/paste within Excel.
      • If fixed in Safe Mode, the likely cause is an add-in.
      • Re-enable add-ins individually to find the one causing the issue.
    5. Update Office 2016 to the latest available released build.
    6. If the issue still remains on affected machines, perform an Online Repair of Office.

    Based on the available support information, there is no documented common network/workgroup setting here that causes Excel to switch to Unicode Text paste behavior. The documented causes are Excel instance separation, clipboard/event interference, browser conflict, add-ins, or Office build/installation state.

    For a safe broad fix across multiple systems, the lowest-risk sequence is:

    • confirm single Excel instance usage,
    • verify the paste option setting,
    • test with browsers closed,
    • test in Safe Mode,
    • isolate add-ins,
    • then update or repair Office.

    References:

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  2. Roebe Ta 1,025 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-09T14:49:23.11+00:00

    Hi @sagar mitkar,

    Thank you for the detailed information.

    From your description, Excel is only offering Unicode Text and Text in Paste Special, which suggests Excel is not recognizing the copied content as standard Excel data. Instead, it appears to be falling back to plain text clipboard formats.

    To help isolate the cause, please try the following on one affected machine:

    These steps are intended as general guidance. Because system configurations and environments can differ, the behavior and results may vary between devices. Further troubleshooting may be required based on the specific setup of the affected systems.

    1. Start Excel in Safe Mode

    • Press Win + R, type: excel /safe or hold Ctrl while opening Excel and accept the Safe Mode prompt.
    • If Excel opens in Safe Mode, disable add-ins: File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins > Uncheck all > OK.   
    • Restart Excel normally.    Excel Options ? X General View and manage Microsoft Office Add-ins. Formulas Proofing Add-ins Save Name Location Type Language Active Application Add-ins No Active Application Add-ins Ease of Access Advanced Inactive Application Add-ins Analysis ToolPak C:\ ... ot\Office16\Library\Analysis\ANALYS32.XLL Excel Add-in Customize Ribbon Analysis ToolPak - VBA C:\ ... Office16\Library\Analysis\ATPVBAEN.XLAM Excel Add-in Quick Access Toolbar Date (XML) CA\ ... iles\Microsoft Shared\Smart Tag\MOFL.DLL Action Euro Currency Tools CA\ ... ice\root\Office16\Library\EUROTOOL.XLAM Excel Add-in Add-ins Inquire CA\ ... icrosoft Office\Office16\DCF\NativeShim.dll COM Add-in Microsoft Power Map for Excel CA\ ... Map Excel Add-in\EXCELPLUGINSHELL.DLL COM Add-in Trust Center Microsoft Power Pivot for Excel C:\ ... xcel Add-in\PowerPivotExcelClientAddIn.dll COM Add-in Solver Add-in C:\ ... ot\Office16\Library\SOLVER\SOLVER.XLAM Excel Add-in Document Related Add-ins No Document Related Add-ins Disabled Application Add-ins No Disabled Application Add-ins Add-in: Analysis ToolPak Publisher: Microsoft Office Compatibility: No compatibility information available Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Library\Analysis\ANALYS32.XLL Description: Provides data analysis tools for statistical and engineering analysis Manage: COM Add-ins ........ Go ... OK Cancel

    If the issue does not occur in Safe Mode, an add-in may be interfering with the clipboard functionality.

    2. Check Paste Settings

    • Go to File > Options > Advanced.
    • Under Cut, copy, and paste, ensure Show Paste Options button when content is pasted is enabled.

    User's image

    3. Verify the workbooks are opened in the same Excel instance

    • If you are copying between different workbooks, make sure they are opened within the same Excel session. When workbooks are opened in separate Excel instances, Excel may only offer text-based paste options.

    4. Check for common software across the affected devices: Since multiple machines are experiencing the same behavior, please review whether the affected systems have any of the following in common:

    • Recent Windows updates
    • Security or DLP software
    • Clipboard management tools
    • Remote access software
    • Shared Office add-ins

    5. Run an Office Repair

    • Close all office apps completely.   
    • Go to Control Panel > Program > Programs and Features   
    • Right click on the Microsoft Office you've installed > Change.   

    > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features V C Search e Uninstall or change a program tes To uninstall a program, select it from the list and then click Uninstall, Change, or Repair. ures on or Organize

    • Select Quick Repair first (fast and doesn’t require internet).   

    - X Microsoft How would you like to repair your Microsoft 365 and Office programs? Quick Repair Fixes most issues quickly without the need for an internet connection. Online Repair Fixes all issues, but takes a little longer and requires an internet connection throughout. You can select this option if you are still having problems after a Quick Repair. Repair Cancel

    • If the issue persists, run Online Repair (requires internet and takes longer).   

    If all of those steps have been completed and the issue still persists, I would recommend testing a rollback to the previous Windows version on one affected device to determine whether the recent update is the root cause.

    For detailed instruction, please check: Go back to the previous version of Windows | Microsoft Support

    Additionally, please note that Office 2016 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. While the applications will continue to run, Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for Office 2016.

    Because of this, if the issue is related to compatibility changes introduced by newer Windows updates or environment changes, there may not be a product fix available for Office 2016. I recommend planning an upgrade to a supported version such as Microsoft 365 Apps or Office LTSC 2021.

    Kind regards,

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