Forum Discussion
Excel 2016 copy/paste issue is back after KB5002934 update
Is anyone else experiencing copy/paste issues in Excel 2016 after the KB5002934 update?
We're seeing this issue on workstations across our organisation. What's frustrating is that this is the same issue we encountered before, which was supposedly fixed in a previous update. Now it's back, barely a few weeks later.
For now, we're using an uninstall script to temporarily remove the update from affected workstations. However, this isn't a reliable long-term solution because Windows Update will push the update again.
Is anyone else experiencing the same thing? Has Microsoft provided any explanation for why this issue keeps coming back? Has anyone found a more permanent solution that doesn't involve repeatedly uninstalling the update?
I'd like to know if other organisations are dealing with this and how they're handling it.
2 Replies
One alternative worth considering is to separate the Windows update from the Office update history before deciding on a workaround. Excel 2016 can be installed through different servicing channels, and the applicable Office updates depend on the installation type.
If the issue can be reproduced consistently, comparing the affected Office build with a working workstation may help identify whether the problem is tied to a particular Office update rather than Windows itself. This would also make it easier to determine whether an Office update or repair is an appropriate solution.
In the meantime, I would avoid making repeated security-update removal the standard fix across the organisation. A targeted test on one affected workstation is a safer way to establish whether changing the Office installation actually resolves the problem before rolling out any change more widely.
That is my opinion, at least...🙂
Your report describes a recurrence after KB5002934, but the timing alone does not establish Microsoft’s internal explanation or confirm that the September fix was removed. Microsoft’s KB5002665 article now says an earlier package could still fail with conditional formatting and directs customers to its latest revision.
First record Excel’s exact file version, architecture, MSI versus Click-to-Run installation, and installed update revisions on affected machines. Test a minimal workbook with and without conditional formatting. On a representative test workstation, evaluate the current applicable Microsoft package and verify whether paste works before wider deployment; do not assume an older package should overwrite a newer security update.
Meanwhile, test Paste Special options such as Values or Formulas where they preserve the required content. Keep security-update removal a documented, risk-reviewed exception rather than a permanent script. Submit the reproducible workbook and version comparison through your organization’s support channel for an authoritative regression assessment.
