Forum Discussion
Copy and Paste in Word does not work
- Nov 23, 2023
Hi mention11,
Here are a few more steps you can try:Repairing Microsoft Office:
1. Close all Office applications:
Make sure all Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) are closed.2. Open Settings
3. Apps and Features:
- In Settings, click on "Apps and Features."4. Find Microsoft Office:
- Locate Microsoft Office in the list of installed programs.5. Select Change:
- Right-click on Microsoft Office and choose "Change" or "Change/Remove."6. Repair Office:
- A window will appear. Select "Repair" and then click "Continue" or "Next."
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.7. Restart your computer:
- After the repair is complete, restart your computer.
Repair an Office application - Microsoft SupportReinstalling Microsoft Office:
If repairing doesn't resolve the issues, you might need to reinstall Office. Here's how you can do it:
1. Uninstall Office:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps and Features.
- Find Microsoft Office in the list and select "Uninstall."2. Restart your computer:
- After uninstalling Office, restart your computer.
Uninstall Office from a PC - Microsoft Support4. Download and Install Office:
- Go to the official Microsoft Office website and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Download the Office installer.5. Run the Installer:
- Double-click the downloaded installer to run it.6. Follow on-screen instructions:
- The installer will guide you through the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions, including signing in with your Microsoft account.Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 on a PC or Mac - Microsoft Support
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Kindest regards,
Leon Pavesic
(LinkedIn)
Problem: Copying and pasting text or objects within Microsoft Word doesn't work as expected.
Solutions:
Basic Checks:
Ensure you're highlighting the correct text or object before copying (Ctrl+C).
Verify your paste destination (place your cursor where you want the copied content).
Try using the "Paste" button (Ctrl+V) instead of the keyboard shortcut.
Clipboard Issues:
Right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager."
Under "Processes," locate "explorer.exe" and right-click it, then select "Restart."
This can sometimes reset the clipboard functionality.
Disable Add-Ins:
Go to "File" > "Options" > "Add-Ins."
Select "COM Add-Ins" from the dropdown menu and click "Go."
Uncheck any boxes next to add-ins and click "OK."
Restart Word and test if copy/paste works. If it does, re-enable add-ins one by one to identify the culprit.
Repair Microsoft Office:
Close all Office applications.
Go to "Settings" > "Apps & features" (or "Programs and Features" in older Windows versions).
Find Microsoft Office in the list, click "Modify," and choose "Repair."
Update Microsoft Office:
Open any Office application and go to "File" > "Account" (or "Help").
Click "Update Options" and select "Update Now."
Consider Antivirus Interference:
Temporarily disable your antivirus software and test if copy/paste works. If it does, consult your antivirus documentation for potential conflicts with Word.
Word Safe Mode:
Hold Ctrl while opening Word. This launches it in Safe Mode, which disables add-ins. If copy/paste works in Safe Mode, an add-in might be causing problems.
Corrupted Normal.dotm Template:
Rename the "Normal.dotm" file (located in the user's AppData folder). Word will create a new default template on startup.
- Stefan_BlomSep 05, 2024MVP
Since Safe mode works around the issue, continue troubleshooting the Normal template and add-ins. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/word/issues-when-start-or-use-word#option5 , https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/word/issues-when-start-or-use-word#option6 and https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/word/issues-when-start-or-use-word#option7.