Forum Discussion
Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
In Office for Mac desktop applications (e.g PPT v16.4.4) my keyboard shortcuts have suddenly become non-functional. For example, command-C does not copy, command-V does not paste. They are all "greyed out" in the menus (see image). I am running macOS 11.1 on 16" MacBook Pro.
Anyone know a) why this is happening and b) how to turn them back on? I've done searching but have come up empty
.
25 Replies
- lnaslundCopper Contributor
Same problem in Microsoft 365 Subscription, Word and Excel. I've tried all the suggestions in the comments with no success. Does Microsoft ever look at this forum?
- propriopoiesisCopper Contributor
dostrower Same problem 2022 in Outlook for Mac. Cannot hit CMD-R to reply
- BrentanoCopper Contributor
Same, in December of 21. So, nearly a whole year since the issue posted, confirmation from at least 15 more users, and no official response? This is very frustrating, as I'm accustomed to using shortcuts to sort my email to keep my inbox tidy, and Outlook is absolutely uncooperative.
I've tried all manner of restarting and re-recording the shortcuts in the keyboard preference panel, but nothing works. Outlook shows the keyboard shortcuts in the menus, so it knows what I want it to do, but gives me a sassy little beep and refuses to do anything when I try to use them.
- richardmanley3Copper Contributor
I’m having the same issue.
I’ve set up custom shortcuts for some of my Categories, eg General ^5 and ^5 shows by the category name but is greyed out and Outlook beeps when I press ^5. Sometimes they work very briefly and then stop on next application restart.
Some other custom shortcuts (eg Archive ^1) work fine!
It’s all very surreal. Any suggestions or a fix welcome.
- HebaKababjiCopper Contributor
I'm having the same problem on Word. Sometimes the keyboard shortcuts work. Other times they don't, The ones I setup myself are most affected because they would stop working while the basic ones would still work (such as select all, copy, etc.)
I am also having the same issue where I can copy but the paste shortcut doesn't work, except if I go the the paste button on screen.
- Priyanka5Copper Contributor
I had the same problem. Solved it by - selecting a slide (any slide) in the side bar, then - Tools>Language>English (United States)>Set As Default
I have to do this even if the existing default language is English (United States), and have to do this every time I reopen a deck, but at least it gets all my shortcuts working again 🙂
- TrioptiumCopper Contributor
You can either resolve by right-clicking somewhere in the application window, whereafter the shortcut keys start working again.
Also - I found that changing the settings in OneNote (Preferences > Edit and View > Default Paste Option (choose one of the options), fixed it for me for both OneNote and PowerPoint that I don't have to right-click first anymore.
Found the answers on this link:
- Mika_RautiainenCopper Contributor
Trioptium unfortunately this solution doesn't work. It seems as if Edge breaks down on kb shortcuts after using as a daily driver for a few days (keeping old tabs open and creating new ones). But no idea what causes this behavior as begins sporadically and doesn't follow any patterns of behavior..
- itayskCopper Contributorhaving the same issue. not only copy paste, also ppt native shortcuts
- J-FredCopper ContributorSame problem here 😞
grey menu as shown by dostrower
command-c then command-v does NOT PASTE
but
using command-control-v (paste special) works
(although it is a pain to have to choose how to paste !) - skaiser2021Copper Contributor
I had the same problem, went to system preferences, keyboard - modifier keys at the bottom and set the globe one to no function.. seemed to work even thought shortcuts are still grey...(something to do with an inverted fn key apparently )
- propriopoiesisCopper ContributorSorry, did not work for me
- Robin_MachadoCopper Contributor
skaiser2021 Globe one?
- MeMys1845Copper ContributorI had these same issues with standard shortcuts, but now seem to have gone away. Now I have similar issues but with Custom Keyboard Shortcuts. I set them up after starting to use the new Mac interface and they worked for approx. 9 months, now nadda. And I have same ? as above - Globe one? is this a Big Sur specific thing?\
- bertixCopper Contributor
skaiser2021 - thank you, that works. strange correlation but who cares ...
- DamichseCopper Contributor
- GrayRaverCopper Contributor
I am also experiencing this in all of my Office apps. It only started in the last few days