• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Browsers
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iPhone
    • Linux
    • macOS
    • Office
    • Reviews
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About
Why Can’t I Copy and Paste in Microsoft Word?

Why Can’t I Copy and Paste in Microsoft Word?

May 17, 2021 by Madalina Dinita 3 Comments

Not being able to use the copy-paste functionality in Microsoft Word can be really crippling, especially when you’re editing a document. The bad news is that this problem is more common than you’d think. In this quick guide, we’ll talk about what might be causing this issue and what you can do to fix it.

Why Is Copy-Paste Not Working in Word?

Clear the Clipboard

  1. Type cmd in the Windows Search bar, right-click on the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator.
  2. Enter and run the cmd /c “echo off|clip” command.clear-windows-clipboard-cmd
    • Note: Replace c with the letter of the drive where you installed Windows and Office.
  3. If the problem persists, run the sfc /scannow command to repair your system files.

Run Word in Safe Mode

To run Word in Safe Mode, press the Windows and R keys and open a new Run window. Then type in winword/safe and hit Enter. Check if the copy-paste functionality works as intended. If it does, disable your add-ins and re-enable them one by one to identify the culprit.

If you still can’t copy-paste in Word or you can’t start the app in Safe Mode, try repairing Office.

Repair Office

  1. Go to Settings, select Apps, and navigate to Apps and features.
  2. Select Office and click on Advanced settings.
  3. Select the Repair option and check if the issue is gone.
  4. If it persists, use the Reset option. Keep in mind that resetting Office means that the app’s data will be deleted.

repair-microsoft-office-app

Alternatively, you can also go to Control Panel and select Programs. Go to Programs and Features, click on Office, and hit the Change button. Select the Quick Repair option first, and if the problem persists, run the Online Repair tool as well.

repair-microsoft-office

Disable Add-ins and Third-Party Apps

Disable all the apps running in the background and check if this workaround solved the problem. Maybe some of your apps are interfering with Word. As a matter of fact, PDF and OCR software may occasionally break certain Word functionalities. Launch the Task Manager, select the Processes tab, right-click on the programs you want to close and select End task.

Additionally, disable your Word add-ins and check the results.  Launch Word, go to Options and select Add-Ins. Select the add-in type and hit the Go button. Then disable all of your add-ins, restart Word, and check if the copy-paste issue is gone.

microsoft-word-add-ins

Reinstall Office

If the problem persists, go to Control Panel and select Uninstall a program. Select Office and click on the Uninstall option. Reboot your computer, and download Office again.

Additional Solutions

  • Disable the Remote Desktop Connection app. Sometimes, the inability to copy and paste appears to be correlated with having RDC running on your computer.
  • Try another keyboard. If the copy-paste shortcut works in other applications but not in Word, maybe the key combinations have been re-assigned.  To check your settings, go to File → Options → Customize Ribbon →  Keyboard shortcuts → Customize.
  • Check for updates and make sure you’re running the latest Word version on your machine. Click on the File → Account → Update Options → Update Now. Update Windows as well.
  • Scan your computer for malware.
  •  Set up a new user profile. If your current profile got corrupted, the copy-paste problem should not affect the new profile. Go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users → Add someone else to this PC.

Conclusion

If copy-paste is not working in Microsoft Word, clear the Windows clipboard cache, launch Word in Safe Mode and check the results. Additionally, disable your add-ins and repair Office. If the issue persists, reinstall Office. Did these solutions work for you? Let us know in the comments below.

You Might Also Like

  • Microsoft Edge: Can't Copy & Paste URL
    Microsoft Edge: Can't Copy & Paste URL
  • Galaxy Tab S3: Cut, Copy and Paste
    Galaxy Tab S3: Cut, Copy and Paste
  • Android: How to Cut, Copy, and Paste Text
    Android: How to Cut, Copy, and Paste Text
  • Galaxy Note8/S8: How to Cut, Copy, and Paste
    Galaxy Note8/S8: How to Cut, Copy, and Paste
  • How to Cut, Copy, & Paste on the Samsung Galaxy S9
    How to Cut, Copy, & Paste on the Samsung Galaxy S9
  • How to Cut, Copy, & Paste on a Samsung Galaxy S10
    How to Cut, Copy, & Paste on a Samsung Galaxy S10

Filed Under: Office Tagged With: Microsoft Word

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shivanand J Ambig says

    January 12, 2023 at 12:49 am

    Repair Office
    This option is worked for me. Thanks a lot for the solution.

  2. mike ling says

    March 9, 2022 at 12:50 pm

    I have Windows 10 & Office 2015.
    Went crazy as Word wouldn’t copy.
    Your command prompt instruction worked like a charm – after I ran Scannow which repaired some corruptions.
    Thanks
    Mike Ling

  3. Grace Lutheran Church says

    November 23, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Thank you for this help with copying and pasting in MWord. I was really in a panic, but it worked just fine.
    Thanks again

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Print Labels from Excel Using MS Word Mail Merge
  • What Is NVMe Over TCP (NVMe/TCP)
  • Android Mobile Hotspot: How to Change the Password and Name
  • Windows 10: How to Force Quit and App
  • What is Dumpster Diving?
  • How to Download iOS 16 Beta 3 on iPhone or iPad
  • What is a Security Compromise?
  • Mastodon: How to DM Someone

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • Microsoft Word
  • Word Processing Program
  • Microsoft
  • Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Best Microsoft Surface Products 2022

© Copyright 2023 Guiding Tech Media · All Rights Reserved · Privacy