Copy and paste is one of the most basic functions in Windows computers. This is a time saver when moving files from one directory to the other or duplicating content within various applications. Whether using the Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V combo on the keyboard or choosing the option from the right-click menu, the function makes life easier for any Windows user. However, copy and paste may stop working on your computer making it hard to complete even the simplest tasks. In our earlier article, we have explained how to fix missing copy and delete functions in Microsoft Excel. If you encounter problems copying and pasting files or texts in general, you can try one of the following solutions.
Basic Troubleshooting
The copy and paste problem can occur for several reasons. In many cases, basic troubleshooting is enough to resolve the issue. We recommend trying the basic troubleshooting methods first before moving on to the other fixes.
Restart your Computer
Restarting your PC can solve many Windows issues including the copy paste not working issue.
- Click the Windows Start button or press the Win key on the keyboard.
- Select the power icon on the start menu and select the “Restart” option.
- Once the computer boots up check if you can now perform the function.
Ensure Windows is Up-to-Date
- Click the gear icon on the Windows start menu or press Win + I keys to open the settings app.
- Go to “Windows Update” click the “Check for updates” button.
- Windows will check, download and install available updates. You may need to restart the computer to install some updates.
Scan and Remove Virus and Malware
Viruses and malware infect your PC, causing some of the functions to stop working. You can use the Windows built in Microsoft Defender or any other reliable third party antivirus program.
- To remove malware with Microsoft Defender, navigate to “Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security” and click the “Virus & threat protection” option.
- Click the “Scan options” link.
- On the resulting window, check the “Full scan” option and click the “Scan now” button located at the bottom of the window.
- Wait for the Microsoft Defender to scan your PC and if threats are found, select “Remove” to clean the computer.
Troubleshooting Your Keyboard
Most people find it easier to press Ctrl + C for copying and Ctrl + V for pasting. If your keyboard is not functioning properly, then you will not be able to use the function. Therefore, troubleshooting your keyboard can also help in fixing the copy paste not working issue.
Keyboard Quick Check
To confirm or rule out keyboard issues, it is advisable to perform a quick check.
- Right-click the file or the object you want to transfer and confirm if you can see “Copy” option from the context menu. If the right-click option works, then your keyboard could be faulty.
- If you are using an external keyboard, try disconnecting and connecting the keyboard or check the Bluetooth connection in case you have a wireless keyboard.
- You may try a different keyboard or connect an external keyboard if you have a laptop.
- Cleaning your keyboard to remove dust or any materials under the keys may also help.
Fix Keyboard with Windows Troubleshooter
Microsoft includes a built-in Keyboard Troubleshooter in Windows 10 as a legacy feature. Follow the steps below to run the troubleshooter. This feature is no longer available in Windows 11.
- Navigate to “Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Troubleshoot” and under “Find and fix other problems” expand the “Keyboard” option.
- Click the “Run the troubleshooter” button and wait for the tool to scan for potential issues.
- Follow the suggested fixes to resolve any identified problem.
Reinstall Keyboard Driver
- Right-click the start button or press Win + X keys and select “Device Manager” from the resulting menu.
- Expand the “Keyboards” device, right-click the driver and select “Uninstall device”.
- Go to the “Action” menu and select “Check for hardware changes” to reinstall the device.
- Alternatively, restart your computer and the keyboard driver will be reinstalled when the computer boots.
Copy Paste Issue in Remote Desktop Sessions
Each Windows function is managed by a particular process and rdpclip.exe is the Remote Desktop Clipboard process in Windows. It enables clipboard sharing between your local computer and a remote computer during a Remote Desktop (RDP) session. If rdpclip.exe stops responding or crashes, clipboard sharing in the Remote Desktop session stops working and affects the copy and paste functions even though the connection remains active. Simply restarting or resetting that process may fix the error.
Starting RDP Clipboard from System32 Folder
- Open the File Explorer and navigate to C: \Windows\System32 folder.
- In the search bar, search for ‘rdpclip’, right-click the file from the results and select “Run as administrator”.
- In the same way, search for ‘down.exe’ and run the process as administrator.
- Restart your computer and when the computer boots the problem should be resolved.
Resetting RDP Clipboard
- Right-click the Taskbar and select “Task manager” or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to launch the Task Manager.
- Under the “Details” tab, scroll down to locate “RDP Clipboard” or “rdpclip.exe”.
- Right-click the process and select “End task” to stop the process.
- To restart the process, go to the “File” menu and click “Create new task”.
- On the dialog box that appears, type ‘rdpclip.exe’ and check the “Create this task with administrative privileges” box. Click the “OK” button.
Clearing the Windows Clipboard Cache
When the Windows clipboard is full, you may encounter the copy paste problem. Luckily, you can use the Command Prompt to delete the clipboard cache.
- Search for Command Prompt and select the option to “Run as administrator”.
- Type the following command and press the Enter key.
echo off | clip- Close the Command Prompt and test whether the copy paste function works correctly.
Check and Fix Disk Errors
Fixing disk errors can resolve a number of Windows 10 mischiefs including the copy paste not working issue. You can check disk error in two ways:
Run Windows Disk Check
- Open the Windows File Explorer, right-click “This PC” located on the left pane, and select “Properties” from the resulting menu.
- Go to the “Tool” tab and click “Check” under the “Error checking” section.
Run Check Disk from Command Prompt
- Open the Command Prompt app with administrator rights.
- Type the following command and press Enter. Remember to replace ‘C’ with your disk label.
chkdsk C: / f- Press “Y” when prompted to schedule the disk scan.
- Restart your PC and allow Windows to scan and fix errors. Now the copy paste functionality should work.
Run the Windows File Checker
Sometimes copy paste not working issues may be caused by corrupt or missing system files. If this is the case, you can run the system file checked to fix missing and corrupt files.
- To do so, open the Command Prompt and run the following command.
sfc /scannow
- Wait for the file checker to scan and repair corrupt Windows system files on your computer.
- If the issue is not resolved, run the following command.
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth- Once the command executes successfully, restart your computer and try the copy paste function.
Fix Application Related Issues
The copy paste not working problem is not always related to system errors. Problems with a specific application may also be the cause. If copying and pasting only fails when working with selected programs, you may try the following fixes:
- Open the Windows Task Manager, and restart Windows Explorer (right-click and select “Restart”).
- You may try to close and reopen the affected applications and if this fails, update the application to the latest version available.
- You can also navigate to “Control Panel > Program and features”, look for the program and click the “Uninstall” button. Run the executable file to reinstall the application.
- If the problem only occurs in your web browser, try disabling all installed extensions. An outdated or incompatible extension may interfere with the copy and paste function.
- If you experience the issue in Microsoft Office applications, disable the “Send to Bluetooth” COM add-in from the Add-ins section in each Office application installed on your PC.
- In some cases, third-party antivirus software may prevent the copy and paste feature from working properly. Temporarily disable your antivirus to check whether it is causing the issue. If copy and paste starts working again, consider updating, reconfiguring, or uninstalling the antivirus software. Windows Security provides built-in protection, so you will still have antivirus protection even after removing most third-party antivirus programs.
Wrapping Up
Being unable to use the copy and paste function can significantly affect your productivity. We hope the solutions above help you restore this essential feature on your Windows PC. Try each solution one at a time and check whether the issue is resolved before moving on to the next one.
