Why is Copy and Paste not working? 10 fixes

Copy and Paste is one of the most useful features in Windows 10. But it can be hit or miss, and may not always work. Check out this list of 10 common reasons why copy and paste doesn’t work, and how to fix them.

Copy and paste has been around for as long as we can remember. It’s a convenient feature that you can use every day to quickly move words around in text documents. But unfortunately, there are times when you might need to copy and paste something and you can’t. Your PC or Mac might be turned off, your wireless connection might be weak, or you might have accidentally closed Windows Explorer. Whatever the case, you can probably find a solution to your copy and pasting woes. Here’s a list of the 10 most common things that you can do to fix your copy and paste problems so you can get back to doing what you love.

The copy and paste function on your computer, whether its an old laptop or a new high tech gadget, works a lot differently than how people use it. Often when you copy text from a website or a document and paste it into a word processing document, the text will appear as bold or italicized, but when you paste it back into the website or document, the text doesn’t appear bold or italicized.. Read more about why is my copy and paste not working and let us know what you think.

Copy and Paste is one of the most commonly utilized features in every operating system. With just a few clicks, users can move files, text, photos, and other items from one spot to another.

So it’s understandable that you’d be annoyed if the functionality suddenly stopped operating. We’ll go over a couple fixes in this article to assist you fix your Copy and Paste capabilities. 


The first thing you should do is check for any available Windows updates. If this is the case, download and install the update right away. The majority of Windows issues are fixed in later releases. 

Here’s a link to our step-by-step guide on how to update Windows 10. 

Also see: Windows was unable to detect the proxy settings for this network automatically: 10 Solutions


Some antivirus software that is extremely defensive can interfere with your system’s performance, disrupting some basic capabilities. Temporarily disable your antivirus to see whether that’s the problem in your instance.


An add-on for Microsoft Office that allows you to distribute files to Bluetooth devices might sometimes interfere with Windows’ Copy and Paste feature. To see whether your PC starts working properly again, disable this add-on in MS Office.


If you’re running virtual machines on your OS with VMWare’s Virtualbox, chances are you’ve enabled the shared clipboard feature, which allows you to copy and paste data between machines. Disable this option and check if your system’s Copy and Paste functionality returns.

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The most common cause of strange behavior on your computer is corrupt files. Here’s how to get rid of them and, perhaps, solve your problem. 

Step 1: Open the Cortana/Search box by pressing Windows Key + S and searching for Powershell. From the search results, select Windows Powershell.

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Step 2: Run sfc /scannow to check your system for problems. 

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Step 3: If the SFC scan uncovers any issues, run the command below to fix them. 

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth Windows 10 start menu won't open: 6 fixes |

Restart your computer, and Copy Paste should operate properly again.

Also see: How to Fix Windows Error 1053.


You may need to restart the rdpclip.exe service to get Copy and Paste back up and running. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Go to the Processes tab and look for the rdpclip.exe process. Use the bottom right button to complete the process.

Step 3: Go to Windows/System32, locate the rdpclip.exe process, and double-click it to run it.


Another popular Windows application, Check Disk, can search your system for any corrupted files that are causing this problem.

Step 1: Open the quick access menu by pressing Windows key + X and selecting Command Prompt (Admin).

How to fix File System Error in Windows 10? |

Step 2: Hit enter after typing the following command.

C: chkdsk /f /r How to fix File System Error in Windows 10? |

Rep this command for each partition, replacing C: with the drive letter given to the partition. If you restart your computer, the file system problem should be gone. 

Also see: How do I resolve the issue of ‘insufficient memory to open this page’?


Corrupt user profiles can potentially cause Windows functions to malfunction. To test if this addresses your problem, try creating a new profile.

Step 1: To enter Windows Settings, press Windows key + I. Go to Accounts and choose it.

Why is Copy and Paste not working? 10 fixes |

Step 2: Head over to the Family & other people tab and click on Add someone else to this PC under Other people.

Why is Copy and Paste not working? 10 fixes |

Fill in the details for the new account and log in with that account to see if Copy and Paste now works.


If you created a system restore point, you can also fix the problem by restoring your system to a previous point in time. 

Step 1: Press the Windows key and type Reset this PC into the search box. From the search results, select the Recovery option. 

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Step 2: Select Open System Restore from the drop-down menu. 

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Step 3: To continue, select the recommended restoration point and click the Next button. 

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Also see: 6 Solutions for Outlook Spellcheck Not Working

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When he’s not writing/editing/shooting/hosting all things tech, he streams himself racing virtual vehicles. Yadullah can be reached at [email protected], or you can follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

Copy and paste is one of the most useful functions in our computers. It is basically a shortcut that allows us to copy and paste text from one place to another without having to type it. It is one of those things that we take for granted. However, when you suddenly find that copy and paste is not working, it can be upsetting. There are several causes for this. And, like most things in life, there is a solution.       In Windows 10, there are a number of ways that you can fix your copy and paste problems. Here is a list of the 10 most common causes of copy and paste not working in Windows 10: 1. It is not enabled in the settings. 2. You disabled it accidentally. 3. Read more about why is my copy and paste not working mac and let us know what you think.

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To enable copy and paste on Windows 10, you must first open the Settings app. Then go to System > Advanced system settings > Accessibility > Ease of access. From here, select Keyboard shortcuts. You can then choose what keyboard shortcuts you want enabled or disabled.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my copy-paste not working Windows 10?

This is a known issue that has been reported by many users. Microsoft is aware of this and are working on a fix for the problem.

How do I fix copy and paste not working?

If you are using a keyboard, try pressing the CTRL key and then press the V key. This should fix it.

How do I enable copy and paste on Windows 10?

To enable copy and paste on Windows 10, you must first open the Settings app. Then go to System > Advanced system settings > Accessibility > Ease of access. From here, select Keyboard shortcuts. You can then choose what keyboard shortcuts you want enabled or disabled.

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  • copy and paste not working windows 10
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  • copy paste not working
Greg Baskerville
Greg Baskerville
Gaming Blogger & Musician. Playing games since the Amiga days in the 1980's, and a handy guitarist.

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