[SOLVED] Copy and Paste Not Working on Windows 11 & 10

Copy and paste suddenly stopped working in Windows? This is actually quite a common problem, which may be caused by a stuck clipboard, a specific app, Windows Explorer, or corrupted system files.

Once you’ve identified the cause, the issue is quite easy to fix! This guide walks you through 7 practical fixes for copy and paste not working in Windows, step by step.

How to fix copy and paste not working?

Here are 7 simple fixes to try. If copy/paste fails only in one app, you can start with Fix 2 to check for an app-specific issue. If copy/paste works locally but not in Remote Desktop, you can jump to Fix 7.

1. Check whether the problem is the keyboard shortcut
2. Restart the affected applications
3. Clear your clipboard history
4. Restart Windows Explorer
5. Repair Windows System Files
6. Perform a System Restore
7. Restart rdpclip.exe

Fix 1: Check whether the problem is the keyboard shortcut

Before troubleshooting the Windows clipboard, you can check if the problem is limited to Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V.

Just open Notepad, type a short sentence, select all the text, right-click it and click Copy. Then, right-click in a blank area and choose Paste.

If right-click Copy and Paste work but the keyboard shortcuts don’t, Windows’ clipboard may be fine. The problem is more likely related to the keyboard, the Ctrl key, or another program intercepting the shortcut. Keep reading to troubleshoot.

If available, you can also try another keyboard to rule out defective keys.

Fix 2: Restart the affected applications

If copy and paste fails only in Chrome, Excel, Word, a game, or another specific application, the application itself may be stuck.

You can save your work and close the affected app. Make sure to close all the related processes via Task Manager. Then reopen it and test copy/paste again.

If copy/paste only stops working in certain applications, check for an update for the affected applications or look for application-specific settings that may restrict clipboard access.

Fix 3: Clear clipboard history

A stuck clipboard entry can sometimes prevent new content from being copied or pasted correctly. You can clear the clipboard data to see if that solves the problem.

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
   

2. Go to System > Clipboard. Click Clear next to Clear clipboard data.
   
   

If clearing data doesn’t resolve the issue, you can temporarily turn it off:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to System > Clipboard.
2. Toggle off Clipboard history.
   

Copy several different pieces of text and paste them into Notepad or another simple application to test. If the issue persists, turn the Clipboard history back on and try the next fix.

Fix 4: Restart Windows Explorer

If copy and paste problems occur mainly while handling files, moving folders, or managing desktop icons, restarting Windows Explorer may fix the deadlock.

1. Press Ctrl, and Shift and Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager.
2. In the Processes tab, right-click Windows Explorer and click Restart.
   

Your taskbar, desktop, and open File Explorer windows may briefly disappear and reappear. This is normal. Afterwards, open File Explorer and test by moving a file to another folder using Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. If this method doesn’t help, try the next one.

Fix 5: Repair Windows System Files

If copy and paste fails across multiple applications and the problem started after a Windows update, you should check if the system files have become corrupted or damaged. You can use Windows built-in utilities (DISM and SFC) to run a check.

1. Type cmd into the Windows search box and click Run as administrator.
   
2. Select Yes if Windows asks for permission.
3. Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
   
4. Wait until the operation completes.
5. After DISM finishes, type sfc /scannow in the cmd and press Enter.
   
6. Wait for the verification to reach 100%. Restart your computer after the scans finish.
   

Test if copy/paste works on your computer. If not, continue to the next fix.

Fix 6: Perform a System Restore

If copy and paste stopped working shortly after a Windows Update, driver installation, or software change, a recent system change may be responsible. In this situation, you can use System Restore to return Windows to an earlier restore point.

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type rstrui.exe and press Enter.
   
3. Click Next.
   
4. Select a restore point created before the copy-and-paste problem started, and click Next.
   
5. Click Finish and confirm the restore.
6. Let Windows restart and complete the restoration.

Fix 7: Restart rdpclip.exe

If copy and paste works normally on your local PC but stops working inside a Remote Desktop session, the problem may be related to the Remote Desktop clipboard process.

The rdpclip.exe process handles clipboard synchronization for Remote Desktop sessions. Restarting it can restore clipboard functionality when the process becomes unresponsive. Here’s how:

1. Connect to your Remote Desktop session.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
3. Select the Details tab. Right-click rdpclip.exe and select End task.
   
4. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run command. Type rdpclip.exe and press Enter.

Disconnect and reconnect to the Remote Desktop session. Then test by copying text from the local computer and pasting it into the remote session and vice versa.

Frequently asked questions

Why is copy and paste not working in Windows?

Copy and paste can stop working because of a stuck clipboard, an application problem, Windows Explorer, corrupted system files, keyboard issues, or Remote Desktop clipboard settings.

Start by testing copy/paste in Notepad. If it works there but not in one application, the application is the more likely source of the problem.

Do I need to update drivers if copy and paste is not working?

No, this is usually not the first troubleshooting step. You should start by determining whether the problem is limited to a keyboard shortcut, one application, the clipboard, Windows Explorer, or a remote session.

However, if you’ve recently updated Windows and you’re also experiencing other hardware-related problems, such as keyboard disconnects, USB problems, or missing devices, checking your device drivers may help.

When copy and paste is not working on your Windows computer, you should first determine whether the problem affects one application, the local clipboard, Windows Explorer, or a Remote Desktop session. If the issue persists across multiple applications, try Fix 3 – Fix 6. For Remote Desktop, skip straight to Fix 7.

With the problem narrowed down to the right layer, you can usually fix it easily. If you encounter other questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

• Windows 10
• Windows 11