One of the most used functions on every computing platform is copy and paste. Typically, you need the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. Even if it’s easy, no one needs to mess with the copy and paste issue that doesn’t work on Windows 10.
Even if it is, you can right-click and select Copy and Paste from the menu. However, it makes things worse when these features don’t work. To get back to normal, you need to fix the copy and paste functionality.
We can understand your annoyance if the functionality suddenly stops working because you’re used to it, depending on that. Although this feature is the most basic of those that have existed since the first versions of Windows, sometimes it stops working.
If this has happened to you, read our tips to fix the problem quickly.
6 Possible Reasons Why Copy and Paste Not Working in Windows 10
Several factors can cause copy and paste not to work in Windows 10 error. Here are some of the most common causes among them.
- A third-party antivirus is blocking copy and paste processes.
- A third-party application you have installed may interfere with this feature.
- You have installed the wrong Windows update that affects the copy and paste operation.
- Some Windows applications such as Skype may not be compatible with this feature.
- System data corruption or malware may have interfered with function.
- Corrupted files in the Windows registry may have caused the problem.
So, these were the six common causes of Windows 10 copy and paste problems.
18 Best Fixes for Copy and Paste Not Working in Windows 10
- Restart your computer
- Update your Windows
- Run the disk check utility
- Disable “Send to Bluetooth”add-on
- Run rdpclip.exe
- Disable Virtualbox shared clipboard feature
- Remove Skype Click to call
- Create a new user account
- Check your antivirus
- Use a third party app
- Restart Windows Explorer
- Clear Windows Clipboard Cache
- Keyboard Troubleshooting
- Disable third-party clipboard managers
- Disable apps to optimize RAM
- Restart the application you are currently running
- Try copy and paste with the mouse instead of the keyboard
- Fix Remote Desktop Clipboard
Everyone understands how to copy and paste material, but not everyone understands what to do if (or when) these operations do not produce the expected effects.
If you can’t copy and paste text, files, or folders from one app to another or anywhere else on your Windows 10 PC, it’s time to take a close look at a system-wide issue.
1. Restart your computer
The immediate solution to the most common problems is to restart your computer and let the process do the rest.
To restart your computer, follow these steps.
- Navigate to the power button.
- Click on the “Restart”option in the small menu.
This will help your computer cool down and fix any software issue if the problem is here.
2. Update Windows
Updating the software on your computer is a quick and easy way to keep your system running smoothly. When you update Windows 10, your PC will be equipped with the latest features, bug fixes, and (most importantly) security updates.
While automatic updates are helpful, there are times when you’ll want to update software manually, such as when a critical security patch is released or if you discover a major vulnerability.
Here’s how to update Windows manually to fix the copy and paste issue that doesn’t work on Windows 10.
- In the lower left corner of the screen, click the Start (or Windows) button.
- Go to the “Settings”menu (gear icon).
- Click on the Update & Security option.
- On the left sidebar, select the Windows Update tab (round arrows).
- Select the Check for updates check box. If an update is available, it will start downloading immediately.
You must restart Windows to complete the update, but you can do this later if necessary.
3. Run the disk check utility
To start using the Check Disk utility, follow these steps:
1. To access an elevated command prompt
Press the Windows key + X and click Command Prompt (Admin). (If prompted for a password, enter it and click Allow.)
2. Enter the following command at the command line:
- Type chkdsk /r and press Enter.
- Type chkdsk /f and press Enter.
3. If you see the following message:
Since this volume is being used by another process, you cannot run Chkdsk. Do you want this drive to be verified the next time you restart your system? Yes or no
After clicking Yes, press Enter.
4. Restart your computer and run Check Disk.
- Optimize your drive to improve efficiency.
- Right-click the Start button and select Properties.
- Select Control Panel.
- Go to administration tools.
- Click “Defragment and Optimize Drives”.
4. Disable the Send to Bluetooth add-on.
This add-in is usually associated with Microsoft Office and is located in the add-ins area of the Office product. The error can be caused by an antivirus or malware program. Try turning it off before checking if the copy-paste works.
There is no need to disable Microsoft applications such as Windows Defender. Only third-party security applications should be disabled.
You may need to check each installed Office tool for the Send to Bluetooth add-in and deactivate it. Copy/paste operations should work fine after removing this add-on in all Office tools.
5. Run rdpclip.exe
To run rdpclip.exe, follow these steps.
- To launch Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Once Task Manager is running, go to the Details tab and right-click on the rdpclicp.exe process.
- Select “End task”from the menu.
- Now go to the Windows/system32 folder. There you can find rdpclip.exe. Run it to see if the problem is fixed.
This software should start automatically, but if it doesn’t, you’ll have to run it every time you boot Windows 10. You can also add it to your Startup folder and it will run every time you boot Windows 10.
If you want to run a virtual machine on your PC, Virtualbox is a great tool to use, but certain features can cause issues with your system.
According to users, the shared clipboard feature in Virtualbox can cause issues with copy and paste ability on your PC, and you should disable this feature in Virtualbox to fix the issue.
Some PC problems are difficult to solve, especially when it comes to corrupted libraries or missing Windows files. If you have difficulty fixing the error, you may partially damage your system.
When you disable this feature, you should fix the issue and you should be able to use the copy-paste feature again.
7. Remove Skype Click To Call
According to users, the copy and paste feature may not work on your PC due to the Skype Click to Call plugin. This is a simple browser plugin that allows users to make Skype calls by simply clicking on a mobile phone number in the browser.
It is recommended that you uninstall this plugin from your browser in order to resolve this issue. After removing the extension, you should be able to copy and paste without any problems.
Copy and paste doesn’t work on Windows 10 even after this fix. We recommend creating a new user account
8. Create a new user account
Copy and paste issues can occur due to corrupted user profiles. You can try creating a new user profile to see if that helps.
To create a new user profile, follow these steps:
- Select “Settings”from the Start menu.
- You must select accounts.
- Select “Family and others”.
- Select “Add someone else to this PC”.
- Fill in the blank fields with your username, password, and password hint.
- Select Next to continue.
Switch to a new account and check if the issue is still there. If the problem does not occur, you should transfer your documents to the new account and start using the new account instead of the old one.
If problems persist after creating a new user profile, continue to the next workaround.
9. Check your antivirus
It is extremely important to use excellent antivirus software to check for viruses and improve Windows security, but sometimes your antivirus can cause this problem to occur.
To fix this issue, disable some antivirus features and see if that helps. If this does not work, you should disable your antivirus completely.
10. Use a third party app
If none of the above options work, you can use a third party clipboard manager. Various apps available in the Microsoft Store can replace the built-in Windows clipboard manager. You must find the best tool for your needs and download it.
11. Restart Windows Explorer.
To restart Windows Explorer, follow these steps:
- Open Task Manager.
- When Task Manager opens, click on the Processes tab.
- Go to Windows Explorer. Right click on it and select “Restart”from the menu.
12. Clear the Windows Clipboard Cache
Here’s another option worth considering.
- Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the context menu.
- In the command line console, type the following command and press Enter.
- Close the command prompt window and make sure copy and paste is working again.
If it still doesn’t work, restart your device and try again.
13. Keyboard Troubleshooting
In Windows 10, there are various ways to copy and paste content. Without a doubt, the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are the easiest. You can get the same results using a mouse on your computer.
If you can’t copy and paste using keyboard shortcuts as mentioned earlier, the problem might be with your keyboard. Run the Windows Keyboard Troubleshooter to identify and fix problems with your computer’s keyboard settings.
- Go to the Settings app.
- Go to the Update & Security section.
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Select the keyboard under Find and fix additional problems.
- To continue, click the Run the troubleshooter button.
Wait while the troubleshooter analyzes your system for keyboard faults. If the tool finds a problem, it will suggest troubleshooting steps.
14. Disable Third Party Clipboard Managers
There are many clipboard apps available in the market that can help you with copy and paste. These applications are useful for various reasons.
For example, they can save multiple texts/files that you want to copy, keep a history that you can retrieve at any time, let you define the formatting you want to use, etc.
If you copy and paste a lot, this is a great way to save time and make your job easier.
Unfortunately, these third-party applications often conflict with your built-in clipboard. If you install one of these applications and try to use the built-in clipboard, your copy and paste functionality may not work.
Stop or disable the application and reboot the system, which should resolve the issue.
15. Disable apps to optimize RAM.
When you copy an image or any content, your system temporarily stores it in random access memory (RAM). However, while the file cleaner and RAM optimizer tools aim to save space and speed up your computer, they can also delete all of your clipboard data.
As a result, any data you try to insert is erased, making the function inoperable.
You can fix this by force quitting the software or by adjusting its settings so that it doesn’t include the computer’s clipboard in the optimization routine.
16. Restart the application you are currently working on
Let’s say the problem is related to a specific application, such as Facebook or Twitter. In such a case, close and reopen it. A software error could potentially be to blame for the inability to copy and paste.
Check the Microsoft Store or the app settings menu to see if an update is available.
We could see if the feature didn’t work with any specific apps. For example, if you were unable to paste the image in Paint, try copying and pasting the text into Notepad.
If the problem is limited to a few programs (or perhaps only one), troubleshoot the application accordingly.
17. Try copying and pasting with the mouse instead of the keyboard
We usually copy and paste by pressing Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V because it’s faster. If you use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste, try using your mouse instead. If it works, try additional keyboard shortcuts on your PC to see if they work.
If the copy-paste keyboard shortcut does not work, then the utility is still working on your computer, but the keyboard shortcuts no longer work.
18. Remote Desktop Clipboard Fix
Windows has a great built-in Remote Desktop Clipboard feature. The clipboard copies whatever you copy. After that, you can paste it using the Windows key + V.
- Using the command line
One way to fix the clipboard is to use the Windows Command Prompt. You can complete this process as follows (keep in mind that you need admin rights to do this):
- Press Windows + R to open the run window.
- Enter
cmdin the input field.
- Click OK.
- A command prompt will open. Enter “echo off|clip”.
- Press Enter.
- Using the Windows Registry Editor
You can also fix the issue with the Registry Editor. To get started, you need:
- Open the start menu.
- Using the search tab, type Regedit.
- Run Regedit as administrator.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Clipboard.
- Select and select IsCloudAndHistoryFeatureAvailable.
- Set these values to 1.
- Select Base to Hexadecimal.
- Select “OK”to save your changes.
- Reboot your device to make sure the settings have been loaded.
Your copy and paste functions should be up and running in no time.
Conclusion
For many users, the ability to copy and paste in Windows 10 is a lifesaver. This simple procedure can save time when working with spreadsheets or when transferring any information. So copy-paste doesn’t work.
It’s not always the copy and paste command that fails. You may need to restart certain software, adjust keyboard shortcuts, or fix a clipboard issue.
Now you understand how to make your copy-paste option work properly. Since copy and paste is one of the most important daily operations, it is very important to enable it. If you’re trying to figure out why your copy and paste isn’t working on Windows 10 and what you can do about it, this article has the answers you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to enable copy and paste in Windows 10?
Answer: Launch the command prompt from the search function, then right-click at the top of the window to enable copy and paste. Select Properties, select the Use Ctrl+Shift+C/V to copy/paste check box, and click OK.
How to reset clipboard in Windows 10?
Answer: A huge clipboard history can generate a lot of temporary files that can slow down your device if the service hasn’t already done so. To reset clipboard settings:– Click the Clipboard dialog box launcher button on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group.– The Clipboard task pane appears on the left side of the spreadsheet and displays all the clips on the clipboard.– Select the “Clear All”option to erase everything on your clipboard.
Why don’t Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V work?
Answer: Sometimes these features don’t work because Ctrl shortcuts are not enabled. You can help with this from the command line. Another reason this feature is due to the fact that there might be an issue with the keyboard drivers. Hence, you will update outdated device drivers.
What to do if the above fixes don’t work?
Answer: If the above fixes do not solve your problem with copy and paste not working on Windows 10, you can run the System File Checker (SFC), restart Windows Explorer, etc.