Copy and Paste Not Working In Windows 10? Try These 18 Fixes

One of the most commonly utilized functionalities on every computing platform is copy and paste. Typically, keystrokes Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste are required. Even if it is easy, no one needs to associate with the copy and paste not working in Windows 10 problem. 

Even if it is, you can right-click with your mouse and select Copy and Paste from the menu. It’s aggravating, however, when those functions don’t operate. To get back to its normal state, it’s necessary to fix copy and paste functions.

We can comprehend your irritation if the functionality abruptly stops working because it’s something you’ve grown accustomed to, depending on it. Although this function is the most basic one that has been around since the first versions of Windows, it occasionally stops operating.

If this has happened to you, read our advice to solve the problem swiftly.

6 Possible Reasons Why Copy and Paste Is Not Working In Windows 10

Several factors can lead to the copy and paste not working in Windows 10 error. Here are some of the most common reasons among them.  

1. A third-party antivirus product is blocking the copy-paste processes.
2. A third-party application installed by you may be interfering with the feature.
3. You’ve installed a faulty Windows update, impacting the copy-paste operation.
4. Some Windows apps, such as Skype, may be incompatible with the feature.
5. The function could have been hampered by the corruption of system data or malware.
6. Corrupt files in the Windows Registry could have caused the problem.

So, these were the six common reasons behind the copy-paste issues in your Windows 10. 

Top 18 Fixes For Copy And Paste Not Working In Windows 10

1. Restart Your PC
2. Update Your Windows
3. Run Check Disk Utility
4. Disable Send To Bluetooth Add-On
5. Run The rdpclip.exe
6. Disable Virtualbox’s Shared Clipboard Feature
7. Remove Skype Click To Call
8. Create A New User Account
9. Check Your Antivirus
10. Use A Third-Party Application
11. Restart Windows Explorer
12. Clear The Windows Clipboard Cache
13. Troubleshoot Your Keyboard
14. Disable Third-Party Clipboard Managers
15. Disable RAM Optimization Apps
16. Restart The App You’re Currently Working In
17. Try Copy-Pasting With The Mouse Instead Of The Keyboard
18. Fix The 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 provide the expected effects. 

When you can’t copy and paste text, files, or folders from one app to another or elsewhere on your Windows 10 computer, it’s time to look at a system-wide problem carefully.

1. Restart Your PC

The immediate solution to most common issues is to restart your PC and let the process do the rest. 

To restart your PC, follow these steps. 

• Go to your Power button. 
• Click on the Restart option from the small menu. 

This will help your PC cool down and fix any software issue if here’s where the problem lies.

2. Update Your Windows 

Updating the software on your computer is a quick and easy approach to ensure that your system functions smoothly. When you update Windows 10, your computer will be equipped with the most recent features, fix bugs, and (most importantly) security updates. 

Even while automatic updates are helpful, there are instances when you’ll want to manually update the software, such as when a critical security patch is being rolled out or if you’ve discovered a severe flaw.

Here’s how to update your Windows manually to solve the copy and paste not working in Windows 10 problem. 

• From the bottom-left corner of your screen, select the Start (or Windows) button.
• Go to the Settings menu (gear icon).
• Click on the Update & Security option.

• In the left sidebar, select the Windows Update tab (circular arrows)
• Select the Check for Updates checkbox. If an update is available, it will begin downloading immediately.

To complete the update, you must restart Windows, but you can do it later if necessary. 

3. Run Check Disk Utility

To begin using the Check Disk Utility, follow these steps. 

1. To access the Elevated Command Prompt

Press Windows key + X and click on Command Prompt (Admin). (If requested for a password, enter it and click Allow.)

2. Enter the following command into the command line:

• Enter chkdsk /r and press Enter.
• Enter chkdsk /f and press Enter.

3. If you see the following message:

Since another process is using the volume, you cannot run Chkdsk. Do you want this disc to be examined the next time the system restarts? Yes or No

After pressing ‘Yes,’ click Enter.

4. Reboot your computer and let the check disc run.

• Optimize your drive to improve efficiency.
• Right-click on the start button and select Properties.
• Choose the Control Panel.
• Navigate to Administrative Tools.
• Press Defragment and Optimize Drives.

4. Disable Send To Bluetooth Add-On

This add-on is typically connected with Microsoft Office and can be found in the Add-ons area of the Office product. The error could be caused by an antivirus or malware program. Try disabling it before you examine whether or not the copy-paste is working. 

It is not necessary to disable Microsoft applications such as Windows Defender. Only third-party security apps should be disabled.

You may need to verify each installed Office tool for the Send to Bluetooth add-on and deactivate it. Copy/paste operations should operate fine after removing this add-on in all Office tools.

5. Run The rdpclip.exe

To run rdpclip.exe, follow these steps. 

• To launch Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
• When Task Manager is launched, navigate to the Details tab and right-click the rdpclicp.exe process.
• Select the End task option from the menu.
• Now navigate to the Windows/system32 folder. You should be able to find rdpclip.exe there. Run it to see if the problem has been repaired.

This software should automatically begin, but if it doesn’t, you’ll have to execute it each time you boot up Windows 10. You may also add it to the Startup folder, and it will run every time Windows 10 boots.

6. Disable Virtualbox’s Shared Clipboard Feature

If you wish to run a virtual machine on your PC, Virtualbox is a terrific tool to use, but specific capabilities can cause problems with your system.

As per users, the Shared clipboard feature in Virtualbox can cause issues with the copy-paste capability on your PC, and you must disable this feature in Virtualbox to resolve the issue.

Some PC problems are challenging to resolve, particularly when it comes to damaged libraries or missing Windows files. If you have difficulty fixing an error, you may partially damage your system.

When you disable this functionality, you should rectify the problem, and you should be able to utilize the copy-paste function again.

7. Remove Skype Click To Call

As per users, the copy-paste feature may not operate on your PC due to the Skype Click to Call plugin. It is a straightforward browser plugin that allows users to make Skype calls by simply clicking a mobile number in your browser.

It is recommended that you delete this plugin from your browser to resolve the issue. After you delete the extension, you must be able to copy and paste without any problems. 

The copy and paste not working in Windows 10 even after this fix. We recommend creating a new user account 

8. Create A New User Account

Copy and paste issues may arise as a result of corrupted user profiles. You might try creating a new user profile to see if that helps. 

To create a new user profile, perform the following steps:

• Select Settings from the Start menu.
• You should select accounts.
• Select “Family & Others.”
• Choose “Add someone else to this PC.”
• Fill in the blanks with your username, password, and password hint.
• Select Next to continue.

Switch to a new account and check to see if the problem persists. If the problem does not arise, you must transfer your documents to the new account and begin using the new account instead of the old one.

If the problems continue after creating a new user profile, proceed to the following remedy.

9. Check Your Antivirus

It is critical to use excellent antivirus software to check on the viruses and enhance Windows security, but your antivirus sometimes can end up causing this issue to emerge. 

To resolve the issue, disable some antivirus functions and see if it helps. If it doesn’t work, you must turn off your antivirus altogether.

10. Use A Third-Party Application

If none of the above alternatives work, you can use a third-party clipboard manager. Various apps available in the Microsoft Store can substitute the built-in Windows clipboard manager. You must find the finest tool for your needs and download it.

11. Restart Windows Explorer

To restart Windows Explorer, follow these steps.  

• Open the Task Manager. 
• As the Task manager opens, click on the Processes tab. 
• Navigate to Windows Explorer. Right-click on it and select Restart from the menu. 

12. Clear The Windows Clipboard Cache

Here is another option worth considering. 

• Right-click the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the shortcut menu.
• In the Command Prompt console, type the following command and hit Enter.
• Close the Command Prompt window and verify that the copy and paste capability is again operational. 

If it still does not work, restart your device and try afresh.

13. Troubleshoot Your Keyboard

On Windows 10, there are various methods for copying and pasting material. Without a doubt, the Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V keyboard shortcuts are the simplest. You may produce the same results by using the mouse on your computer.

If you can’t copy and paste material using keyboard shortcuts, as previously stated, there could be a problem with your keyboard. Run the Windows keyboard troubleshooter to identify and resolve issues with your computer’s keyboard settings.

• Navigate to the Settings app.
• Go to the Update & Security section. 
• Click on Troubleshoot.

• Select the keyboard under “Find and fix additional problems.”
• To continue, select the Run the troubleshooter button.

Wait for the troubleshooter to analyze your system for any keyboard faults. If the tool detects an issue, it will offer troubleshooting steps.

14. Disable Third-Party Clipboard Managers

There are a variety of clipboard apps available on the market that can help you with copying and pasting. These apps are helpful for a variety of reasons. 

For example, they can preserve multiple texts/files that you wish to copy, keep a history that you can retrieve at any time, allow you to define the formatting you want to use, etc. 

If you frequently copy-paste, this is a terrific approach to save time and make your job easier.

Unfortunately, these third-party apps frequently clash with your built-in clipboard. If you get one of these applications and try to use the built-in clipboard, your copy-paste feature may fail. 

Stop or disable the application and restart your system, which should resolve the problem.

15. Disable RAM Optimization Apps

When you copy a picture or some content, your system temporarily saves it in Random Access Memory (RAM). However, while file cleanup and RAM optimization tools aim to save space and speed up your computer, they may also delete all of your clipboard data. 

As a result, all of the data you’re attempting to paste is erased, rendering the feature inoperable.

You can repair it by forcing the software to close or configuring its settings so that it does not include the computer’s clipboard in the optimization procedure.

16. Restart The App You’re Currently Working In

Suppose the problem is specific to a particular application, for example, 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’s settings menu to see whether an update is available.

We could see if the function isn’t working with any particular applications. For example, if you could not insert the image in Paint, try copying and pasting text into Notepad.

If the problem is limited to a few programs (or perhaps just one), troubleshoot the application accordingly.

17. Try Copy-Pasting With The Mouse Instead Of The Keyboard

We typically copy and paste by pressing Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V because it is faster. If you use keyboard shortcuts for copying and pasting, try using the mouse alternatively. If it works, try additional keyboard shortcuts on your PC to see if they work. 

If the copy-paste keyboard shortcut does not work, the utility is still operational on your computer, but the keyboard shortcuts are no longer functional.

18. Fix The Remote Desktop Clipboard

Windows has a pretty nifty built-in feature of a remote desktop clipboard. The clipboard copies everything you copy. After that, you can paste it using the Windows key + V.

• Using the Command Prompt

One of the ways through which you can fix the clipboard is using the Windows Command Prompt. You can go about the process as follows (Keep in mind that you need to have administrator rights to complete this): 

1. Press Windows+R to open the run box. 
2. Type cmd in the input field. 

3. Click on OK. 

4. The Command Prompt will now open. Type “echo off|clip.”

5. Press Enter.

• Using the Windows Registry Editor

You can also rectify the issue using the Registry Editor. To start, you need to:

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Using the search tab, type Regedit. 
3. Run Regedit as the Administrator. 
4. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Clipboard.
5. Select and choose IsCloudAndHistoryFeatureAvailable.
6. Configure the Value Data to 1. 
7. Select the Base to Hexadecimal. 
8. Select Ok to save the changes made. 
9. Restart the device to make sure the settings have been loaded. 

Your copy and paste features should be up and running in no time. 

Conclusion

For many users, Windows 10’s copy-paste capability is a lifesaver. That simple procedure can save time while dealing with spreadsheets or transmitting any information. So it is unusual for copy-paste to fail to work.

It is not always the copy and paste command that fails. You may need to restart a specific software, adjust your keyboard shortcuts, or resolve a clipboard issue.

You now understand how to make your copy-paste option work properly. Because copy-paste is one of the most vital daily operations, it is critical to have it enabled. If you’re trying to figure out why your copy and paste is not working in Windows 10 and what you can do about it, this article has the answers you’re looking for.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)