Last Updated: September, 18, 2026
ISSUE
In Microsoft Excel 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016, as well as Excel Online in Office Online Server, the paste operation might fail silently. Although users try to paste content, the source remains selected and the destination is unmodified. When this issue occurs, users receive no indication of the failure, such as an error message or alert with sound.
The issue is fixed in some versions, and mitigated in others, and so may require a workaround.
STATUS: FIXED FOR THE FOLLOWING BUILDS
The issue is fixed in the latest updates of the following versions:
- Office LTSC 2024 was fixed in Build 17932.21000.
- Office LTSC 2021 was fixed in Build 14334.20918.
STATUS: MITIGATED FOR THE FOLLOWING BUILDS
Office LTSC 2019 was mitigated in Build 10417.20208. If the workbook contains conditional formatting, paste operations might continue to fail.
Office 2016 was mitigated with KB5002665. If the workbook contains conditional formatting, paste operations might continue to fail.
WORKAROUND
If paste fails, users can try using the Paste Special option:
- From the Home tab, select the Paste dropdown, then select Paste Special.
- In the Paste Special window, select the option you want: Formula, Formula and number formats, Values, Values and number formats, or Paste Link.
For more information, go to Paste options.
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