Microsoft Fixes Excel’s Copy and Paste Bug, but Some Users Still Face Problems

• Microsoft’s September 8, 2026, security update introduced a paste issue affecting several Excel editions.
• Excel 2016 has received a hotfix, while Office LTSC 2021 and 2024 have confirmed fixes.
• Office LTSC 2019 and some Excel 2016 users may still experience problems despite available mitigations.
• Selecting Paste Special from Excel’s Home tab is a temporary workaround for affected users.

Microsoft has started addressing an annoying Excel issue that left some users unable to copy and paste content into their spreadsheets. The problem appeared after a September 8, 2026, security update and could make routine spreadsheet work more frustrating than it needed to be.

The good news is that Microsoft has already released a hotfix for Excel 2016 and confirmed that fixes are available for some other editions. The less encouraging part is that not every affected version has received a complete solution, meaning some users may still run into the problem.

For anyone who regularly moves data between spreadsheet cells, the issue can be particularly disruptive. Copying and pasting is one of Excel’s most basic functions, and when it stops working without warning, even a straightforward task can become unnecessarily time consuming.

Microsoft’s response has come just days after the problem was introduced, giving affected users a way to address the issue without waiting for the next regular update cycle.

What caused Excel’s copy and paste problem?

The trouble began following Microsoft’s September 8 security update, identified in the report as KB5002914.

According to Microsoft’s known issues information, the bug affects several versions of Excel, including Excel 2024, Excel 2021, Excel 2019 and Excel 2016. Excel Online in Office Online Server has also been identified as affected.

The problem is especially inconvenient because it does not necessarily produce an obvious warning.

Users can attempt to paste copied content into a destination cell, only to find that nothing happens. The original selection remains active, while the destination stays unchanged.

In other words, Excel can appear to ignore the paste command entirely.

That silent failure is what makes the bug particularly irritating. Users may assume the keyboard shortcut did not register, that they selected the wrong cell or that something went wrong with the copied content. Without a clear error message, identifying the actual cause is not always straightforward.

For people working with large spreadsheets, financial records or regularly updated datasets, repeated failures can interrupt workflows and make everyday editing less predictable.

Which Excel versions have received a fix?

Microsoft’s response varies depending on the version of Office being used.

Excel 2016 has received a hotfix, giving users of the older spreadsheet application a targeted way to address the issue. However, Microsoft has acknowledged that problems may persist in some circumstances.

Office LTSC 2021 and Office LTSC 2024 have also been confirmed as fixed, according to the information provided in the report.

The situation is different for Office LTSC 2019 and Office 2016. Microsoft has made a mitigation available for these editions, but that does not necessarily mean every instance of the bug has been eliminated.

Here’s how the reported status breaks down:

Microsoft 365 users should be aware that the article does not establish that every Microsoft 365 installation is affected or that a universal fix has been released for all of them. The reported issue primarily identifies specific perpetual and server editions, so checking the precise Office version is important.

Microsoft is continuing to work on the remaining problems, although the report does not provide a confirmed date for a complete resolution across every affected edition.

A simple workaround is available for affected users

While Microsoft works on the remaining issues, users can try a straightforward alternative to the usual paste command.

Instead of using the standard keyboard shortcut or regular paste option, open Excel’s Home tab and select Paste Special.

This provides another way to insert copied content into a spreadsheet and can help users get around the failure affecting the normal paste operation.

The workaround is particularly relevant for users who need to keep working while waiting for an applicable update or fix.

Microsoft’s explanation also points to conditional formatting as a possible source of the current trouble. Conditional formatting allows Excel to change the appearance of cells based on their contents or specified rules. It is a widely used feature, especially in spreadsheets that rely on colour coding to highlight values, trends or exceptions.

For now, using Paste Special may be a practical temporary measure when the regular paste function refuses to cooperate.

However, it should not be mistaken for a permanent fix. Users who continue experiencing the issue should check Microsoft’s official known issues information for guidance that matches their specific Office edition.

What Excel users should do next

The latest development is a reminder that even familiar productivity tools can develop unexpected problems following software updates.

Microsoft has moved quickly to address the reported paste failure, but the availability of a fix depends on which Excel or Office version is installed. Some editions have received confirmed fixes, while others still rely on a mitigation.

If Excel has recently stopped pasting content correctly, it is worth checking whether the installed version is among those affected by the September security update. Users should also make sure they are following the appropriate update guidance for their edition rather than assuming that a fix for Excel 2016 automatically applies to Microsoft 365.

In the meantime, Paste Special offers a practical option for users who need to continue working with copied spreadsheet data.

The underlying issue may not have affected everyone, which helps explain why some Excel users might never have noticed it. But for those who encountered the silent failure, Microsoft’s latest response should offer some relief while work continues on the remaining problems.

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