Copy & Paste issues in Excel after Microsoft updates
Microsoft is investigating an issue that causes the Paste function to fail without any error message in Excel. The situation arose after Office updates distributed in September 2026 and affects several versions of the application, including Microsoft Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024.
The issue was initially reported by users who noticed that regular copy and paste operations, autofill, or dragging formulas between cells no longer worked correctly. Subsequently, Microsoft added the issue to the official list of known flaws for security update KB5002914.
What is the KB5002914 update?
KB5002914 is a security update published by Microsoft on September 8, 2026 for Excel 2016. According to official documentation, it fixes several security vulnerabilities, including vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution.
The update applies to the classic version of Excel 2016, and the package available through the Microsoft Download Center is intended for Office 2016 editions based on Windows Installer (MSI) technology. Microsoft states that this package does not apply to Click-to-Run based Office 2016 editions.
What happens when you try to paste data in Excel?
The fault is unusual because the operation can fail completely without Excel informing the user.
Microsoft describes the situation as follows: the user tries to paste the copied information, but the source cell or range remains selected, and the destination is not modified.
In addition, the program does not display an error message and there is not even an audible signal to indicate that the operation has failed.
Which Excel versions are affected?
According to official Microsoft information, the pasting issue currently documented can occur in versions Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024. This is one of the most important pieces of information for users, as the problem is not limited to the version for which KB5002914 was published.
Microsoft has stated that it is investigating the situation and will publish additional information in the update documentation as it becomes available.
According to information cited by BleepingComputer from a Microsoft alert, the cause is a code regression introduced in a recent update. Microsoft is working on distinct fixes for the affected versions.
How to check if the issue is related to the Office update?
If you encounter problems with the Copy & Paste function, first check your Excel version and recently installed updates. For Excel 2016, look for the code KB5002914 in the update history. For Excel 2019, 2021, and 2024, the issue may be associated with a recent Office package update, without this code appearing in the Windows history.
The issue has been reported in both MSI-based and Click-to-Run Office installations, and Microsoft is investigating it for the Excel versions mentioned in the official documentation.
Microsoft has not yet published a fix
At the time of publishing this article, Microsoft states that it is investigating the issue. Official documentation does not yet indicate a fix available for all affected versions. This is important because various unofficial solutions have already appeared online.
These include changes to the Windows Registry, rolling back to older versions of Office components, or manually replacing executable files. Such methods do not represent an official fix and can introduce other problems into an Office installation.
In the case of the Windows Registry, the method circulating online does not offer a reliable solution for this defect and, therefore, is not a recommended solution.
Similarly, manually replacing Office files with older versions is a risky practice. Using files from different versions can lead to incompatibilities, stability issues, or other security risks.
What can you do if you urgently need the Paste function?
Before any intervention, it is worth checking if the problem reproduces in a new spreadsheet and if it only affects Excel.
If the situation occurs repeatedly, and the recent update coincides with when the problems started, IT administrators can consider the possibility of temporarily reverting to an earlier Office version.
There are reports that uninstalling or reverting to the previous version of the update restored copy and paste functions on affected systems. However, this approach must be carefully considered because these updates contain security fixes.
For computers managed in a company, the decision should be made by the IT department, depending on the update policy and the risks associated with reverting to an earlier version.
Why is the problem so serious?
Copy and paste functions are among the most used tools in Excel. In the case of a simple document, the problem can be circumvented relatively easily. In a professional environment, however, such a defect can significantly hinder work activities and affect entire processes.
Excel is used for accounting, budgets, reports, inventories, data analysis, and processing large volumes of information.
If a paste operation fails without warning, the user may not immediately notice that the data has not been transferred. In some situations, this is more problematic than an explicit error, because the program does not provide a clear indication that the operation needs to be repeated.
The problem can also be particularly unpleasant when autofilling or copying formulas between cells, where the user relies on Excel’s usual behavior to quickly extend data in a table.
An Excel update that breaks an essential function
A seemingly trivial error such as the inability to use Copy & Paste can quickly become a serious problem when Excel is part of daily activity. The current situation also shows how complicated it can be to identify the cause of a defect when it appears after an update that, normally, should improve the security and stability of the application.
Until Microsoft finalizes the fix, the most prudent approach is to avoid unofficial solutions that modify system or application components. For users who depend on Excel in their professional activity, it is worth monitoring Office updates and Microsoft communications so that the official fix can be installed as soon as it becomes available.
Alternatives are also worth considering
For users who rely on Office applications in their daily work, such problems can be a good opportunity to evaluate available alternatives.
Open-source office suites can provide tools for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, without dependence on the Microsoft ecosystem.
If you are interested in such solutions, we have prepared an article about the best open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office, which you can consult before making a decision.
Sources: support.microsoft.com, bleepingcomputer.com
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