How to Fix Excel Clipboard Error ‘Cannot Open Clipboard’

Have you ever encountered the frustrating Excel clipboard error that says “Cannot open Clipboard” when trying to copy or paste? You’re not alone. This common issue disrupts your workflow and can be caused by a range of factors, from conflicting programs to faulty add-ins. In this guide, we’ll explain the causes behind the error and provide step-by-step solutions to quickly resolve it.

What Causes the Excel Clipboard Error?

Running into a clipboard error in Excel can be a real headache—especially when you’re copying and pasting large sets of data. This issue usually means something is interfering with Excel’s ability to access or manage the clipboard. Here are the most common causes to watch out for:

1. Clipboard Tools or Developer Software: Programs like Visual Studio or clipboard-monitoring tools can hijack clipboard access, blocking Excel from functioning properly.
2. Other Programs Locking the Clipboard: Apps like screenshot tools, remote desktop software, or clipboard managers can prevent Excel from using the clipboard.
3. Conflicting Excel Add-ins: Some third-party add-ins may conflict with Excel’s built-in clipboard functions and trigger the error.
4. Too Much Copied Data: Copying huge data sets, charts, or images at once can overwhelm the clipboard and cause it to fail.
5. Simultaneous Clipboard Access: If multiple programs are trying to use the clipboard at the same time, Excel may lose access.
6. Corrupted Excel or System Files: Damaged installation files in Excel or Windows can disrupt clipboard functionality.
7. Overloaded Temp Files: Too many temp files can slow down the system and interfere with Excel’s clipboard behavior.

Fix 1. Start Excel in Safe Mode to Disable Add-ins

Add-ins can enhance your Excel experience—but they can also be the hidden culprit behind clipboard errors. If Excel’s clipboard function starts acting up, one of your installed add-ins might be to blame. Starting Excel in Safe Mode temporarily disables all add-ins, making it easy to isolate the issue. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type excel /safe and hit Enter — this launches Excel without loading any add-ins.

Step 3: Once Excel opens, go to File > Options > Add-ins.
Step 4: At the bottom of the window, set the Manage dropdown to COM Add-ins, then click Go.
Step 5: Uncheck all the add-ins listed to disable them temporarily, then click OK.
Step 6: Close and restart Excel normally. Try copying and pasting again to see if the error is resolved.

Fix 2. Clear the Office Clipboard

Excel keeps a running history of everything you copy—but over time, that clipboard history can get overloaded or glitchy, leading to paste errors. A quick cleanup can refresh Excel’s clipboard and get things working again. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open Excel and click the Home tab in the top menu.
Step 2: In the Clipboard group (usually on the far left), click the small launcher icon—a tiny diagonal arrow in the bottom-right corner of the group.
Step 3: This will open the Clipboard pane on the left side of your screen.
Step 4: Click Clear All at the top of the pane to empty the entire clipboard history.
Step 5: Try copying and pasting again—your clipboard should now be working without errors.

Check out our guide on Related Excel Temp File Location: Recover Unsaved Spreadsheets from Excel Temporary Files—it’s a lifesaver when your file crashes or you forget to save!

Fix 3. Repair Microsoft Excel Installation

Sometimes, Excel acts up because a few program files have become corrupted or aren’t working correctly. Running a repair through Microsoft Office can fix those issues—without deleting any of your saved files or data. Here’s how to repair Excel:

Step 1: Open the Control Panel on your PC (you can search for it in the Start menu).
Step 2: Click on Programs > Programs and Features.

Step 3: Find Microsoft Office in the list (or Microsoft 365, depending on your version), click it once to highlight.
Step 4: At the top of the window, click Change.
Step 5: Choose Quick Repair to fix common problems quickly, then follow the on-screen instructions. If that doesn’t work, try Online Repair (note: this takes longer and requires an internet connection).
Step 6: Once the repair is complete, reopen Excel and test whether the clipboard issue is resolved.

Repairing Microsoft Excel using these steps will not delete your personal files or data, but it may reset some program settings to their defaults. It’s always a good idea to save your work and close all Office applications before starting the repair process. If you use the Online Repair option, ensure you have a stable internet connection, as the process may take several minutes.

Fix 4. Clean Up the Temp Folder

Over time, Windows builds up a stash of temporary files—some of which can clash with Excel’s clipboard functions. Clearing this folder can fix strange behaviors and free up some space too. Follow these cleanup steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + R to bring up the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type %temp% and press Enter — this will open your computer’s Temp folder.

Step 3: Press Ctrl + A to select all the files, then press Delete on your keyboard (skip any files that can’t be deleted).
Step 4: After cleanup, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
Step 5: Open Excel and test your clipboard again—it should be functioning more smoothly.

Clearing temporary files regularly can help prevent clipboard glitches in Excel and keep your system running smoothly. Just remember to restart your PC after cleaning up so everything takes effect. 🔗 Also Read: How to Repair Excel File Online Free

Fix 5. Disable Visual Studio Plugins or Uninstall Visual Studio

If you’re a developer or have Visual Studio installed, its clipboard-monitoring tools can sometimes clash with Excel. Disabling or removing those features might instantly solve the problem. Try these steps:

Step 1: Open Visual Studio and head to Extensions > Manage Extensions. Look for any clipboard-related plugins and disable or uninstall them.
Step 2: If you don’t need Visual Studio, you can uninstall it entirely from Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Step 3: After disabling or removing the plugin, restart your PC to apply the changes.
Step 4: Launch Excel again and test your clipboard—chances are it’ll be back to normal.

Disable clipboard-related Visual Studio plugins before uninstalling. Restart your PC after changes to ensure Excel’s clipboard functions properly. This often resolves conflicts without removing Visual Studio completely.

Recover Lost Excel Files with WinfrGUI

While fixing the Excel clipboard error, you might accidentally close a file without saving or experience a system crash. If that happens, you can rely on WinfrGUI — a user-friendly and powerful file recovery tool for Windows.

Step 1: Download WinfrGUI from the official website, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Step 2: Launch the program and select the drive or folder where your lost Excel files were originally saved (for example: Desktop, Documents, or a USB drive).

Step 3: Choose your preferred scan mode:

• Use Quick Scan if the file was deleted recently.
• Use Deep Scan for a more thorough search if the file has been missing for a while or the drive was formatted.

Step 4: Click Start to begin the scan process. WinfrGUI will search the selected drive for all recoverable Excel files (.xls, .xlsx).

Step 5: Once the scan is finished, browse through the results. Select the files you want to recover, then click Recover and save them to a secure location on a different drive to avoid overwriting data.

Whether caused by errors, accidental deletions, or formatting mishaps, WinfrGUI has you covered.

Excel file “Cannot open Clipboard” Error: FAQ

Q1: Why does my clipboard not work in Excel?

A: An error “cannot open clipboard” occurred when trying to use the shortcut copy and drop tool, the drag and drop function or the drawing tool. If Excel has detected that the clipboard has been locked or accessed by an external Office application, this error may occur.

Q2: Why does the cutting board not work?

A: The clipboard may not work due to reasons such as the Clipboard history. Disabled, no sync between different devices or problems with hiding the record.

Q3: How do I open the clipboard?

A: Excel’s clipboard panel can be opened by simultaneously clicking the “Windows” and “V” buttons, which are both short text buttons. The history of the objects that have been duplicated will be displayed, and you will be able to choose the list that you want to use.

Q4: How do I release space in the Excel Clipboard?

A: It is possible to open the clipboard panel in Excel by simultaneously hitting the “Windows” button and the “V” button, both of which are symbols that represent short text buttons. You will be able to select the list that you want to utilize, and the history of the objects that have been copied will be displayed for you to view.

Q5: How to recover lost or deleted Excel files?

A: Using WinfrGUI file recovery software, Excel starts the software by selecting the hard drive recovery function and scanning the location for missing Excel files. View the recovered files and save them to the desired location on your computer.

Conclusion

The Excel clipboard error is a common but solvable problem. Whether the issue stems from conflicting programs, overloaded clipboard data, or Excel add-ins, the fixes listed above can help you quickly get back to work. And if you ever experience file loss during troubleshooting, tools like WinfrGUI can help recover deleted or unsaved Excel files easily. By following these simple steps, you can keep your workflow smooth and say goodbye to the “Cannot open Clipboard” error for good.

🔗 Also Read: How to Fix “Can’t Save Excel File” Error