Windows has a list of widely used functions that we all rely on almost daily. However, there is one that stands out above the rest: copy and paste. The keyboard shortcuts Control+C and Control+V are very useful. Indeed, they allow you to move content such as text or files from one place to another in a matter of seconds. That’s why it can be a nightmare when this function suddenly stops working. If so, we will tell you all the solutions you can give to the problem.
When copy and paste doesn’t work, it can be a nightmare.
Despite the great importance of this function, the truth is that it is basic. When we decide to copy something, it goes to a clipboard where it is stored. Consequently, it stays there until we decide to copy something else in its place. Windows does not usually give us any type of error with this function. However, occasionally, it may happen that we cannot copy anything to the clipboard. On the contrary, paste a content in another place. If this happens, one of the solutions below should solve the problem. Some are very common, along with more technical ones.
Check the software giving the fault
Occasionally, the error associated with the copy and paste function may not be related to Windows. In fact, it may be a problem with the software where you are trying to copy or paste, depending on the occasion. Programs such as Microsoft’s own Office may have a malfunction that prevents the system from detecting this function. It may even prevent you from editing its contents in any other way.
If this is your problem, the first thing to do is to turn off the program in question and turn it back on. Even a restart of the system itself may be useful. This is likely to fix any simple bugs you may have with the program. On the other hand, you can also try upgrading to the latest version, or even reinstalling it.
Keyboard and mouse
It may sound a bit silly. However, a malfunction of our keyboard or our mouse could be the main culprit for not being able to copy and paste normally. This type of error is usually more common on the keyboard, as it may be a keyboard shortcut thing. To check if your problem is here, all you have to do is try to enter a shortcut apart from copy and paste. If other shortcuts don’t work either, the steps you can follow to try to solve it are as follows:
- Type Settings in the Windows search engine.
- Scroll down and select Update and security.
- Choose the Troubleshoot problems option
- Within this, Additional Troubleshooters.
- At the bottom we will have the option to select Keyboard, and here we will run the troubleshooter.
Check the Windows clipboard
The Windows clipboard is the place where we store what we decide to copy to paste it later in another place. It is more common than it seems that some kind of content gets stuck in the clipboard. However, this has an effortless solution.
To achieve this, all we have to do is type the word CMD in the Windows search engine. As a result, we will launch the Command Prompt. Then, write the following text without quotation marks in the window that will appear: echo off | clip. Once this is done, the clipboard history will be empty. Therefore, we should be able to use this function without any problems.
Restart Windows Explorer
Here we come to a somewhat trickier way of fixing our copy and paste problem. This useful function of the operating system depends on Windows Explorer. Consequently, it may be that the operation of this one has been corrupted in some way. We will have no choice but to restart this process. However, before doing so, we recommend that you save the progress of any programs you have open.
Restarting Windows Explorer is an elementary process. With this in mind, press the combination Ctrl+Alt+Del. Now select the process that says, Windows Explorer and click on the bottom button of the administrator screen, on Restart.
Run the rdpclip process
The copy and paste functionality depends on a process on our computer called rdpclip. If this is not working properly, we may not be able to copy and paste inside our computer or on our remote desktop. Therefore, to fix this, we have no choice but to shut it down and restart it.
As we have done in the previous solution, we will have to access the Windows Task Manager again. Once inside, we will have to click on the upper tab Details, and we will look for the process called rdpclip.exe. When we find it, we will have to select it and click on Finish task.
Once this is done, we will go to our File Explorer to look for the System32 folder inside the Windows folder. Inside this folder, you will find this process rdpclip.exe Therefore, we will only have to run it and check if we have solved our problem. If all these tools that we have given you in this article have not worked, it might be a deeper Windows error. In this case, what we recommend you to do is to go to the Error check of the hard disk where the operating system is installed. You can also upgrade to a newer version of Windows in case it is a compatibility bug. Finally we have seen how to fix bugs with copy and paste. This function is a must in Windows. So not being able to use it can be a real headache. Bye!
