Unable to Copy Content to Clipboard: In Use by Another Application

If you encounter the error message We could not copy the content to the clipboard, it is in use by another application while using Excel on your Windows 11/10 device, this article is for you. We will guide you through effective troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue.

Many users have experienced an issue with Excel that prevents it from accessing the clipboard, leading to the following error:

We could not copy the content to the Clipboard, it is in use by another application. You can paste your data within this workbook, but sharing it with other applications will not be possible.

This message suggests that another program is currently using the clipboard, which disrupts Excel’s ability to access it. Although users can still paste data within the same workbook, they can’t transfer content across applications, which can hinder productivity.

What Might Be Causing Excel Copy and Paste Issues?

Excel may restrict copying and pasting due to various factors, including temporary software glitches, clipboard conflicts, internal application errors, or insufficient system resources. The issue could also arise from corrupted files or outdated versions of Excel or Microsoft Office.

Resolving the ‘Clipboard is in Use’ Error in Excel

If you’re seeing the error message We could not copy the content to the clipboard, it is in use by another application on your Windows 11/10 PC, try these solutions:

1. Quick Workarounds
2. Clear the Clipboard
3. Add Two Essential Directories
4. Disable Live Preview
5. Deactivate the Insert Key

Let’s explore these solutions in detail.

1] Quick Workarounds

Some users have found that running Excel as an administrator, restarting the application, or rebooting the system solves the problem. Additionally, closing other applications running in the background, including File Explorer, can be effective. We recommend using Task Manager to terminate any background processes.

2] Clear the Clipboard

Clipboard conflicts are often a primary cause of the error, so clearing the clipboard can help. Here’s how to do it:

Search for ‘cmd’ in the Windows Search bar. Click on Run as administrator next to Command Prompt in the search results. When prompted by User Account Control, select ‘Yes’ to proceed.

In the Command Prompt, enter the following command and hit Enter:

echo off | clip

This command will effectively clear the contents of the clipboard.

3] Add Two Essential Directories

This solution is beneficial for users running Excel tasks via Task Scheduler. Excel may try to access the ‘Desktop’ folder within the system profile for specific tasks. If these paths are missing, errors may occur. To address this, add the following two directories:

C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\Desktop

After adding these paths, restart Excel to see if the clipboard issue persists.

4] Disable Live Preview

Some users have resolved the issue by disabling the ‘Enable Live Preview’ option in Excel. Live Preview displays a real-time preview of formatting changes, which can sometimes overload the application and cause errors during copy and paste operations.

To turn off Live Preview, take these steps:

1. Open your Excel file.
2. Go to the File menu and select Options.
3. In the Excel Options dialog, click on General in the left menu.
4. Uncheck the ‘Enable Live Preview’ box under User Interface options.
5. Click OK to apply the changes.

Close and reopen Excel for the changes to take effect and verify if the error has been resolved.

5] Deactivate the Insert Key

Several users reported that the issue was resolved by toggling the Insert key, which they inadvertently activated. The Insert key switches between ‘Overwrite’ and ‘Insert’ modes, and being in Overwrite mode can cause unexpected behavior while copying and pasting data in Excel.

Press the Insert key on your keyboard to switch back to Insert mode for standard typing.

We hope this information is helpful.

How Can I Resolve Clipboard Copying Issues?

If your clipboard is malfunctioning or failing to copy data, close any applications that might conflict with clipboard operations, such as clipboard managers, remote access tools, or screen capture software. While in Excel, navigate to File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins and deactivate any active add-ins. Additionally, consider clearing the clipboard, as this can often eliminate software conflicts.