Copy Paste Isn't Working in Windows 11: Here's How to Fix It

Has copy/paste functionality stopped working on your PC? If so, this is how you can fix copy/paste not working in Windows 11.

Typically, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V hotkeys, as well as right-click copying and pasting, should work in Windows 11. But some processes or apps could interfere and cause issues with the clipboard:

Why is my copy-and-paste not working in Windows 11?

Some of the most common reasons why the Windows 11 clipboard isn’t working include:

• Conflicting background apps – certain software can block clipboard use, including antivirus tools restricting copying from risky sites, system optimizers, clipboard managers, and browser extensions
• System file corruption – The copy and paste functions stopped working right because of some corrupted system files.
• The RDP Clipboard Monitor stops working – The RDP Clipboard Monitor process (rdpclip.exe) isn’t running or crashes.
• Malware: Malware on your PC might affect copying and pasting. We recommend scanning your PC with one of the best antiviruses for Windows 11.

How do I fix copy and paste in Windows 11?

1. Repair image and system files

1. Click the Search icon on the taskbar, type cmd, and select Run as administrator from the results.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow
3. System File Checker will scan the system for any corrupted files and repair them.
4. After the scan is finished, type the following command to run the DISM scanner: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

You can repair the Windows 11 image and system files with the Deployment Image and System File Checker tools or with a specialized repair tool that can automatically repair all broken system files.

2. Clear clipboard data

1. Press Start (the taskbar button) and click the Settings app that’s pinned on the menu.
2. Select Clipboard within Settings’ System tab.
3. Press the Clear button.
   

Sometimes, Windows won’t ask whether to replace the files when you try to copy them but the highlighted guide will help you fix that.

3. Start the RDP Clipboard Monitor

1. Press Task Manager’s Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut to view that process management tool.
2. Click Task Manager’s File menu and select Run new task.
   
3. Click Create this task with administrative privileges checkbox to select that setting.
   
4. Input rdpclip.exe inside the Open box and select the OK option.
5. Press the Windows logo button + S key to view the file search tool.
6. Input Command Prompt and select to open that app as administrator.
   
7. Next, enter this taskkill command and press Return: taskkill /f /im rdpclip.exe
   
8. Then close your Command Prompt window.
9. Go to the Start menu, select Power and choose Restart there.

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4. Restart Windows File Explorer

1. Right-click the Start icon and select the Task Manager shortcut on the Power User menu.
   
2. Click Processes if Task Manager doesn’t open with that tab selected.
3. Scroll to the Windows Explorer process.
   
4. Select the Windows Explorer process, and click its Restart button.

5. Set up a clean boot

1. Press the Windows key + R to start the Run console, type msconfig.msc, and press Enter or click OK.
2. Uncheck the selected Load start items setting on the General tab.
3. Select MSConfig’s Services tab to view its options.
4. Click Hide all Microsoft services to ensure system services can’t be disabled.
5. Press Disable all to deselect the checkboxes for listed third-party services.
   
6. To save the MSConfig settings for clean booting, click the Apply option.
7. Select OK to exit the utility.
   
8. Click Restart when prompted to reboot.
   
9. Try copying and pasting items after clean-booting Windows 11.

NOTE

You can restore the original boot settings by selecting Load startup items in MSConfig. Click Enable all to restore disabled services.

6. Save page as PDF

1. In your browser, navigate to the page you want to copy text from.
2. Go to options and select Page> Save as PDF.
3. Open the file on your PC. You can now copy and paste the text you need.

If you can’t copy text from a page that won’t allow it, you can save the page onto your PC as PDF.

7. Scan for and purge malware

1. Double-click Windows Defender in the system tray to view that app’s window.
2. Click the shield (Virus and threat protection) tab along the left of Windows Security.
   
3. Next, click Scan options to view all the scanning settings.
   
4. Select the more thorough Full scan option.
   
5. Press Scan now to start it.
   
6. Click Start actions for any malware detected.

8. Reset Windows 11

1. Click the Start button and select Settings.
2. In the System menu, click on Recovery from the right.
3. Now, chose the Reset this PC option.
4. Next, click on Keep my files.
5. Carry on with the procedure to reset Windows 11.

How do I enable a copy-and-paste history in Windows 11?

Standard copy and pasting are always enabled by default, but clipboard history for storing multiple copied items needs to be enabled. You can enable clipboard history in Windows 11 like this:

1. Activate the Run dialog by holding the Windows logo button and pressing R.
2. Open the Settings app by entering this Run command and clicking OK: ms-settings:clipboard
3. Then turn on the Clipboard history setting.
   

You can also access the clipboard history by pressing the Windows key +V on your keyboard.

Summary

Those are the likely fixes for copying and pasting not working in Windows 11. They are solutions users have confirmed can fix various copy and pasting issues.

However, there could be more ways to fix copy and paste not working as well. You might be interested in what to do if you can’t paste in Paint as well.

This issue can affect other applications, and many reported that Microsoft Excel cannot paste the data, but we have a guide that addresses it.

You can share alternative resolutions to copy and paste issues in Windows 11 in the comments below.