Excel Copy and Paste Not Working After KB5002914? Fix It with KB5002665

If copy and paste suddenly stopped working in Excel in September 2026, you are not alone. Microsoft has confirmed that the Excel security update KB5002914, released on Patch Tuesday, 8 September 2026, can make paste operations fail silently. You press Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, the source cells stay selected, and nothing appears in the destination. There is no error message and no beep.

The good news is that Microsoft has now released fixes. For Excel 2016 the fix is KB5002665, and Office 2019, 2021 and 2024 have received updated builds. This guide explains what went wrong, how to check whether you are affected, and the complete step-by-step solution, including the safe way to install the fix and restart your computer.

Quick answer

1. Do not remove the KB5002914 security update unless you have no other choice. It closes 29 Excel security holes.
2. Install the fix for your version: KB5002665 for Excel 2016, or the latest Office update for Office 2019, 2021 and 2024.
3. Close all Office apps, restart your computer, and test copy and paste again.
4. Until the fix is installed, use Paste Special (Ctrl + Alt + V) as a workaround.

What is KB5002914?

KB5002914 is the September 2026 security update for Microsoft Excel. It patches 29 vulnerabilities, including remote code execution and information disclosure flaws that could let a booby-trapped spreadsheet run code on your PC. That is why it matters: a malicious Excel file sent by email is still one of the most common ways attackers get into home and office computers.

Also read: Windows 11 New Search in Insider Builds: Sliders, Phone Calls and More

Soon after it rolled out, users on Reddit and Microsoft Q&A started reporting broken copy and paste, and Microsoft added the problem to the update’s known issues on 10 September 2026.

Symptoms of the KB5002914 copy-paste bug

• Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V between cells or workbooks does nothing.
• The copied range stays highlighted with the moving border, but the destination is unchanged.
• Dragging the fill handle to copy formulas or AutoFill a series may stop working.
• Dragging cells to move them may fail.
• Pressing Esc may not clear the copy border.
• In some cases Excel crashes and reopens.

Interestingly, pasting data copied from outside Excel, such as from a browser or Word, usually still works. The problem is copying within Excel itself.

Which Excel versions are affected?

Microsoft lists Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021 and Excel 2024 (including LTSC editions) as affected, on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft 365 subscription versions of Excel were not officially listed.

Quick test: are you affected?

1. Open a blank workbook.
2. Type any values in cells A1, A2 and A3.
3. Select them and press Ctrl + C.
4. Click cell C1 and press Ctrl + V.
5. If nothing is pasted, your PC has the bug.

The fix for each Office version

Your Office version	Fix	Status
Office 2016 / Excel 2016	KB5002665 (released 16 September 2026)	Mitigated; conditional formatting cases may still fail
Office 2019	Update to build 10417.20208 or later	Mitigated; conditional formatting cases may still fail
Office LTSC 2021	Update to build 14334.20918 or later	Fixed
Office LTSC 2024	Update to build 17932.21000 or later	Fixed

These fixes are not always applied automatically, so follow the steps below for your version.

Step 1: Find out which Office you have

1. Open Excel and go to File > Account.
2. Under Product Information, note the product name (for example Office 2016 or Office LTSC 2021).
3. Click About Excel. The top line shows the version and build number, and whether it is a Click-to-Run or MSI installation.

If you see an Update Options button on the Account page, you have a Click-to-Run installation. Most home and small office users do. Older office PCs installed from a volume-licence DVD or ISO usually have the MSI version.

Step 2: Install KB5002665 (Excel 2016 MSI)

1. Save your work and close Excel, Word, Outlook and every other Office app.
2. Open Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is turned on.
3. Go back to Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install the update listed for Microsoft Excel 2016 (KB5002665).
4. If it does not appear, search for KB5002665 on the Microsoft Update Catalog or Microsoft Download Center, download the package that matches your Office (32-bit or 64-bit) and run it.
5. Restart your computer when the installation finishes.

To check your Office bitness, look at the About Excel line: it ends with 32-bit or 64-bit.

Step 3: Update Office 2019, 2021, 2024 or Click-to-Run 2016

1. Open Excel and go to File > Account.
2. Click Update Options > Update Now.
3. Wait until the “You’re up to date!” message appears. Office may close open apps to finish the update.
4. Check the build number again under About Excel and compare it with the table above.
5. Restart your computer.

If Update Options is greyed out or missing, your updates are managed by your organisation. Ask your IT team to push the latest build.

Step 4: Restart and test

A full restart is important. Office keeps some files in use in the background, and the fix may not take effect until Windows restarts. After restarting, run the quick test from earlier. Copy and paste, the fill handle and drag-to-move should all work again.

Also make sure the September security update is still installed. On MSI installs, open Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates and confirm that both the security update and the fix are listed.

Workarounds until you can install the fix

• Paste Special: copy as usual, then press Ctrl + Alt + V (or Home > Paste > Paste Special) and choose Values, Formulas, or Formulas and number formats. This works for most users.
• Cut, undo, paste: press Ctrl + X, then Ctrl + Z, then Ctrl + V. Some users report this restores paste.
• Right-click Paste: works for some users.
• Office Clipboard: open the Clipboard pane on the Home tab and click the item you want to paste.

Should you uninstall KB5002914?

Removing the update does bring copy and paste back, but it also removes protection against 29 security flaws. Now that fixes are available, installing KB5002665 or the latest Office build is the better route. Uninstall the security update only as a last resort, for example on a business PC where staff cannot work, and reinstall it as soon as the fix is in place.

If you must roll back on an MSI install, go to Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates, select Security Update for Microsoft Excel 2016 (KB5002914), click Uninstall and restart. Click-to-Run versions cannot remove a single update, so they need the whole Office build rolled back. Ask your IT team to do this, and do not copy an older excel.exe file over the new one, which can make Excel unstable.

A note for Office 2016 and 2019 users

Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached the end of support on 14 October 2025. Microsoft still shipped this particular fix, but you should not count on future security updates. If your business still runs these versions, plan a move to Microsoft 365 or Office LTSC 2024 so your PCs stay protected.

Frequently asked questions

Why is copy and paste not working in Excel after the update?

The September 2026 Excel security update KB5002914 introduced a bug that makes paste operations fail silently. Microsoft has confirmed it and released fixes.

What does KB5002665 fix?

KB5002665 is Microsoft’s update for Excel 2016 (MSI) that restores copy and paste broken by KB5002914. Some workbooks with conditional formatting may still have issues.

Do I need to restart my computer after installing the fix?

Yes. Close all Office apps before installing and restart Windows afterwards so the updated Excel files are loaded.

Is Microsoft 365 Excel affected?

Microsoft did not list Microsoft 365 subscription versions among the affected products. If you use Microsoft 365 and paste is failing, update Office from File > Account > Update Options and restart.

Bottom line

Keep the KB5002914 security update, install the fix for your version (KB5002665 for Excel 2016 or the latest build for Office 2019, 2021 and 2024), restart your computer and test. Use Paste Special in the meantime. That way you get working copy and paste and stay protected from the security flaws the update closes.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Security update for Excel (KB5002914) and its known issues
• Microsoft Support: September 16, 2026, update for Excel 2016 (KB5002665)
• Microsoft Support: September 2026 updates for Microsoft Office

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