Copy-paste is the most basic function in a computer. If it stops working, working on the computer would become difficult.
Understanding the issue
Here’s how the copy paste-function works. Whenever we copy a text or an image, it is saved on a virtual clipboard that we cannot see. When we paste it, it is pasted from the clipboard. All this is managed through a few services and if the copy-paste function does not work, we could focus on those services to fix the issue.
Note: – For some users simply restarting the computer fixed the issue. For some other users, opening and closing file explorer fixes the issue temporarily.
You may also try copying and pasting using your Mouse instead of CTRL + X and CTRL + V
Try the following workarounds step by step to fix the problem:
Table of Contents
Solution 1] Restart Windows explorer
1. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys together from your keyboard
2. Locate windows explorer.
3. Right click on windows explorer and click on restart.
Solution 2 – Using System 32 Folder
1. Go to file explorer.
2. Go to C:\Windows\System32
3. Now, search rdpclip in the search bar.
4. Right Click on rdpclip.exe and Choose Run as Administrator.
5. Similarly, search dwm.exe in the search bar.
6. Now, Right Click on dwm and Choose Run as Administrator.
7. Restart Your Computer .
If it does not solve your Problem, Move on to the next method.
Solution 3] Use the “echo off” command on Command Prompt
1] Search cmd in search box of windows 10. Right click and run as administrator.
2] Type the following command and press Enter:
cmd /c "echo off | clip"
3] Now , try again.
Solution 4] Try closing Open programs in Task manager
1 – Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys together from your keyboard to Open Task manager
2 – Now, try closing programs one by one in Apps section (Except Windows explorer and Task manager itself). Once you have closed all the programs in Apps, try copying and pasting again.
3 -Now, Right click on Windows explorer and click on Restart.
Solution 5] Reset the rdpclip.exe process
The copy-paste function is managed by the rdpclip.exe process. This process might get stale with time, thus we would have to reset it.
1] Press CTRL+ALT+DEL and select Task Manager from among the options.
2] Go to details tab,
3] check for the rdpclip.exe service.
4] Right-click and click on End process.
5] Go to File >> Run new task.
6] Type rdpclip.exe in the dialogue box and press Enter. It will re-initiate the process.
Alternative method of doing this through Through Command Prompt
1] Search cmd in search box of windows 10. Right click and run as administrator.
2] Type the following command in the Command Prompt window and press Enter:
taskkill.exe /F /IM rdpclip.exe
This command ends the rdpclip.exe task.
3] Type rdpclip.exe in the window and press Enter. This command re-initiates the rdpclip.exe task.
We could do the same for the dwm.exe task from the Task Manager.
Solution 6] Using Registry editor
1 -Search REGEDIT in Windows search.
2 -Now, go to the following location in registry editor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Clipboard
3 – Now in the right side , locate and double click on IsCloudAndHistoryFeatureAvailable
4 – Set the value data to 1 and click OK.
5 –Restart PC
Solution 7] Check individual applications
At times the issue with the copy-paste function might not be system specific but application specific. We could check if the function is not working with specific applications. Eg. If you were unable to paste the image in Paint, try copy-pasting text on Notepad.
If the issue is specific to a certain number of applications (or maybe just one), troubleshoot the application accordingly.
Solution 8] Disable the antivirus program temporarily
At times, the anti-virus program prevents the copy-paste function for security reasons. Disabling the anti-virus program temporarily could help isolate the issue.
Solution 9] Disable Startup programs from the Taskbar
1 – Press CTRL + SHIFT + Esc keys to open Task manager.
2 – Now, Click on Startup Tab.
3 – Now, try to disable every programs one by one and restart PC.
Now, try again.
Sometimes , some background running processes by these startup enabled programs may interfere with basic windows functionality.
Solution 10] Hardware and devices troubleshooter
We could also try Windows own in-built troubleshooter.
1] Click on the Start button and then on the gear-like symbol to open the Settings menu.
2] Go to Updates and Security >> Troubleshoot.
3] Select the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
4] Once the process is done, restart the system.
Hope these resolutions help fix your problem.
John Krawczyk says
Thanks so much. Copy and Paste stopped working after I moved 20 GB of trash files off my 128GB boot HDD and onto my 1TB Data Drive. My laptop had a 128 boot flash drive and a 1TB data drive. Windows-10 Pro was putting everything into Users>owner on C: and I moved it all to the data drive D: as the small flash boot drive was getting full.
Your last option on killing & restarting those programs via cmd line worked great.
TT says
Tried most solutions above, no luck. In the end, Task Manager – Startup – disabled most program worked.
JL says
Copy / paste formatting is not working for me. Normal copy/paste is fine, just the format copy/paste.
(Short cut keys Ctrl+shift+C / V.)
Worked fine for months, I use these two functions a lot every day. But stopped working suddenly.
Anyone experienced this? It is odd as the normal copy/paste (and evrything else) works fine!
Dan says
WINkey+V used to show recent clipboard contents but now it just shows an empty window. My COPY/PASTE works fine but WINKEY+V does not. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Dan
wouildn't you like to know says
I cannot believe this problem even exists, and absolutely no response, definitive response from MS to correct it once and for all.
Incredible incompetency on Microsoft’s part- its mind boggle ling.
Sushil pimple says
None of the above has worked for me on my Dell5550 laptop winth windows 10. Only restart has helped. May be I will reinstall windows os again.
Anonymous says
After looking at all the options for correcting the windows update error, the answer was in Microsoft all along. When investigating the 0x80071a91 error code I found information that related to the Microsoft Edge. As a web browser, I have avoided the Explorer and Explorer 11 like the plaque partly due to using Bing which is pathetic in results of enquires. So I never use this or Outlook as a program. So when I downloaded the Microsoft Edge and installed it guess what? – The update errors disappeared! After restarting the update came in and installed without errors. You would think that Microsoft would have made the Windows Media tool fully functioning with the installation of the Microsoft Edge but no – they left it out and it causes problems – Thanks a bunch Microsoft for wasting a few weeks of my life I will never get back.
Rupali says
Hi there
copy paste is disabled and not working on any softwaresike notppad, office etc.
I get NSD digital rights management error while copy paate in noptepad or office apps. Win explorere paste option is disabled.
Please please help.
Thanks in advamce.
Fred Flintstone says
Restart the PC does and has always fixed this stupid issue, none of the above fix’s the issue without a restart, so all of the above are moot, just reboot and problem solved…until it does it again, every version of Windows 10 I have used lately is doing this, even my sandboxed work pc, it usually happens when there is updates available.
Ron says
As Vinnie said: “..Second option worked for me… File in Task mgr was “RDP Clipboard manager”. ”
Thank you!
Ezequiel Jimenez says
Running CCleaner did the work.. Thanks a lot.
Vinnie says
Second option worked for me. Though I have not restarted yet. File in Task mgr was “RDP Clipboard manager”. Deleted ran rdpclip.exe works, still says RDP Clipboard manager. But hay it works.
Vinnie
Saria says
Problem of not being able to copy and paste solved on the first try of the instructions. Great job!
Phred says
After running scannow, clearing the clipboard, and running a full virus scan, the problem didn’t resolve. I discovered that I could use the copy-and-paste from inside the word processor. I ran the Registry clean-up of CCleaner and that solved the problem.
Trevor Bailey says
As David Brooks posted. The .exe does not exist and I have the same version of Win 10 on a 3 month old laptop. My old laptop running Win10 (3 months ago) had the same problem. All the “solutions” did not work. Logging off and on fixes it – for a while. Win 10 is a pile of proverbial. Ubuntu works fine. Wish I didn’t need to use Windows.
David Brooks says
“Copy & Paste” not working. File “rdpclip.exe” does not exist on my machine.
Win 10 Pro Version 1909 Installed 27 October 2019 Build 18363.476
KatWoman says
Solution 2 worked for me- Thank you
The program was not running in task mgr
I used:
File >> Run new task.
6] Type rdpclip.exe in the dialogue box and press Enter. It will re-initiate the process.
7] Restart the system.
Lori Wilson says
Thank you! This is the busiest week of the year for me in my job and your solutions worked! God bless you!
srishti says
I tried all the above mentioned steps but still not working, my problem is not solved. Copy-paste is not working in WINDOWS 10