Copy and paste no longer working in Word on Mac

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Copy and paste no longer working in Word on Mac

LAdy1125 10

Word on my Mac no longer allows me to copy and paste. Any fixes for this?

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4 answers

Answer 1

I have an older iMac (circa 2015, can't update beyond Monterey) with the same issue, off and on. This issue is not about dragging the selected text. The text that I copy and try to paste is ... not pasting. It's pasting old copy, or nothing at all. I've cleared the clipboard (used all the tricks recommended re: adding a bit of code to the Terminal), restarted computer, restarted Word. Still not working. Universal copy/paste seems to work in all other places (I can copy/paste from web to notes, etc.), but I can't paste anything I've copied into a Word doc. I think there's some conflict or issue between Mac's Universal clipboard and Word clipboard, but my understanding is that Microsoft killed clipboard a while ago ... how mine has still sort've worked, off and on, is a mystery. Please help, if there's an actual fix out there!

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.3K Reputation points

2026-03-04T16:15:54.52+00:00

Your issue is completely different. Please submit a New Question stating all particular details. Be sure to include specific Version Numbers of macOS & Office.

Word doesn't have a Clipboard of its own. The Cut/Copy/Paste functions are services of the OS supplied to the programs. If old material is being pasted it's because the new material is not being captured by the macOS clipboard. That could be an OS issue or a problem with the program in which the cut/copy is being done.

Additionally, have you installed any clipboard management utilities?

Answer 2

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.3K

I'm guessing that you actually mean that dragging to select text is the actual problem. This is a common occurrence usually cured by restarting the Mac or updating Office and/or the OS. Please see this existing Answer: Select Text

Please do not remove any files. Feel free to delete the extensive AI rambling disquisition.

Stefan Blom 340.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-03-01T16:04:16.8166667+00:00

I deleted the AI-generated reply from Q&A Assist. :-)

Answer 3

J.C. Vela 0

[deleted message]

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Answer 4

aspector-3616 0

Same thing just happened to me for the second time in a month, both of which (or at least this one) occurred after pasting multiple web pages into Word. The first occurred just about a month or so ago, the second today. The first (~2.10.26) forced me to use Pages, which had just been updated/overhauled. At some point between then and now, everything was fine. Yesterday and today, I pasted multiple pdf''s into Word, one at a time. Some were a page or two, others probably closer to 7-10 pages. All worked without incident. Just went to paste what, according to Word, would have been my 8th document (today, I believe) and - nothing! A tiny clipboard icon appears (just as happened a month ago), but as OP said, irrelevant and fixes nothing. I ended up on this page in the hope someone had figured out the problem. Mine is an Intel 16" MBP (2020, build 2019). Tried everything the first time, including the obvious close app, shut-down, restart. I'm frustrated beyond belief and hope someone may have answers. Thanks.

aspector-3616 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T20:23:27.8133333+00:00

Out of desperation, just opened Pages again. Now it isn't allowing me to start a new document! Checked Word for updates (MS autoupdate, which is set to automatically download and install updates, "in case"): Same error message: Update Error: "Some apps have encountered errors." Retry didn't (and never does) help.
aspector-3616 0 Reputation points

2026-03-09T22:21:14.7066667+00:00

BTW, if you've not seen it, when selected the clipboard icon will display the following three options: Keep source formatting, Match destination formatting, Keep text only. Tried all three the last time. Nothing works, not clearing clipboard, restarting (which also clears clipboard) - absolutely nothing!However, I just tried again. The first two still did not work. The third, "Keep Text Only" did! Somehow, it first brought up Text Edit (which I used, again "in case"), then went back, opened document, selected Keep Text Only and was able to copy what I needed. I did have to go back and copy an illustration separately, the insert. Very small price to pay! I have no idea what's going on, why, when, or what's causing it to occur, or how to fix it, but at least this worked - this time. Whether it will continue I have no idea. Really hoping someone has a much better - and hopefully permanent - fix.

Also, for others for whom this might be helpful, I found an explanation for the very, very old files Auto-Update was flagging and was able to successfully and completely remove MERP2.0 folder and Silverlight. Now working normally.

Thanks again.
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435.3K Reputation points

2026-03-09T23:45:48.31+00:00

No disrespect, but your issue is completely unrelated to the subject of this thread which has to do with dragging to select text. It's also standard protocol to not inject into an existing thread — it can cause confusion or might never be seen by those who may be most likely to be helpful. Comments & Answers are intended for providing suggestions or solutions to the original poster

Please submit a New Message using the tool at the upper right corner of the page. Be sure to include present Version Numbers of Office as well as that of the flavor of macOS involved. Also identify any other software which may possibly have bearing on the problem, such as a clipboard management utility. In that way your concern is more likely to receive the attention you deserve.
aspector-3616 0 Reputation points

2026-03-10T04:39:03.8766667+00:00

My sincere apologies, Bob. A search brought me to this page, and the first item I saw was the question, "Word on my Mac no longer allows me to copy and paste. Any fixes for this?", followed immediately by your suggestion re: dragging vs copying - which I thought was likely not correct as I did not see your subsequent interaction with OP until just now, and am not even sure now how I just brought it up, as I can't seem to open it again - and if I can't figure that out, not sure how I'll ever be sure I'm in the right place. (Instructions would be appreciated.) I am a walking digital disaster, rarely use the forum, usually can't manage to use the right section in the right place for information I'm inputting, and whenever I thank someone it ends up in the wrong place. Just know I would never, ever deliberately hijack a thread that I didn't believe was directly on point, for all the reasons you mentioned and the fact that I think it would simply be rude. I also very much appreciate the courtesy with which you addressed the issue. (I will return to this page, hopefully tomorrow, to follow your instructions to open a new question.) Thank you for letting me know.

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Copy and paste no longer working in Word on Mac

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