Copy-paste is one of the most useful functions while editing documents or writing emails and such. However, sometimes we find ourselves unable to do it for various reasons.

Some factors like issues with the keyboard or a full clipboard can cause the copy and paste function to not work. So, let’s discover more causes why the copy and paste function not working and fixes to address it accordingly.

Why Can’t I Copy Paste? How to Fix It?

Below are the different reasons why you are not able to copy-paste and how you may fix it.

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If you are using keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste but it is not working, try using the mouse or trackpad.The problem may be with the keyboardand not the processor. Simply select what you want to copy with your mouse and select Copy and then Paste.

When you select the copy function, the content is copied to the device’s clipboard. Sometimes, the copy and paste function does not work when the clipboard contains a large amount of cluttered data or high-resolution images. to clear your clipboard, you may follow the steps:

Copy-paste function may not work if the files are corrupted or if there are certain viruses in the clipboard. to scan viruses, follow the steps below:

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Outdated drivers can cause glitches and hinder operations and functions such as copy-paste. So,updating the driverallows for smooth functioning of the device. to ensure your driver is up-to-date in Windows, please follow the steps:

The pop-up box will provide you an option of either searching for the software on the internet or downloading it from a folder. If you have it downloaded, you may simply select the file from your device. Restart your computer once the driver is updated and see whether the copy-paste function works again.

The Rollback device option allows your driver to be reinstated to its previous state. If you notice the copy-paste function not working after an update, you may try reverting the update back with the steps below:

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RAM Optimization Process

When the copy function is used, the device uses Random Access Memory (RAM) to store it in the clipboard. If your computer uses RAM optimization apps to optimize space, it might remove all the clipboard data where the content has been copied.

To fix this, go to the settings of the optimization software you have and remove the clipboard from the optimization process.

Sometimes the copy and paste function may not work if you have too many applications open or running in the background. to completely close all apps:

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How to Fix Copy-paste Issues in Specific Programs?

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