Microsoft fixes broken copy and paste for Excel 2016 users
Source Bleeping Computer
Rated by Threat Radar
Data as of 18 Sep 2026, 08:01 UTC
What to do
AI-suggested
Microsoft has released update KB5002655 to fix the copy-and-paste issue for the MSI-based Office 2016 edition. For other affected Excel versions, Microsoft recommends using the Paste Special option as a workaround. Uninstalling KB5002914 restores functionality but is not recommended due to removal of critical security patches. Users should apply the official fix if applicable and follow Microsoft's guidance until a permanent solution for all affected versions is released.
Description
A Microsoft update (KB5002914) released in September 2026 caused copy-and-paste functionality to fail silently in Excel across multiple versions, including Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel Online. Microsoft identified this as a code regression and released a fix (KB5002655) that resolves the issue only for the Microsoft Installer (.msi)-based edition of Office 2016. Other Excel versions remain affected, with Microsoft recommending workarounds such as using the Paste Special option. Uninstalling KB5002914 restores functionality but removes important security patches.