Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 18, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
When Nigel first uses Copy and Paste, it works fine. If he then uses it a second time, he gets an error message that the Clipboard is "in use by another application." If he clicks OK, the message goes away and Excel does the paste. If he closes the workbook, and opens it again, he gets the same behavior. Nigel wonders if there is a solution for this.
The most frequent cause of this issue is that there is another program open on your system and it is accessing the Clipboard in some manner. Thus, the first thing to do is to restart your computer (so you can ensure all programs are closed) and then start Excel. If the problem goes away, then you can rest assured that the problem is with one of your other programs.
This, then, means that you'll need to do a bit of detective work. The easiest way is to note when the problem occurs, and then take stock of all open programs and open workbooks. Jot down notes of this environment, and make sure you keep track of all add-ins you have open in Excel. Each time the problem occurs, do the same thing. Over time, patterns will begin to emerge from your notes and this will help you figure out the most likely culprit.
If you still can't figure out the issue, then you may want to try some of the ideas presented at this website:
https://recoverit.wondershare.com/office-file-recovery/how-to-fix-excel-file-cannot-open-clipboard-error.html
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (1597) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
If you have a worksheet that contains a bunch of cells that contain nothing but spaces, you may be looking for a way to ...
Discover MoreWant to easily move information from one cell to another? A quick way to do it is to simply drag and drop using the mouse.
Discover MoreHave a worksheet in which there may be entire columns that are duplicates of each other? If you want to delete those ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments