Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Can't Empty the Clipboard.
Jerry is trying to cut information from one cell and paste it into another cell. He can cut it just fine, but when he tries to paste it he gets an error message, "Cannot Empty the Clipboard." Jerry wonders what causes this error.
This has been a problem in Excel for some time. (Actually, the problem seems to crop up in several different Office applications, not just Excel.) It seems to be more prevalent in versions of Excel earlier than Excel 2007, but it has been reported in the latest versions, as well.
The solutions for the problem depend upon what is causing the problem and which version of Excel you are using. As an example, here are two different articles at the Microsoft Knowledge Base that address the issue for older versions of the program:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/196620 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/899266
Note that the articles are focused on entirely different versions of Excel and entirely different causes. Unfortunately, Microsoft hasn't seen fit to acknowledge that the problem exists in Excel 2007 or Excel 2010—at least not in the Knowledge Base—but there are reports of it happening in those versions. A quick Google search for the error message shows that it still routinely occurs in the latest versions of Excel.
Basically, the way you can fix this problem is to figure out what program (Windows add-on or third-party software) is interfering with how Excel wants to work with the Clipboard. You can do this by starting Windows with a "clean slate" (without any other programs running in the background). Add the programs back in, one at a time, until the problem crops up again. You can then determine whether you want to use the offending program or not.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9810) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Can't Empty the Clipboard.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
Excel has a great (and little known) shortcut for filling a column with information. It comes in very handy when you need ...
Discover MoreSeparating text values in one cell into a group of other cells is a common need when dealing with text. Excel provides a ...
Discover MoreWhen working with data created outside of Excel, you may need to check that data to make sure it contains no unwanted ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-01-01 04:38:22
I had this error message in my spreadsheet when I tried to run macros (Macro 4.0). I removed the ECHO() command from the first line of the macro and the problem disappeared.
2016-05-10 20:22:56
Bill B
I take it back, Skype quit, and it's still doing it. The hunt goes on :(
2016-05-10 16:33:05
Bill B
Latest version of Excel (2016/365?) the culprit was Skype. Was consistently doing it, quit Skype and it was solved. Started Skype, problem was back.
Another reason to hate Skype, but also a great excuse to not have it running, so my boss can't bug me when he's offshore ;)
2015-07-02 04:16:06
Pertti
To me it seems that the culprit is the "Office Clipboard", not any additional blug-in or program installed into the system.
The problems are not limited to "Cannot Empty the Clipboard", but can also be noticed when doing large operations, which will be stored in the undo-buffer (Office clipboard) - Everything becomes sluggish and may even crash Excel completely.
Win7-64b, Office 2010-32b, Clean environment, 25yr IT-experience
2015-06-15 23:21:38
Hi...I have a problem when I do copy and paste. I copy one data and paste later I do another data I copy but it paste same first one data. So pls advice me what should I do...how to solve this problem...
2015-06-08 17:11:39
RAED
I use skitch ( by evernote)
once I close it, the error gone away
Thanks,,
2015-05-29 10:07:44
Mark
I was running google earth at the same time as excel and receiving this error message continually. Once I shut that down, the error ceased. thanks for the tip.
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 © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments