If you’ve ever tried to copy and paste in Microsoft Office only to get an error message saying “Cannot Empty the Clipboard,” you’re not alone. This annoying problem has been around for years and it seems to be affecting more and more users as time goes on. The good news is, there is a fix.

In this article, we’ll show you how to stop the “Cannot Empty the Clipboard” error from happening in Microsoft Office. We’ll also provide a couple of troubleshooting tips in case the problem persists.

If you’ve ever tried to copy and paste in Microsoft Office and gotten an error message saying “Cannot Empty the Clipboard,” you’re not alone. This annoying problem has been around for years and has been a frustrating issue for many Office users.

The good news is that there is a fix for this problem. All you have to do is open up the Task Manager ( press Ctrl+Shift+Esc on your keyboard) and end the process called “RDP Clipboard.” Once you do that, you should be able to copy and paste normally.

Of course, this is just a temporary fix. The real solution is to figure out what is causing the “RDP Clipboard” process to run in the first place. Microsoft has released a hotfix for this issue, but it only works on Windows XP machines. For Windows Vista and 7, you’ll need to manually install the hotfix.

Hopefully, this will help you fix the “Cannot Empty the Clipboard” error in Microsoft Office.

What is the problem?

The problem is that the clipboard is full.

When you try to copy something new, it just can’t fit. So you get the “Cannot Empty the Clipboard” error message.

The clipboard is like a small piece of paper that your computer uses to store things that you copy. Every time you copy something, it goes on to the clipboard.

The problem is that the clipboard can only store one thing at a time. So, if you try to copy two things, it will just store the second thing and you’ll get the error message.

The solution is to just empty the clipboard manually. You can do this by going to the Start Menu and typing in “Clipboard” in the search box. Then, just click on the “Empty Clipboard” button and you’re good to go.

How to fix it?

If you’ve ever tried to copy and paste in Microsoft Office and gotten an error message saying “Cannot empty the clipboard,” you’re not alone. This annoying problem has been around for years and Microsoft has never really provided a solid solution.

Fortunately, there are a few workarounds that can help you get around this problem so you can continue copying and pasting as usual.

One thing to note is that this problem is usually associated with Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. So, if you’re having trouble with this in another program, it’s likely not related to the clipboard.

Here are a few things you can try to fix the problem:

1. Restart Microsoft Office

This is the first thing you should try as it’s often the simplest solution. Just close all Microsoft Office applications that are open and then restart them. This will usually fix the problem.

2. Restart your computer

If restarting Microsoft Office doesn’t work, try restarting your entire computer. This will clear the clipboard and hopefully fix the problem.

3. Clear the clipboard

You can also try clearing the clipboard manually as a potential fix. To do this, open the Command Prompt and type the following:

echo off
clip
exit

This will clear the clipboard and hopefully fix the problem.

4. Try a different Office application

If you’re having trouble with a specific Office application, try using a different one. For example, if you’re having trouble copying and pasting in Word, try doing it in Excel. This isn’t a permanent solution but it can help you get your work done if you’re in a pinch.

5. Disable clipboard history

If you’re using Microsoft Office 365, there’s a chance that the clipboard history feature is causing the problem. This feature allows you to access your clipboard history and is turned on by default.

To turn it off, go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the Cut, copy, and paste section, uncheck the Show clipboard history button option.

6. Use a third-party clipboard manager

There are a number of third-party clipboard managers that you can use as a potential workaround for this problem. These programs allow you to access your clipboard history and can be a lifesaver if you’re constantly copying and pasting.

7. Reinstall Microsoft Office

If none of the above solutions work, your last resort is to reinstall Microsoft Office. This will likely fix the problem but it’s a bit of a hassle.

Hopefully one of the above solutions will help you fix the “Cannot empty the clipboard” error in Microsoft Office.

Summary

If you are using Microsoft Office and you get the error message “Cannot empty the clipboard”, here are some potential fixes.

First, you can try restarting the Office application that you are using. Sometimes, the clipboard can get “stuck” and a restart will clear it out.

If that doesn’t work, you can try restarting your computer. This will clear the clipboard for all applications.

If you are still getting the error, there are a few settings you can check. First, go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the “Cut, copy, and paste” section, make sure the “Show Paste Options buttons” checkbox is selected.

If that doesn’t work, you can try changing the way Office handles clipboard items. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the “Cut, copy, and paste” section, select the “Paste using source theme” option.

If you are still having problems, there could be an issue with the Office clipboard. You can try resetting it by going to File > Options > Advanced. Under the “General” section, click the “Reset” button.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will fix the “Cannot empty the clipboard” error for you.

Related resources

If you’re experiencing the “Cannot Empty the Clipboard” error in Microsoft Office, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem.

First, make sure that you don’t have any other programs running that could be accessing the clipboard. Close any open programs and try again.

If that doesn’t work, try restarting your computer. This will clear the clipboard and should fix the problem.

If you’re still having trouble, there are a few other things you can try. One is to run the Office Clipboard Helper utility. This will help you to see if there are any issues with the clipboard.

Another thing you can try is to reset the Office Clipboard. To do this, go to the File menu and select Options. Then, in the Options dialog box, select the Advanced tab. Under Cut, copy, and paste, select the option to “Show Paste Options buttons.” Finally, click OK.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to contact Microsoft for further assistance.

Comments

If you’re using Office and you find that you can’t empty the clipboard, there is a fix for that. All you need to do is to go to the File menu, click on Options, and then click on the Advanced tab. In the Advanced tab, scroll down to the bottom and find the section labeled Editing options. In the Editing options section, uncheck the box that says “Use the Insert key to control overtype mode.” Once you’ve unchecked that box, you should be able to empty the clipboard.