Microsoft confirms it accidentally broke copy and paste in Excel with a major security update you shouldn’t remove
windowslatest.com Sep 17, 2026

Microsoft confirms it accidentally broke copy and paste in Excel with a major security update you shouldn’t remove

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Microsoft released KB5002914, a security update for Excel, on September 8 that inadvertently disabled copy‑and‑paste across all supported versions, including 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024. The bug causes silent paste failures, leaving source cells selected while destinations remain unchanged, and has been reported by users on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft acknowledged the issue, confirmed it is investigating, and advised against uninstalling the update due to critical security patches. No workaround is currently available.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The glitch hampers daily productivity for millions of Excel users, exposing a rare but critical flaw in a widely relied‑upon office tool.
  • · It underscores the delicate balance between rapid security deployment and software stability.