GoKawiilMicrosoft patches copy-paste bug in Excel 2016, other versions still affected
Microsoft released update KB5002655 to address a silent copy-and-paste failure introduced by the September security patch KB5002914, but the fix only applies to MSI-based installations of Excel 2016. Users of Excel Online, 2024, 2021, 2019, and Click-to-Run editions of 2016 remain affected, with Microsoft citing a code regression as the cause and recommending the Paste Special workaround in the meantime.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The bug's silent failure mode—no error message or beep—makes it especially risky for spreadsheet-heavy workflows where users may not notice data wasn't actually pasted, potentially corrupting reports or calculations unnoticed. The partial fix highlights how patch management across legacy and modern Office versions can leave large swaths of users without protection for weeks.
- KB5002655 fixes the paste bug only for MSI-based Excel 2016, not Click-to-Run editions or newer Excel versions.
- The underlying flaw causes pastes to fail without any warning, risking unnoticed data errors.
- Affected users can use Paste Special (Ctrl+Alt+V) or uninstall KB5002914 as temporary workarounds.
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See Microsoft Office Home 2021 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: bleepingcomputer.com, 2026-09-18
Published there as: “Microsoft fixes broken copy and paste for Excel 2016 users”
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