COPY & PASTE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN USING COPILOT.

When copy and paste works only intermittently while using Copilot or Microsoft 365 apps in the browser, the most common cause is clipboard access or browser/connection issues rather than Copilot itself.

Try these steps based on how copy and paste is being used:

1. If using Word or other Office apps in a browser (Office for the web)
   1. Make sure clipboard access is allowed for the site:
      • In Chrome:
        • Select View site information in the address bar.
        • Find Clipboard and toggle it On for the site.
      • In Microsoft Edge:
        • Select the Lock icon / View site information in the address bar.
        • Under Permissions for this site, locate Clipboard.
        • Set it to Allow.
   2. Use keyboard shortcuts instead of ribbon buttons when possible:
      • Windows: Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V.
      • Mac: ⌘+C, ⌘+X, ⌘+V.
      • For “paste as text only” in Chrome, Firefox, and Chromium-based Edge: Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) or ⌘+Shift+V (Mac).
   3. If using Firefox and ribbon Copy/Cut/Paste buttons, ensure JavaScript clipboard access is allowed; otherwise, use the keyboard shortcuts.
   4. If the browser shows a No clipboard access message, re-check the clipboard permission as above.
2. If copying between PC and mobile (cross‑device copy and paste)
   1. On the PC, open Phone Link and go to Settings > Cross-device copy and paste.
      • Ensure Allow this app to access and transfer content I copy and paste between my phone and PC is On.
   2. If large selections fail to paste, try copying and pasting smaller sections; large content can exceed the allowed size.
   3. If nothing is transferring:
      • Close Phone Link on the PC and the Link to Windows app on the Android device.
      • Reopen both apps and verify that messages/photos/notifications appear in Phone Link.
      • If still failing, restart the PC and try again.
   4. If using mobile data instead of Wi‑Fi, ensure mobile data sync is allowed on the Android device:
      • On many devices: Settings > Advanced Features > Link to Windows > Use mobile data.
      • On some devices: Settings > Sync over mobile data.
3. If formatting is lost when pasting
   • Some apps interpret copied content differently, so formatting may be lost when pasting between apps or devices. This is expected behavior in some cases.
4. If issues started after recent changes (updates, Copilot enablement)
   • Ensure the browser (especially Microsoft Edge) is updated to the latest version, as recommended for cross-device and web scenarios.
   • If copy/paste fails only in specific documents or only when Copilot is active, test in a new blank document and in a different browser to isolate whether the problem is document- or browser-specific.

If the problem persists after confirming clipboard permissions, using keyboard shortcuts, and verifying Phone Link/Link to Windows settings, collect details such as browser type, whether the app is web or desktop, and whether cross-device copy is involved, then escalate through Microsoft 365 support channels with those specifics.

References:

• Troubleshoot copy and paste errors in Office for the web
• Copy and paste in Office for the web
• Seamlessly transfer content between your devices