Windows 11 comes with an improved clipboard over its predecessors. The new clipboard history feature lets you copy multiple items to the clipboard, which you can use to paste as needed. However, sometimes you may find the copy and paste function not working on your Windows 11 computer.

This issue can happen due to corrupt system files and temporary glitches with Windows File Explorer. Here we show you a few troubleshooting steps to help you fix and restore the copy and paste functionality in Windows 11.

1. Perform a Clean Boot

You can perform a clean boot to determine if a third-party app conflict is causing the copy and paste functionality to malfunction. Third-party app conflict is among the common contributing factors to this problem.

In clean boot mode, Windows starts with a minimal set of drivers. To do this, you will need to manually disable all the non-essential services and startup programs and restart your PC.

To perform a clean boot:

  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type msconfig.msc and click OK to open System Configuration. You can also search for system configuration in Windows Search and open the app.
  3. In the System Configuration window, open the Services tab.
    Windows 11 System Configuration App showing Hide all Microsoft services option.
  4. Next, check the Hide all Microsoft services box. This will hide all the essential system services necessary to operate the system so that you don’t disable them accidentally.
  5. Next, click the Disable All button to disable third-party services.
  6. Next, open the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
  7. The Task Manager will open in the Startup tab.
    Windows 11 Task Manager showing the Startup tab.
  8. Here, select all the Startup apps one by one and click Disable.
  9. Once you have disabled all the startup apps, go back to the System Configuration dialog. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
  10. Click Restart to reboot your PC in clean boot mode

After the restart, try to copy and paste to see if the functionality is working. If the problem is fixed, you can safely assume a third-party app to have caused the issue.

To find the troubleshooting app:

  1. Go to System Configuration > Services. Here, make sure the Hide all Microsoft services option is selected.
  2. Next, enable all the third-party services one by one until you find the problematic app or service.

If the issue persists in the clean boot mode, proceed with the next steps. Before that, enable all the disabled services in System Configuration.

To disable the clean boot mode and start Windows normally:

Windows 11 System Configuration dialog.
  1. Open the System Configuration dialog.
  2. Next, open the General tab and select the Normal startup option.
  3. Click Apply and OK and restart your PC.

2. Update Your Windows

Windows 11 Settings showing the Windows Update tab.

While not updating your copy of Windows doesn't usually break features, newer updates tend to bring overall system improvements and fixes to known bugs.

Check the Windows Update tab to see if you have new updates available and install them to see if that helps resolve the issue.

To install Windows updates:

  1. Open Start and click on Settings.
  2. Next, open the Windows Update tab in the left pane.
  3. If you see no pending updates, click on Check for updates. Windows will look for new updates and list them accordingly.
  4. Proceed to install all the critical updates and restart your PC.

3. Restart File Explorer

Windows 11 Task Manager showing the Windows Explorer process.

File Explorer helps you navigate through the directories and browse files in Windows. Since it is an integral part of the Windows graphical user interface, restarting the File Explorer process can help you restore the copy and paste functionality in Windows 11.

To restart File Explorer:

  1. Press Win + X to open the WinX menu.
  2. Click on Task Manager to open the app.
  3. In the Processes tab, locate and select Windows Explorer.
  4. Next, click on Restart to restart the process. Your screen may flicker when File Explorer restarts.

4. Run the Keyboard Troubleshooter

Windows 11 features a built-in keyboard troubleshooter to find and fix common issues. It fixes issues triggered due to malfunctioning drivers and incorrect keyboard configuration.

To run the keyboard troubleshooter:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. In the System tab, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot.
    Windows 11 Settings app showing the Troubleshoot option.
  3. Next, click on Other troubleshooters.
    Windows 11 Settings showing the Keyboard troubleshooter option.
  4. Scroll down to Keyboard and click on the Run button. Wait for the troubleshooter to detect and fix any issues with your keyboard.

If the issue persists, check your keyboard for hardware issues.

5. Check Your Keyboard for Hardware Issues

You can easily remap your keyboard keys in Windows. If so, make sure the Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V shortcut is set correctly.

Additionally, look for issues with the Ctrl keys. Your keyboard likely features multiple ctrl keys. Try to use the additional ctrl key at the bottom right of your keyboard to perform copy and paste. If it works, you are likely dealing with a faulty left ctrl key.

If you determine your keyboard to have a faulty key, follow this guide to fix broken keys on your computer keyboard.

6. Run the System File Checker

Windows 11 Command Prompt running the System File Checker utility.

If you rule out hardware issues, troubleshoot your system for potential system file corruption. You can use the built-in System File Checker and Deployment Image Service and Management tool to find and fix system-level errors.

To run the System File Checker tool, you need to open the Command Prompt as Administrator. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Press the Win key, and type cmd.
  2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: 
            Sfc /scannow
  4. System File Checker will begin the verification phase. It will scan for all protected system files and replace corrupted or missing files. This process may take some time, so wait till the verification is 100% complete.

7. Create a New Local User Account

You can create a new local user account in Windows 11 to determine if the problem is limited to your current user account. Follow our guide on creating a new local user account in Windows 11 for more information.

Once done, log in with your new local account and try to perform a copy-paste. If it works, you can try to repair your local user account or continue to use the new local account.

Restore the Copy and Paste Functionality in Windows 11

The copy-paste function in Windows works without any issues most of the time. But when it doesn’t, it can disrupt your workflow. To fix the issue, check for any third-party conflict, or issue with your input hardware and diagnose for system file corruption.

If nothing helps, try to repair and install Windows 11. This involves performing an in-place upgrade to reinstall the OS without affecting your system settings or files.