Occasional "System.Exception: OpenClipboard Failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800401D0)"

Question

Occasional "System.Exception: OpenClipboard Failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800401D0)"

Hong 1,351

An app occasionally throws the following exception:

System.Exception: OpenClipboard Failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800401D0)
 Stack Trace:
   at System.Runtime.InteropServices.McgMarshal.ThrowOnExternalCallFailed(Int32, RuntimeTypeHandle) + 0x21
   at __Interop.ComCallHelpers.Call(__ComObject, RuntimeTypeHandle, Int32, Void*) + 0xbe
   at __Interop.ForwardComStubs.Stub_9[TThis, TArg0](__ComObject, TArg0, Int32) + 0x5a
   at ClassLibraryUno.Utility.<>c__DisplayClass119_0.<CopyToClipboard>b__0() + 0x34
   at Windows.Foundation.DeferralCompletedHandler.Invoke() + 0x25
   at Camera_Alternative!<BaseAddress>+0x28dfd9c

DataPackage dp = new DataPackage();
dp.SetText(sText);
await dispatcher.RunAsync(
    CoreDispatcherPriority.Normal,
    () =>
    {
        Clipboard.SetContent(dp);
    });

Could anyone offer a tip on the possible cause?

David Lowndes 2,745 Reputation points MVP

2024-06-13T09:04:27.41+00:00

The error code is "OpenClipboard Failed", so I guess that you need to catch that exception and act appropriately (for whatever your application is doing).
Hong 1,351 Reputation points

2024-06-13T09:16:13.4866667+00:00

The application tries to copy text to the clipboard. It usually works but throws this exception once in a while. I was wondering about the possible cause out of curiosity.

Is it possible that it is caused by some transient OS issue, hence the app should try again?
David Lowndes 2,745 Reputation points MVP

2024-06-13T13:02:01.18+00:00

Possibly some other program has access to the clipboard when your program tries to use it?
Yes, I'd try a small loop with a short delay between attempts.
Hong 1,351 Reputation points

2024-06-13T17:56:28.36+00:00

Thank you. Will do.

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

David Lowndes 2,745 Reputation points MVP

2024-06-13T09:04:27.41+00:00

The error code is "OpenClipboard Failed", so I guess that you need to catch that exception and act appropriately (for whatever your application is doing).
Hong 1,351 Reputation points

2024-06-13T09:16:13.4866667+00:00

The application tries to copy text to the clipboard. It usually works but throws this exception once in a while. I was wondering about the possible cause out of curiosity.

Is it possible that it is caused by some transient OS issue, hence the app should try again?
David Lowndes 2,745 Reputation points MVP

2024-06-13T13:02:01.18+00:00

Possibly some other program has access to the clipboard when your program tries to use it?
Yes, I'd try a small loop with a short delay between attempts.
Hong 1,351 Reputation points

2024-06-13T17:56:28.36+00:00

Thank you. Will do.

Answer 1

Harry Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,355 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Hong,

This error (0x800401D0) indicates that the clipboard is temporarily unavailable — usually because another process or thread is accessing it at the same time. Since the clipboard is a shared system resource, this can cause occasional race conditions.

As David Lowndes mentioned in comment, there is a common workaround which is to add a retry loop with a short delay when calling Clipboard.SetContent, you can apply that solution like this:

var dp = new DataPackage();
dp.SetText(sText);
int retries = 3; // Edit number of retries if needed
while (retries-- > 0)
{
	try
	{
		await dispatcher.RunAsync(CoreDispatcherPriority.Normal, () =>
		{
			Clipboard.SetContent(dp);
		});
		break; // Success
	}
	catch (Exception ex) when ((uint)ex.HResult == 0x800401D0)
	{
		// Clipboard is busy, wait and retry
		await Task.Delay(100);
	}
}

If you have any question, feel free to ask! Thank you!

Harry Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,355 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-22T06:08:07.3966667+00:00

Hi Hong, if you still have any questions, feel free to ask! Thank you!
Harry Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 3,355 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-07-31T06:23:22.93+00:00

Hi @Hong

Have you solved your issue? Let me know so I can help you! Thank you!

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Occasional "System.Exception: OpenClipboard Failed (Exception from HRESULT: 0x800401D0)"

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