This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(284.8, 44%, 37%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ETR%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
While in the design view of a Form, I am unable to paste. I am able to copy. But, the "paste" is greyed out when I right click to paste. The Ctrl C works, I can see it select items. But, the Ctrl V does not do anything.
When asking a question about a specific situation in a specific database, it can be very helpful to include specific details about that problem. That might include screenshots showing the problem, for example. It could include step-by-step descriptions of what was done in the process.
Thank you for providing enough information about your problem to allow others to offer better suggestions about possible reasons and possible resolutions.
I read online the issue may be due to needed updates. I ran updates for Microsoft 365, went back into Access, but the copy and paste are still not working. Yep, I discovered the copy is also not working. What I am copying inside Access never makes it to the Clipboard.
The clipboard functions fine outside of Access. I opened the Clipboard in Access and can see the last thing I copied while outside of Access is there.
Then, I thought the issue may just exist in the database I have been working in. So, I opened a blank database, added some components in a report and tried to copy them. Didn't work. It's not just reports, I can't copy or paste in forms, etc., either.
In the actual database I have been working in I’ve been modifying a report, trying to copy and paste existing components to modify the layout, and assign them to different sources.
I am able to select the components okay. Clicking and dragging the curser selects the components okay, a single component or multiple components (borders of components turn orange). But, when copying and pasting via Ctrl C and Ctrl V, or right-clicking to get the dropdown, the paste is greyed out.
I then tried copying a snippet of the screen, and it appeared to work okay. I pasted using Ctrl V and it pasted the snippet into the report as an image. So, copying and pasting images works.
When I click into a component and copy “text” via Ctrl C, it allows that and I can see the copied text show up on the clipboard. I can click into a different component and paste that text via Ctrl V. That works.
Once again, when I select “components” (borders turn orange), and right-click to get the dropdown it appears I can copy because at first both the Copy and Paste are available on the dropdown. But, I figured out that's because the last thing I copied successfully is still on the clipboard. After copying the components with Ctrl C, when I right-click to paste, the “paste” is greyed out.
Please see attachments. I can't paste multiple attachments so will upload individually, in order.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Clipboard accepts text copied from within a component.
Dropdown appears to allow copy.
If the Paste button from Ribbon becomes disabled when you press <Ctrl+C> or click the Copy button in Ribbon, did you try to copy again until the Paste button becomes enabled?
It seems to be an intermittent problem.
Dropdown appears to allow copy.
Before I clicked copy, this was the popup. I clicked copy 3 or 4 times and the Paste never changed. I think what I copied didn't make it to the Clipboard.
UPDATE: I kept clicking, and clicking and the paste became active! I was able to paste the components! What is going on with Access???
UPDATE2: I was able to repeat that process! Although lots of wasted clicking going on.
3 things to consider.
How did you open the accdbs? Read-only? Shared?
I assume you are working with full Access, not the runtime.
It has the appearance of what can happen when VBA code is concurrently running, which blocks editing of the interface.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(284.8, 62%, 37%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDH%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What have you copied that you want to paste: controls, a form, a query, ...? What has the focus when you attempt to paste? Does Ctrl V work?
Please see additional information I provided. I am trying to copy and paste controls within reports, forms, etc.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(80, 18%, 17%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EAH%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi @Tammi R
Thank you for posting question to Microsoft Q&A Forum.
According to this issue, please provide a screenshot on your scenario so I could try to check here from my end.
When I tried to test this myself with a form in Design view, the "Paste" option was not greyed-out. It could be great if I could see a screenshot on your end to see the issue.
I am looking forward to your reply.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
Selecting components inside Access, paste on dropdown is greyed out..
Selecting text within a component in Access..
Please see additional information I provided in the original post.
Hi @Tammi R
I have been trying to reproduce but I did not encounter the issue with Copy and Paste.
It could be possible that this issue is intermittent. However, could you help to check this with any other devices if possible? We need to find out this issue is tied to Access app on specific device.
I have tested this on 2 different devices however I did not encounter this issue.
I have one other computer but it doesn't have Access on it. There are several comments online by people struggling with the same issue, so it shouldn't be just my device. It does seem to be intermittent.
Clipboard copy outside of Access.
Was a section selected when you attempted to paste?
For clarification, please define "section".
When you select some controls you have copied, I expect you would have focus in a section (like the detail section) where you want the controls pasted.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(51.2, 56.00000000000001%, 14%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ETC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Same problem. Copy a control on a form works only (very) sporadically. Doesn't appear to be a corrupted access file.
Same comments as with previous reports. Please be more specific about the details, including a step-by-step description of when this problem appears.
Screenshots are always helpful.
As previously noted as well, I've seen similar problems when trying to make changes while VBA is running. I have also observed this problem when a subform is opened for editing while it is also open within its parent form.
Providing us with sufficient background and details can help us offer useful suggestions.
As Viorel said, it is an intermittent problem. Just keep copying and pasting till it works.