Excel Copy & Paste / Autofill Not Working After September 2026 Update (KB5002914)
Overview
Microsoft’s September 2026 Office security update KB5002914 introduced a known issue that can break basic Excel functionality. Copy-and-paste operations may fail silently (the source stays selected, the destination does not change, and Excel shows no error or warning). Autofill and formula dragging can also stop working.
This affects Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024 (both MSI and Click-to-Run installations in reported cases).
Resolution for Excel 2016 (MSI)
Microsoft released KB5002665 to correct the problem caused by KB5002914.
- The update applies to MSI-based Office 2016 installations.
- It does not apply to Click-to-Run editions (for example, Microsoft 365 / Office 365 Home).
- Install the latest version of KB5002665 for the complete fix (an earlier revision could still have issues with workbooks that contain conditional formatting).
Download the fix from DNS Texas (32-bit / x86): excel2016-kb5002665-fullfile-x86-glb.exe
Or from the Microsoft site directly: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=108833
After downloading, run the installer and restart Excel. Verify that copy-and-paste and autofill work normally. A restart is always advised, but is not required in most cases.
Temporary Workaround (All Affected Versions)
Until the appropriate fix is installed, use Paste Special:
- Copy the cells (Ctrl+C).
- Select the destination cell.
- On the Home tab, click the arrow under Paste and choose Paste Special (or press Ctrl+Alt+V).
- Choose the option you need (Formulas, Values, etc.) and click OK.
How to Check Your Office Version
- Open Excel → File → Account.
- Note the product name and whether an Update Options button is present.
- If Update Options is present → Click-to-Run.
- If it is not present → MSI.
- Click About Excel to confirm the bitness (32-bit or 64-bit).
Additional Notes
- Do not uninstall KB5002914 solely to restore paste functionality if you can apply the corrective update instead; the original update contains important security fixes.
- For Excel 2019, 2021, and 2024 (or Click-to-Run 2016), Microsoft has released updated builds or continues to recommend Paste Special until a broader fix is applied. Check Windows Update / Office updates for the latest available version for your product.
- If the problem persists after installing the appropriate update, confirm you are running the latest revision of KB5002665 (for Excel 2016 MSI) and that no conflicting add-ins are interfering.
For further assistance, contact [DNS Texas support] with your Excel version, bitness (32/64-bit), and whether the installation is MSI or Click-to-Run.
