Microsoft Excel KB5002914 update breaks copy and paste for some users

Microsoft Excel users report that KB5002914, released this week as part of the September 2026 Patch Tuesday, is disrupting copy-and-paste operations and formula dragging. Some users say that removing or rolling back the update restores normal functionality.

Reports appeared on Reddit and the Microsoft Q&A forums. One user said the update affected autofill and copy-and-paste in Excel 2016. Others reported that copy-and-paste shortcuts and formula dragging stopped working, with one user saying their entire team was blocked after most employees installed the update.

The reports cover more than one Office release or installation method. Users reported the issue on Office LTSC Standard 2021, with both MSI and Click-to-Run installations affected. Reports also span Office versions from 2016 through 2024. BleepingComputer tested Excel 2019 Version 2508 (Build 19127.20302 Click-to-Run) but could not reproduce the reported problems.

Users report that uninstalling KB5002914 restores functionality on MSI installations. For Click-to-Run installations, downgrading the Office build through XML or Group Policy reportedly resolves the issue. Another workaround replaces excel.exe with an older version, but BleepingComputer warns that mismatched files could cause stability, compatibility, or security problems. Microsoft was contacted about the issue.