Microsoft acknowledges Excel copy-paste glitch tied to September security patch
Microsoft has confirmed that the September 2026 KB5002914 security update can cause copy-and-paste, autofill, and formula dragging to fail silently in Excel versions 2016 through 2024. Users see no error message when the operation fails, and the company is investigating the issue. Uninstalling the update has been reported to restore normal functionality, and Microsoft has provided manual removal commands for affected Office versions.
The flaw stems from the September 2026 Patch Tuesday release, which bundled fixes for remote code execution and information disclosure vulnerabilities. Microsoft's confirmation follows user complaints across Reddit and its own Q&A forums, with the company noting that failed operations produce no audible or visual warning. The affected versions span a broad range, from Excel 2016 through 2024, indicating the issue touches both perpetual licenses and subscription-based deployments.
Microsoft has not yet announced a permanent fix, directing affected users to manually remove the update via command-line tools. The company's support document will be updated as more information becomes available. This incident follows a pattern of recent Office-related glitches, including a July issue blocking third-party app launches and a June problem affecting Office for the web users.
This bug could disrupt productivity for millions of Excel users across businesses, schools, and government agencies, particularly those relying on routine data entry and analysis workflows. Since failures occur silently, users may unknowingly proceed with incomplete spreadsheets, potentially leading to errors in reports or financial calculations. Organizations that delay uninstalling the patch may face operational friction, while those that remove it temporarily lose security protections, creating a difficult trade-off between safety and functionality.