Users of Microsoft Excel have reported that the Office security update known as KB5002914 for this week is causing problems with copy-and-paste functions and formula dragging, as stated in posts on Reddit and in the Microsoft Q&A forums.
These users claim that normal operation is restored when the update is uninstalled or rolled back. The security update was issued by Microsoft as part of its September 2026 Patch Tuesday. Microsoft has now officially recognised the bug and listed it as a known issue in the release notes for KB5002914.
The issue occurs in various versions of Office and with different methods of installation.
Excel KB5002914 Copy-and-Paste Bug and Microsoft’s Response
People have reported that the copy and paste functions as well as the use of formulas no longer work after the update has been installed. “It appears that the security update kb5002914 may have damaged the autofill and copy paste features in Excel 2016,” one user on Reddit stated.
Other people have confirmed experiencing the same issues, with one noting that their whole team had been affected after most of the employees had already applied the update.
The issue is not confined to one particular version of Office or to a specific method of installation; one user had experienced it with Office LTSC Standard 2021, while another stated that it affects both MSI and Click-to-Run installations as well as Office versions spanning from 2016 to 2024.
Microsoft has officially admitted to the bug in the release notes for KB5002914. The notes state: “In Microsoft Excel 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016 the paste function might fail silently.”
“Even if users attempt to paste content the original source stays selected and the destination is not changed. When this problem arises the users get no sign that the operation has failed, for example no beep or error message. Microsoft is investigating the issue and will include further information in this article once it has become available.”
Excel KB5002914 Workarounds and Fix Status
Affected users report that uninstalling the update restores functionality, though the approach depends on the installation type:
- With MSI-based installations of Office, uninstalling KB5002914 will restore copy-and-paste functionality. A user who took part in a Microsoft Q&A session provided a PowerShell command that used Oarpmany.exe with the /removereleaseinpatch option to remove the update.
- With Click-to-Run installations the problem can be solved by using XML or Group Policy to downgrade the Office build.
- Another way around the issue is to keep the update installed yet substitute the updated excel.exe with an older version. However, BleepingComputer does not advise doing this, since replacing individual Office binaries with older files could result in the installation having mismatched files and may lead to other stability, compatibility, or security problems.
Microsoft states that it is aware of the reports and is carrying out an investigation, and that it will provide guidance when it is available. In the meantime, the only way to get Excel’s copy-and-paste function back is to uninstall the update or roll it back, although this means giving up the security improvements included in the update.
Microsoft has not given a timeline for resolving the issue.
