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Participant
November 1, 2021
Answered

Illustrator 2022 | Copy Paste is not working

  • November 1, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 13364 views

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

2.3 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9

16GB 240 MHz DDR4

MacOS Big Sur 11.6.1

Adobe Illustrator 26.0

 

When I try to copy and paste elements, all of the formatting is lost. Images will not copy and paste at all, text coverts to my default font and color (black Myriad Pro Regular). 

 

I have tried resetting Illustrator preferences. I have restarted the laptop several times. I have tried it on multiple files and between files, some of which are saved to the cloud, some of which are on my local machine. Same results. This is not a problem in other applications, just Illustrator. Seems to have only just started this morning.

 

I literally cannot do any work. Please help!

Correct answer Monika Gause

Hey! I do not know how to find which file or application is clashing or causing such problem in Illustrator. Can you tell me how you located the file or application that was causing the problem?


Here is a list of apps that have been identified to cause this.

In order to find out which apps is causing it, what you usually do is turn them off, then launch Illustrator and then try.

 

  • Parallels Toolbox running with the Clipboard History
  • TeamVewer Clipboard > Use Shared Clipboard
  • Apple iOS device simulator from Xcode
  • Windows Multi-clipboard
  • Windows Clipboard History
  • Chrome Remote Desktop
  • Mouse Pointer Highlighter
  • AnyViewer
  • Pastebot app
  • Overzealous antivirus (Digital Guardian) as well as viruses that empty the clipboard

6 replies

Participating Frequently
February 7, 2025

Arrggghhh.

 

This is the number one bug bear of work arounds that illsuatrtor demands for everyday use.

Gradient editing and UI disappearing options being my other common gripes. Let's not distracted with the sub-par basic performance issues related to lack of multi processor support. 

 

I have never been able to find a permanent solution to this (outlook closing works sometimes) and it is pretty damn ridiculous that it doesn't just work. Copy and pasting is kinda a core essential functionality.

I know adobe will push back and say it's something on your system causing it but how can it be that a functionality like this is so fragile that it breaks for adobe illustrator but I never see it on any other piece of software I use. InDesign working perfectly as I type this comment in utter frustration.

 

I've been down the massive time-wasting delete all preferences route and then recreate everything you use for your day to day workflows one weekend in desperation but no solution. As a professional (80% of my time) user I really do love/hate illustrator.

 

None of the other potential culprits I am running so I guess it's another little nudge to jump ship.

I'm not expecting anything useful from adobe support as it's clear they see this as an external problem that is not in their control to fix. But if anyone else has managed to find any other solutions then please feel free to respond.

 

Yours once again, utterly miserable that my daily workhorse is Illustartor.

Participant
March 13, 2023

AI: 27.3.1
INDD: 18.1
MacOS: Ventura 13.1

Hi, I'm having the same problem copy & pasting between Adobe Illustrator and InDesign, clipboard handling is set to include SVG Code and PDF. Any vector object just gets pasted as a 'pasted graphic' that is not editable as a vector. Please help, this is very frustrating!

Participant
March 14, 2023
For me I have found a temporary solution.

I have to quit out of Outlook and the cut & paste works for me.
Participant
March 14, 2023

I have found a solution which was to uninstall and reinstall InDesign. 

Just for the record, I uninstalled and reinstalled Illustrator and the issue didn't go away…

gailzID
Participating Frequently
July 26, 2022

iMac (21.5-inch, 2017)

Illustrator: 26.3.1

I am having a heck of a time copying text from Excel into Illustrator.  I restart Excel, the problem persists, I restart Illustrator and I am able to copy and paste for a while. Then, without any set of circumstances or pattern I can identify, the ability falters. Meaning, I will go to Excel select the text I need, and try to paste into a text box in Illustrator but I get something I've pasted previously...

Participant
July 26, 2022

I have had to change the font in Excel to copy to Illustrator. Try Times or Arial. Calibri cannot be recognized by Illustrator.

 

gailzID
Participating Frequently
July 26, 2022

Maura5D22, many thanks. I will give that a try. Interestingly, I took a break from work, and tried to perform the same operation again. This time it worked. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is the speed with which I tried to get the copy/paste operation done. I was working at a slower speed after taking a break...

Participant
November 29, 2021

I'm having the same issue. Copy and paste of text doesn't copy the formatting and also copy in place doesn't place the object in the same position. Also having issues copy an item from Illustrator and pasting it in Photoshop or Indesign. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Doesn't happen all the time!

Participant
November 29, 2021

Deleting preferences turned out to be only a temporary fix. We eventually figured out that there was a conflict between Adobe and an endpoint security application that our IT team had installed. It was also creating copy/paste issues in Microsoft Office. Mac users across departments were having difficulties. If you and others having this problem are on a company-wide network, I would urge you to reach out to your IT department and mention this and see if they have any ideas for you.

Participant
November 29, 2021

Tried deleting preferneces, but I think Endpoint is the cause of the issue. Thanks!

Participant
November 4, 2021

I am having the same issue, I can not copy and paste in Illustrator 26.01 or from Illustrator into InDesign or Photoshop. I dleted my preferences and it dod not help.

 

Srishti Bali
Community Manager
Community Manager
November 1, 2021

Hi there,

 

Sorry to hear about this trouble. Could you please confirm from where you are copy-pasting the content?

 

 

Regards,

Srishti

Participant
November 1, 2021

From the same Illustrator file. Have also tried to copy/paste from other Illustrator files with the same result.

I have also tried to drop back to a previous version of Illustrator without success.

 

Participant
November 1, 2021

UPDATE: One of my help desk guys deleted my AIPrefs file manually and that seems to have done the trick.