Skip to main content
A
alfreds72370307
Participant
May 5, 2016
Question

Can't Copy/Paste in Illustrator

  • May 5, 2016
  • 15 replies
  • 49968 views

Hey there!

I've just run into a very weird problem with Illustrator CC. I can't seem to copy and paste anything. I'm not copying or pasting from another program or even from another illustrator file, copying simply doesn't add anything to the clipboard and paste is always grayed out in the Edit menu.

After googling a bit I saw a forum post on the Google Chrome forums saying the issue was related to Chrome being open and the Skype Click-to-call extension interfering with Illustrator's clipboard, but I don't have the Skype Click-to-call extension and even if I close Chrome and relaunch Illustrator, no luck.

I'm all out of ideas, can anyone help? As you can imagine this is super frustrating!

      15 replies

      V
      VGioBibz
      Participant
      November 19, 2024

      This problem has affected me too and since I need to copy and paste into other tools outside of Illustrator this is a block in my workflow and very frustrating.
      Using Illustrator v 29.0.1 (64bit) on  Windows 10.
      It did seem to come and go but recently I can replicate the issue as below in my current project file, like flipping a switch.

      ***If i open a new document along side my current project, the problem does not appear. I jump back into the other file and it's present there.***

      The file with the problem that I'm working in is a simple 1920x1080 artboard (six of these) with simple black and white logo developments, file preset picked from the web defaults, RGB, nothing unsual, comes in at 15mb.

      Within that file here's how I replicate the problem:
      Selecting a vector shape and live text:
      Pressing Ctrl+C
      You can see in the Edit menu I have pasting options and the info is in the system clipboard:


      So I now outline the type and try again because how could that possibly affect anything, right?
      Text in demo here is Helvetica, but this works on all fonts.

      Using keyboard shortcuts to copy or using any other method such as menus shown to try and copy data to the system clipboard ... nothing. It's as if illustrator is now incapable of writing data to the system clipboard.

      If i now try and copy any other simple shape or path from the same document the problem prevents me copying to clipboard.


      BUT if I copy a live text item (or a selection that contains a live text item) the problem goes away and I can copy/paste.

      As I say above, while this problem is preventing me from copying and pasting in that particular file I can open a new document along side (in the same session) and I can copy/paste to my hearts content even after outlining type. I cannot replicate the problem that is happening IN THE OTHER DOCUMENT WINDOW IN THE SAME SESSION.

      What is going on?



      Anubhav M
      Community Manager
      Anubhav MCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      November 19, 2024

      Hello @VGioBibz,

      I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing a sample file after uploading it to a file-sharing service, along with a screen recording of your exact workflow and the problem so I can try and replicate this on my end?

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

       

      Anubhav

      V
      VGioBibz
      Participant
      November 19, 2024

      For NDA/security reasons I can't share the project file I was working on so I tried other +10mb files and its the same deal so here's an old project and a video capture.
      The test file is 340mb, which you might think excessive but from my POV shouldn't be so. 
      This copy/paste issue only began for me in the last year and appears on multiple devices.

      J
      justalex95
      Participant
      March 9, 2022

      Hey guys, I had the same issue. Then I started thinking outside the box, and the issue really was that in Keyboard Shortcuts, the Copy shortcut was removed for some reason. So check that out, maybe it will work for you.

      elinal
      elinal
      Participant
      July 6, 2020

      Posting just in case anyone had the same issue as me:

      I found out that my 'Copy' keyboard shortcut had disappeared somehow, so I just went to Keyboard Shortcuts (alt + shift + ctrl + K on Windows or opt + shift + cmd + K on Mac) and added 'Ctrl + C' back under Menu Commands > Edit > Copy.

      Hope you find a fix for yours! 🙂

      B
      bradm80969024
      Participant
      March 3, 2022

      Ok so this has been driving me nuts for years. I have illustrator on several different computers (macos, windows, different versions of each). I have one windows computer that always has issues with the copy and paste breaking. I've tried all kinds of solutions like deleting the preferences files and not including SVG code, turning windows clipboard history on and off, but I've never found a solution.

      Here is exactly what happens: Copy paste works fine until I try to copy anything from inside of a clip group. I can paste inside of the clip group, but if I exit that group I cannot paste the object or anything else that I try to copy from that point forward. The only exception is that if I take the text tool and type anything, then copy that, then deselect the text and paste the text it works fine and all of the paste functionality is restored including copying and pasting from inside clip groups until it randomly breaks again.

      If anyone has any suggestions for this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.

      D
      dustinwilson80
      Known Participant
      July 8, 2019

      @alfreds72370307  I was having the same problem. I was trying to copy Illustrator paths to after effects solids to use as masks. Something I've done a bunch of times in the past. Sometimes it would work, others it wouldn't. Even copying and pasting the same path would infrequently work. Unchecking the "include SVG code" in the file handling preferences of Illustrator, like @Monika Gause mentioned, seemed to do the trick. I have been able to copy and paste without much issue.

      doctortao
      doctortao
      Known Participant
      June 30, 2019

      I am having this issue on my Illustrator CC 2019. The difference is that it only happens sometimes.

      It's driving me nuts! I need to know how to fix it.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 30, 2019

      doctortao  schrieb

      I am having this issue on my Illustrator CC 2019. The difference is that it only happens sometimes.

      It's driving me nuts! I need to know how to fix it.

      What exactly does not work step by step?

      Do you restart the computer regularly?

      Does it work when you shut off everything else? This includes especially browsers.

      doctortao
      doctortao
      Known Participant
      July 4, 2019

      There is no rhyme or reason to when it happens. It can sometimes happen when I copy (ctrl + c) within Illustrator and try to paste in the same document (or another). Or copy from a program like Word and paste into my Illustrator document. I get a message that says "Cannot place text" or something like it - I will screenshot it next time it happens.

      It also has happened with other assets in the program - Shapes, Images, graphics, etc.

      Prym77
      Prym77
      Participant
      July 25, 2016

      Hey.
      From about 2 or 3 months I have a similar problem: Copy / Paste is not working. But in my case it's totally strange thing. Sometimes it works over several days, and then not working the next few days.
      I cleaned configuration files, uninstalled an application using Adobe tools registry cleaner - it did not work. I bought a new computer processor I7 because something can not work with the old ... once running once does not work.
      For 3 years Illustrator work RELIABLE !!! I do not know if it's any update. Generally, I work on simple vector graphics, with no mods and add-ons, but VERY need a running copy / paste function.
      I think after 3 years come to part with your application, because to work with it is impossible.
      Sorry for bad english.

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 25, 2016

        Prym77 schrieb:

        Hey.
        From about 2 or 3 months I have a similar problem: Copy / Paste is not working. But in my case it's totally strange thing. Sometimes it works over several days, and then not working the next few days.
        I cleaned configuration files, uninstalled an application using Adobe tools registry cleaner - it did not work. I bought a new computer processor I7 because something can not work with the old ... once running once does not work.
        For 3 years Illustrator work RELIABLE !!! I do not know if it's any update. Generally, I work on simple vector graphics, with no mods and add-ons, but VERY need a running copy / paste function.
        I think after 3 years come to part with your application, because to work with it is impossible.
        Sorry for bad english.

        Which version?

        Which system?

        Are any clipboard enhacing utilities installed in the system?

        What exactly does not work step by step?

        Prym77
        Prym77
        Participant
        July 25, 2016

        Which version? - Illustrator CC 2015.2.1 (19.2.1 - 64-bit)

        Which system?  - Windows 10 - x64

        Are any clipboard enhacing utilities installed in the system? No, I never installed any booster system. The problem with the application appeared suddenly without warning. I just run and copy / paste does not work, other times I run and it works. it is very frustrating.

        A
        after.div
        Known Participant
        June 9, 2016

        I hope to learn a lot! I get the concept of bringing in .JSON data but I can't get it to load!

        So I keep going until I do ... Animate is so new I can't find a lot on this.

        Thank You Again!
        Tim

        A
        after.div
        Known Participant
        June 9, 2016

        I'd like to be in the Netherlands!

        Ton Frederiks
        Community Expert
        Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 9, 2016

        You are always welcome :-)

        A
        after.div
        Known Participant
        June 9, 2016

        Who is Alfreds?

        Ton Frederiks
        Community Expert
        Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 9, 2016

        Alfreds is a restaurant in the Netherlands.

        But I think Mike referred to the one who started this thread.

          A
          after.div
          Known Participant
          June 9, 2016

          Dear Mike,

          I am happy to tell everyone that           Illustrator Version: 19.2.1 magically started working! Wahoo! It was the worst not being able to copy and paste ...

          // Here are the answers to your previous questions.

          What operating system and illustrator version are you on?
          Deluxe) GPU Info:           Illustrator Version: 19.2.1

          Do you have any plug ins installed? No not now, but I will be installing them.

          Does this happen after you start for example your web browser? It's didn't matter if I had a web browser open or not. It just would't copy and paste.

          Does this work for awhile after you reboot and then stop working? Initially the problem started when I downloaded the Windows 10 Version 1511

          Have you tried resetting your illustrator preferences? I did that and that did not work.

          Thank You,
          Deluxe

            Mike_Gondek10189183
            Community Expert
            Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
            Community Expert
            June 9, 2016

            Thanks for sharing. Hoping to hear from Alfreds.

            Show more replies
            Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
            Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices