Illustrator 2022 | Copy Paste is not working

[MsLib102270]

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!

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

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

Regards,

Srishti

[MsLib102270]

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.

[MsLib102270]

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

[Paul21933369xkk4]

I'm having same issue. How do I find the AI preferences file to delete it? 

HELP!!!!

Tx

[Paul21933369xkk4]

Can you please assist with this. Copy and Paste not working in AI. Causing chaos... URGENTLY need help with this, on deadline and cannot upload older version of AI to sort this out.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about your experience. You can locate the Illustrator preferences files at the following locations:

1. For macOS:
   • Close all Adobe applications.
   • Go to the following locations
   • ~/Library/Caches
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe
   • ~/Library/Preferences
   • Rename Adobe Illustrator, com.adobe.illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 24 Settings folders to Adobe Illustrator.old, com.adobe.illustrator.old and Adobe Illustrator 24 Settings.old
   
   
2. For Windows:

- Close all Adobe applications.
- Go to Location C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
- Rename Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 25 Settings folders to Adobe Illustrator.old and Adobe Illustrator - 24 Settings.old

If this doesn't help, then you may try running the app in Safe Mode  (Mac/ Windows) & Root/ Hidden Admin account (Mac/ Windows) and see if that helps.

I'll be looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Maura5D22]

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.

[defaultoo4iqflirako]

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!

[MsLib102270 · Accepted solution]

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.

[defaultoo4iqflirako]

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

[Tahmid31422300onno]

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?

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

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

[gailzID]

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...

[Maura5D22]

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

[gailzID]

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...

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @gailzID,

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing. If you face this issue while using the cmd c + v shortcut to paste in Illustrator, would you mind trying using the mouse/ touchpad right-click to copy & paste in Illustrator?

There are some instances of macOS where keyboard shortcuts don't work when using multiple apps. It has happened to me many times as well. Closing apps or rebooting the machine fixes the issue.

I hope it helps!

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[gailzID]

Sorry, this didn't work. 

[gailzID]

Sorry, this didn't work...I changed the font, the problem persists. Thank you for trying, though.

[gailzID]

The issue with copying and pasting between applications (Excel and Illustrator, in my case) seems to occur when caps lock is on in Illustrator. I'll make notes as I proceed with this project. But that may be it.

[gailzID]

Nope... I have no clue...still driving me crazy.

[Anshul_Saini]

Thanks for trying. I can understand your frustration. Would you mind updating the Illustrator to v26.4.1, released a couple of days ago, to check if the issue persists or not? If it does, would it be possible for you to share a download link to a sample Ai & excel file along with a small video recording of your workflow demonstrating the issue? It would be really helpful for us.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Y8RKD · Accepted solution]

I had this problem and solved it by deleting the app I had installed called Quick Look.

David York

[defaultj2yse3h2imbj]

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!

[Y8RKD]

For me I have found a temporary solution.

I have to quit out of Outlook and the cut & paste works for me.