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Microsoft fixed Excel 2016 copy-paste bug. Then reintroduced it. Now it's fixed again

Software1 min read

Microsoft fixed a bug in Excel 2016 that stopped copy-and-paste from working. The bug came back in a later update, and Microsoft has now fixed it again.

What happened

Excel users found that pasting did nothing. They copied cells, pressed Ctrl+V, and the target cell stayed the same. Microsoft fixed this in mid-September. The bug returned in Excel 2016 when users installed the October security update. Microsoft has now released a new version of Excel 2016, build 16.0.5574.1006, to fix it again.

Key facts

  • The bug first showed up in the September update.
  • It came back in October, after the KB5002934 update was installed.
  • The fix is build 16.0.5574.1006.
  • The bug only affects Excel 2016, not other versions.

Why it came back

A security update is a fix that protects a computer from attacks. Rolling back the update, which means undoing it, solved the problem. But Windows Update soon pushed the patch again. Microsoft did not explain how the bug slipped back in.

Why it matters

Copy and paste is a basic feature, so a failure like this can slow down work at many offices. One user said the problem showed up on computers across their whole organization. It also shows that a bug fix can be undone by a later update, so companies need to check updates carefully.

What to watch

  • Whether the new build 16.0.5574.1006 keeps paste working in later updates.
  • Whether Microsoft explains how the bug came back.
  • Whether other Excel versions are affected by the same problem.

Glossary

Excel 2016
An older version of Microsoft's spreadsheet program, used to store and work with data in rows and columns.
Windows Update
A Microsoft service that automatically downloads and installs updates on Windows computers.
KB5002934
A named security update from Microsoft that fixes problems, including some that could let attackers take control of a computer.

Same story, different eyes

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