A Critical Update for Microsoft Excel Has Left Some Users Stuck – Here’s What Happened
In a strange turn of events, this week’s security update for Microsoft Office has left some users unable to copy and paste data in Microsoft Excel. The issue, which affects various versions of Office, including 2016 through 2024, has caused frustration among affected users who have reported that removing or rolling back the update resolves the problem.
The update, KB5002914, was released as part of Microsoft’s September 2026 Patch Tuesday package. While it aimed to address several security vulnerabilities in Office applications, it appears to have had an unexpected side effect on a subset of users. Reports of the issue have surfaced on both Reddit and the Microsoft Q&A forums, with affected users sharing their experiences and workarounds.
One user reported that after installing the update, they were unable to copy and paste data or drag formulas in Excel 2016. Similar problems have been reported by others, including a team leader who said that most of his employees had already installed the update before realizing it was causing issues. Another user noted that even simple tasks like copying and pasting shortcuts no longer worked.
What’s interesting is that the problem seems to affect both MSI-based and Click-to-Run installations of Office, across various versions from 2016 to 2024. BleepingComputer tested Excel 2019 Version 2508 (Build 19127.20302 Click-to-Run) but was unable to reproduce the issue.
Fortunately, affected users have found ways to resolve the problem. One user shared a PowerShell command that can be used to remove the update from MSI-based installations. For Click-to-Run installations, downgrading the Office build using XML or Group Policy also seems to work around the issue. Another workaround involves leaving the update installed but replacing the updated excel.exe executable with an older version – although BleepingComputer advises against this method due to potential stability and security risks.
Microsoft has been reached out for comment on this issue, and we will update the story if they respond. In the meantime, affected users can try removing or rolling back the update to restore their Excel functionality.
For those who may not be familiar with the intricacies of Microsoft Office updates, it’s essential to understand that these updates aim to fix security vulnerabilities and improve overall performance. While this particular update has had an unexpected side effect, it highlights the importance of carefully testing software updates before applying them to critical systems. As a general rule, it’s always a good idea to wait for a few days after a major update is released to ensure that any potential issues have been reported and addressed by the vendor.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-09-10