Copy and paste doesn't always work
I've been experiencing problems with Illustrator. When I copy an object with the ctrl + c button and try to paste them it randomly doesn't work.
The problem is that I can't replicate it on command. At first I thought it had something to do with the laptop that I used, but it also happens on a freshly installed desktop.
My version of Illustrator is 22.0.1
I also checked the copy paste functions under the edit tab, and when I copied something it didn't show the ability to paste it. It could also only have something to do with copying files.

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talent wesolek commented
Working with AI with this bug, I noticed a pattern. The longer you do not restart your machine the worse problem gets. I got super stable workstation with new Xeon and I generally do not restart it for weeks, sometimes for months. Now, with AI, I have to reastart it every day - at least this ridiculus AI bug seems to be gone (yes - of course I tried all the useless hints like resetting my preference). The most crazy thing is AI support refusing all the responsibility for it and blaming rest of the world. I got tons of diff programming and graphics tools - never, again NEVER seen anything like this anywhere else. GUYS - you got unstable code there for copy-paste in AI - do sth. with it!
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Petra Skubin commented
July 2025 and this is still a thing! This literally started happening two companies ago for me. Spanning several user accounts, laptops (Windows & Mac), and input devices. I really hope I manage to not defenestrate my laptop because this is absolutely MADDENING! Come on, people, it's been years since this issue came to light!
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talent wesolek commented
same problem here - 2025 and it still fails :) how this **** even stayed in the market for so long with copy-paste issue LOL. Never seen anyhing like that in tons of other apps ...
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Mike Graff commented
I don't have Logitech G HUB software, nor am I using any Logitech "G" products
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Antonio Miguel Baena C. commented
I spent a long time looking for a solution, and in the end, I solved it by uninstalling the Logitech G HUB software.
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Mike Graff commented
I keep waiting for upgrades to fix the copy paste issue. I have reported it and voted on it being an issue. I would rather have a fundamental issue fixed before any thing new is added. Its more than inconvenient when it doesn't work. for the price tag of the suite I expect -at a minimum- that foundational functions work. Its incredibly irritating.
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gerald ong commented
I am currently using version 29.3.1, yet the issue persists. Specifically, the copy function in the edit menu remains non-functional, which is highly inconvenient. Despite multiple attempts to reset preferences, the problem has not been resolved. I am deeply frustrated that I had to restart my computer just to restore the copy-and-paste functionality.
It is perplexing and disappointing that Adobe's updates introduce new components while simultaneously disrupting fundamental and essential tools such as copy-and-paste. I kindly urge Adobe to address this matter promptly and ensure the reliability of basic functionalities in future updates. -
Bruce Murray commented
Currently on version 29.2.1 of Illustrator
Since upgrade - I've been unable to copy and paste text in Adobe Illustrator. Copy paste function for text is working in all other programmes including other Adobe Creative tools.Objects and text converted to outline is fine/no issues - it's just text that is an issue regardless if using selection tool or text tool. It will show the copy option but if using Ctrl V then nothing and if you right click on the mouse, the option to paste is not available.
Within Clipboard Handling, I have deselected "include SVG Code" and ticked "Paste Text without formatting".
When two tabs open - again, it will copy all elements between tabs except text.
I've been using Illustrator for 20+ years so its not a rookie issue.
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Bruce Murray commented
Currently on version 29.2.1 of Illustrator
Since upgrade - I've been unable to copy and paste text in Adobe Illustrator. Copy paste function for text is working in all other programmes including other Adobe Creative tools.Objects and text converted to outline is fine/no issues - it's just text that is an issue regardless if using selection tool or text tool. It will show the copy option but if using Ctrl V then nothing and if you right click on the mouse, the option to paste is not available.
Within Clipboard Handling, I have deselected "include SVG Code" and ticked "Paste Text without formatting".
When two tabs open - again, it will copy all elements between tabs except text.
I've been using Illustrator for 20+ years so its not a rookie issue.
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Milton Nunes commented
2025. Copy paste is fundamental for design work. It's infuriating how is this still an issue. Considering other apps because of how disruptive to the workflow this bug is.
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Marek commented
I can confirm that the issue has NOT yet been solved.
I manage to force it to it work (with 80% success rate) when I hit [ctrl]+[c] several times in a row. Then I usually open the top menu "Edit" and make sure that "Paste" command are active (which means that something has been copied).
I also could observe that the success rate raises for objects which are NOT a part of any group or complex paths. This, however, is not a rule. Just my own observation. -
karen commented
it's not a logitech issue. I have used three separate keyboards, Corsair, Logitech and dell. All three do the the same thing. It's intermittent, so thinking the keyboard may be the issue us misleading. I have two separate computers doing this at my work. (im the IT person as well). different versions of Illustrator CC, but Illustrator CS% (old CD version) works just fine. It's all the new cloud software that's being problematic. Other programs copy and paste just fine. I even have other stuff paste into illustrator because the copy in illustrator does not "take"..... Devs!!!!! please fix this issue. it's maddening!
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Pette Etcheverry commented
THANK YOU Alex Smith ! I actually think it could come from there. I'm going to harass Logitech now! :-) Thank you very much, I'm so tired of struggling with this.
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Alex Smith commented
I don't know if this is the cause of everyone else's issues, but I realized that there's a compatibility issue between Logi Options + (the software for Logitech's MX keyboard and mouse) and Adobe programs. After completely uninstalling Logi Options +, copy/paste is working for me again. I submitted a ticket with Logitech a few months ago, and of course nothing has been resolved.
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Ronni da Silva commented
Why is this not solved yet? It is so disruptive!!! For the price we pay, an ancient bug should really have been fixed... Please, fix it!!
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Nick Kelleher commented
Adding that this is infuriating. As others have stated, copy/paste works in every other program I am running.
Restarting Illustrator didn't fix the problem.
The only thing that seemed to fix it was closing every single other program I was running. Super annoying, inconvenient, disruptive, infuriating, and just dumb.
Here is a Reddit thread of people having the exact same problem with 30+ comments from other people having the exact same problem.
Did you see how I did that? Copy/paste works great in Chrome. Not Illustrator though.
Fix it.
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Oswaldo Cruz commented
Tengo problemas para poder copiar y pegar elementos ya intente todo y es demasiado intermitente.
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eduardo asta commented
It is a very old bug. It doesn't matter which Mac OS or Illustrator version you have installed. After working a few doing charts, Illustrator stops accepting pasted data. Adobe doesn't care about as they doesn't care about copy/paste in place on artboards (another annoying bug).
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Jennelyn Castillejo commented
This is pestering me for more than a month now. Whenever i need to cut or copy objects/vectors, It just won't paste. I had to undo stuff before trying again and again and again and againnnnnnnnnn just to work!! Its not on my hardware i suppose since copy paste outside illustrator is just fine. This bug in illustrator is such a headache that it decreases my efficiency in work by 50%!!!! And im so worried that if Adobe still refuse to fix this bug, I might break my keyboard with all this endless tries of ctrl C and V! And FYI I already tried all those recommended solutions in Adobe community and nothing works!!!!!!!!
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Hugo Guardado commented
Same here it is very annoying, I even chat with tech support and the only reset prefs, but then the issue came back!