The Ctrl+C shortcut is used to copy content to the Windows clipboard, and you can use the Ctrl+V shortcut on your keyboard to paste the most recently copied items anywhere.
Occasionally, users will report that this key combination is not working and cannot resolve the issue on their own. If you're facing a similar issue, then this is the post for you.
Here, we first discuss what is causing the problem, and how to fix it.
If the Ctrl+C shortcut is not working, it is likely that Ctrl+V is not working as well. This is because if nothing is copied to the clipboard, then nothing will be pasted.
There are a few reasons why the Ctrl+C shortcut doesn't copy anything:
Hardware issues with the keyboard.
The keyboard driver is malfunctioning.
Critical system files are corrupted.
The clipboard is disabled.
Control shortcuts are disabled (Command Prompt).
Restart your computer.
One of the easiest and proven solutions to fix this issue is to restart your computer. Users often report that restarting their computers usually fixes their problems. Of course, this only works if you have a minor problem with your computer.
When you restart your computer, it restarts all the hardware, software, and services, making them run smoothly again.
If restarting your computer doesn't resolve the ctrl+c replication issue, then the problem may be caused by something else. Keep reading this post to fix it.
Troubleshoot keyboard hardware issues
It could be that the keyboard is malfunctioning and can no longer send the corresponding signal to the computer to register the Ctrl and C keys. You can use the on-screen keyboard to confirm if this is an issue. Here's how:
1. Press Ctrl+Windows+O shortcut to open the on-screen keyboard.
2. Now select something on the screen. Click the Ctrl key on the on-screen keyboard and click C to copy the selection.
3. Now, try pasting the content by clicking the Ctrl+V keys on the on-screen keyboard.
4. Now check if the content has been pasted. If there is, it means that there is something wrong with the keyboard, in which case you either need to clean it or replace it.
However, if the content is still not being copied or pasted, then the problem could be something else. In that case, go ahead and do the following possible solutions.
Run the keyboard troubleshooter
Windows 11 and Windows 10 have built-in troubleshooters that scan the hardware and software in question to detect any anomalies. Run the Keyboard troubleshooter to detect and fix possible issues using the following steps:
1. Navigate to: Settings > System > Troubleshooter > Other Troubleshooters.
2. Here, click Run in front of the keyboard.
3. The Troubleshooting Wizard will now start and perform a quick scan. If it finds any anomalies, it will try to fix them or suggest you to take action.
Follow the on-screen instructions and fix the problem. If you don't find a problem, close the troubleshooter and continue to the next section of this article.
Update Reinstall the keyboard driver.
Driver failure is often the cause of problems with your computer. An outdated or corrupted keyboard driver can cause it to miss keyboard strokes, or not respond at all. In this case, you can try updating the keyboard driver, if available. You can also check the manufacturer's manual update drivers.
However, if no update is available, try reinstalling the keyboard driver.
When you're done, check if you can copy and paste anything using the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V shortcuts.
If the problem is still not resolved, try the next solution.
Scan and repair corrupted system files
If the Ctrl+C shortcut still doesn't work, it is possible that some files of your system are corrupted. You can try to fix them by running a System File Check (SFC) and a DISM scan. Here's the full guide:
1. Start the elevated command prompt.
2. Now execute the following commands one by one. Please note that each item may take a few minutes to complete.
dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /checkhealthdism.exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealthdism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth3. After the DISM scan is completed, please run the SFC scan with the following command:
sfc /scannow
Now check if the issue is resolved.
How to enable Ctrl C in Command Prompt and PowerShell
If you can't copy-paste anything into Windows' command line interface (CLI), which includes the Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell, you'll need to enable that feature. Here's how:
1. Open the Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Right-click the title bar and click Properties.
3. In the "Properties" window, check the box next to "Enable Ctrl Key Shortcut" under the "Editing Options" section, and click "OK".
4. Now close and reopen the command line for the changes to take effect.
The Windows clipboard is a place where everything that has been recently copied is temporarily stored for pasting and reuse.
In addition to the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V shortcuts, Ctrl+X is also used to cut content and move it to the clipboard. This way, you can also enable and view your clipboard history with multiple copied content instead of just the most recent one.
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