November 5, 2026: In some Excel 2016 workbooks, pasting leaves the destination cell unchanged. That’s frustrating when you need to move data. The Register says Microsoft has issued replacement build 16.0.5574.1006 for MSI-based Excel 2016 installations.
What Happened
In affected workbooks, copying a cell seems to work. Pasting leaves the destination cell unchanged. The Register links the failure to MSI-based Excel 2016 installations with conditional formatting. It says the problem returned with build 16.0.5574.1005, delivered after October update KB5002934.
The Register says build 16.0.5574.1006 fixes pasting and keeps the Excel 2016 security updates. Microsoft’s KB5002934 support page confirms the build numbers and explains the revised release, documenting the affected scope as paste operations that may fail in MSI-based Excel 2016 workbooks containing conditional formatting.
Independent testing of the replacement build hasn’t been reported. That’s a gap in the available reporting rather than a confirmed problem with the fix, so it’s worth treating Microsoft’s description as the current official account.
Affected users can get the revised package through Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog. After installing it, check that Excel reports build 16.0.5574.1006 under File > Account > About Excel to confirm the update applied.
How It Stacks Up
| Reported stage | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 (KB5002665) | A similar paste failure was reported in Excel 2016, with a workaround documented in that update and later revised. | The Register |
| October 2026 (KB5002934) | The problem reportedly returned in Excel 2016 with build 16.0.5574.1005. | The Register |
| Reported replacement | Build 16.0.5574.1006 reportedly restores pasting and keeps the October Excel 2016 security updates. | Microsoft KB5002934 |
The Register says removing KB5002934 restored pasting for some users, and it reported that Windows Update later offered the update again afterward. Removing an update with security fixes is a poor long-term answer if the replacement is available.
Microsoft’s current documentation points affected users to the latest KB5002934 revision as the fix. For paste failures on the earlier package, it also lists Paste Special options as an interim workaround.
The Reaction
Wider user reaction to this fix hasn’t been independently verified through social media or forum posts. Based on the available reporting, the practical concern for affected users centers on avoiding a rollback that strips security fixes, in favor of adopting the republished build.
Readers who want more guidance should check Microsoft’s official support channels for the most current information.
Our Take
Verdict: Install the replacement if you’re affected and Windows Update offers it. Check your installed Excel 2016 build first via File > Account > About Excel. The Register ties 16.0.5574.1005 to the returning failure and says 16.0.5574.1006 fixes it.
Microsoft’s documentation doesn’t guarantee the fix resolves pasting in every affected workbook, and independent testing hasn’t been reported. Test pasting in your own workbooks after updating to confirm it works for you.
The bug’s return is frustrating. For affected users, the reported replacement is a better choice than leaving KB5002934 removed because it keeps the security fixes.
