Corporate data security is of extreme importance. Most employees, while trying to copy and paste the data from one application to another, face an error message that reads, “Your organization’s data cannot be pasted here.”
This article shall explore the causes of this error, shine light on the role of security tools like Microsoft Intune, and find solutions to correct it. By the end of it, you will understand exactly how you can tackle this problem and keep going without stepping on your security.
“Your Organization’s Data Cannot Be Pasted Here.”: What does it mean?
When a user attempts to transfer text into an application that is not authorized, an error message displays “Your organization’s data cannot be pasted here.”. Although this is quite inconvenient, it is actually Microsoft’s policy that prohibits the duplication of data for your own security.
Why does the “Your Organization’s Data Cannot Be Pasted Here.” error occur?

This error generally occurs in data protection-focused environments. These policies are typically controlled by applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, that dictate how and where corporate data should be copied. Here are some of the main reasons why this error occurs:
- Intune Data Protection Policies: This is an enterprise management tool that is widely used, and organizations use Microsoft Outlook to enforce data protection. Intune might be designed to prevent transferring data from Microsoft applications like Outlook into non-approved or personal applications. Therefore, it ensures that sensitive company data does not find its way out of these secure environments.
- Security Measures: The organizations where data security will be highly restrained will not allow the copy-pasting activities to take place, so data leakage can be prevented. For instance, it will not allow confidential emails or financial details to be copied to non-secure applications.
- Character Limits: Organizations may use character limits to deny the transfer of large chunks of data. For example, a website may have pasting limits of 100, 500, or 1000 characters as a means of finding that sweet spot where security and usability are balanced.
- Outdated Software: Another reason is that the old software may cause problems of compatibility with security policies. Chances are that the version you are using may not be the latest compared to the organization’s data protection policies, which causes the error.
How to Resolve Error
The “Your Organization’s Data Cannot Be Pasted Here.” error has more than one solution. Find out below step-by-step actions you can do to overcome this error:
1. Update Intune Protection Policies
The easiest way to resolve the problem is to update the policy of Intune protection.
- Open the Microsoft Intune dashboard by referring to endpoint.microsoft.com.
- Login by authenticating yourself
- Select Apps>Client Apps.
- Select App Protection Policies and then click on Create Policy.
- Using the policy-creating screen, fill in the required information. Then go to Settings > Data Protection > Data Transfer.
- Allow cut, copy and paste option from blocked to any app
- This will enable data transfer across apps recognized by Intune policy. Save the change and assign a policy to your group that enables the copy-paste functionality.
2. Update Microsoft Office Suite
It may be due to the fact that your Microsoft Office applications are not being updated. There could be a policy being unmet by current Intune policies. Below is how you can manually update your Microsoft Office suite.
- Open any Microsoft Office application: The ones that are most likely the first to open for you are probably Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
- Go to File > Account.
- Select the Update Options dropdown from the Manage section.
- Click Update Now.
- This will also include the latest updates and will even make your apps compliant with the policies of the newest security so that this error is eradicated.
3. Excel Files Re-Create
If the file itself can be re-created for Excel, then that can be an alternative solution. Open a new file for a worksheet and introduce a slight amendment, such as coloring one cell.
- Save the file to OneDrive for Business.
- Try pasting your company information into this new document.
- Restoring the document and saving it in a safe directory could remove the constraints and fix the bug
4. Change the Document Slightly
This can also be solved if you make tiny, different modifications to the file you are currently working on. For example, type something in a cell or color some cells before saving your file. Then try to paste the data again. If the problem continues to occur, close the application and open it after a few minutes. This may fix the file’s security permissions and allow you to paste the data without other problems.
Conclusion
The “Your Organization’s Data Cannot Be Pasted Here.” error is one of the most common problems that we face in corporate environments where data protection policies are implemented. On the other hand, with solutions such as modification to Intune policies, updates to software, and file changes on your part, you will be able to erase such an error and work on as per the requirement without any problem.
FAQs About Your Organization’s Data Cannot Be Pasted Here.
Ans. The error typically occurs due to application protection policies enforced by organizations, such as Microsoft Intune, which restrict data transfers between applications to prevent unauthorized sharing of sensitive information.
Ans. To resolve the error, you can create a new protection policy in Microsoft Intune, update your Microsoft Office Suite to the latest version, or recreate the Excel file where you encounter the issue.
Ans. Yes, outdated software can contribute to the error. Ensuring that all applications, especially Microsoft Office, are up to date can often resolve compatibility issues that trigger this message.
Ans. Yes, organizations may set character limits for data transfer. For instance, you might encounter messages indicating that only a certain number of characters can be pasted, which is part of broader data protection policies.
Ans. If the error continues after attempting to troubleshoot, it may be necessary to contact your organization’s IT department for further assistance. They can provide insights into specific data protection policies in place that may be causing the issue.