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How to Fix Excel for Mac PasteSpecial Run-time Error 438

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a Run-time Error 438 when running VBA code that uses PasteSpecial with ppPasteMetafilePicture on Excel for Mac, which is also accompanied by slow pasting or empty clipboard reports.

How to Fix Excel for Mac PasteSpecial Run-time Error 438

Product: Excel for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Executing VBA scripts to copy and paste objects as metafile pictures across Office applications.
Observed behavior: The macro throws Run-time error 438, copy/paste operations execute slowly, and the script occasionally reports that the clipboard is empty.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting your VBA script, ensure that your macOS and Microsoft Office applications are updated to the latest versions, as clipboard handling processes often vary between minor updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Replace PasteSpecial with CopyPicture and Standard Paste

Modify your VBA code to avoid the unsupported Windows metafile format by using standard copy and paste methods instead.

Mac versions of Excel and PowerPoint do not fully support the Windows-specific metafile (EMF/WMF) workflows natively. Changing how the object is copied bypasses the need for PasteSpecial formats.

Modify the Copy Command

Open your VBA editor and locate the line where the object is copied. Change the standard `.Copy` method to `.CopyPicture`.

Update the Paste Command

Find the line using `PasteSpecial` with `ppPasteMetafilePicture` and replace it with a standard `ActiveSheet.Paste` command.

Test the Macro

Run the updated script on your Mac to verify if the object pastes successfully without triggering the Run-time error 438.

Replace PasteSpecial with CopyPicture and Standard Paste

Format Compatibility: By using CopyPicture, the object is automatically converted into a compatible image format that the macOS clipboard can handle smoothly.

Solution 2

Bypass the Error Using VBA Error Handling

If the paste action actually completes in the background despite the error popup, you can instruct the code to ignore this specific error.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ppPasteMetafilePicture cause an error on Mac?

Metafile pictures (such as EMF or WMF) are Windows-native graphics formats. macOS uses different graphics rendering engines (like PDF or PICT). Because Excel for Mac does not fully support the Windows metafile clipboard format, the application throws Run-time Error 438.

Why does the Mac clipboard sometimes report as empty during VBA macros?

Mac clipboard syncing between applications can be slower than on Windows. When VBA code executes faster than the clipboard updates, the system may return an empty clipboard error. Adding a brief pause or the `DoEvents` command in your code can give the clipboard time to catch up.

Is there a way to paste an object as a picture without using PasteSpecial?

Yes, you can use the `.CopyPicture` method on the source object to copy it directly as an image into the system clipboard. Afterward, you can simply use `ActiveSheet.Paste` at the destination without needing to specify a complex paste format.

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