Excel Performance Problems

Fix Excel 2019 Insufficient Memory Error When Copying a Worksheet

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user encounters an insufficient memory error in Excel 2019 when attempting to copy an entire worksheet, particularly after updating Windows to version 24H2.

How to Fix Excel 2019 Insufficient Memory Error When Copying a Worksheet

Product: Microsoft Excel 2019
Device & OS: Windows (Version 24H2)
Scenario: Attempting to copy an entire worksheet to another location or workbook.
Observed behavior: Excel displays an insufficient memory error and fails to complete the copying process, even after reinstalling the application and disabling add-ins.

Before you start

Save your current workbook to prevent data loss and close any unnecessary background applications to free up system memory before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy Only the Used Data Range

This workaround bypasses the memory error caused by Excel attempting to copy millions of unused blank cells.

Selecting an entire worksheet by clicking the top-left corner selects over 17 billion cells. By selecting only the range that contains your actual data, you drastically reduce the memory required for the clipboard operation.

Select a cell

Click on any cell inside your active data set.

Select the used range

Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard. Excel will automatically highlight only the contiguous cells containing data.

Copy and paste

Press Ctrl + C to copy the selected range, then navigate to your destination sheet and press Ctrl + V to paste.

Quick Workaround: This method effectively avoids the out-of-memory crash while preserving all your necessary data.

Solution 2

Create a New Windows User Profile

Resolves issues caused by a corrupted Windows user profile which can interfere with background memory allocation.

Solution 3

Upgrade to the 64-bit Version of Excel

The 64-bit version of Office can access more system RAM, preventing out-of-memory errors on large workbooks.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Memory Errors with WPS Office

If Microsoft Excel continues to struggle with memory errors or Windows update conflicts, try WPS Office. It is a highly optimized, lightweight, and free alternative that handles large datasets smoothly without crashing.

1. Download and install: Visit the WPS Office website, download the free installer, and complete the setup.
2. Open your workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx file directly.
3. Copy your worksheet: Right-click the sheet tab at the bottom, select 'Move or Copy', and easily duplicate your entire sheet without memory limits.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formatsLightweight architecture prevents out-of-memory crashes on large filesFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does copying a whole sheet cause an out-of-memory error?

When you select an entire worksheet, Excel attempts to copy all 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns to the clipboard. This includes millions of blank cells, which can quickly exceed the memory limits of the application.

Does adding more RAM to my computer fix this Excel error?

Not necessarily. If you are using the 32-bit version of Excel, it is limited to using a maximum of 2GB to 4GB of RAM, regardless of how much physical memory your computer actually has installed.

What is the fastest way to select only my data instead of the whole sheet?

Simply click any cell that contains data within your working area and press Ctrl + A on your keyboard. Excel will automatically detect and highlight only the continuous block of cells containing your information.

Excel & Data Problems