Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Alt+Ctrl+C Opening Record New Clip Instead of Font Color in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a keyboard shortcut conflict where pressing Alt+Ctrl+C opens a screen recording tool instead of applying the font color.

Product: Microsoft Word, Zoom Clips
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Using keyboard shortcuts to change font color while editing a Word document.
Observed behavior: Pressing Alt+Ctrl+C triggers the 'Record New Clip' dialog box from a background application (such as Zoom Clips) rather than activating the Font Color command in Word.

Before you start

Check your system tray to see if Zoom or any other screen-recording applications are currently running in the background, as they may be using global hotkeys.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable or Reassign the Shortcut in the Screen Recording App

Resolve the conflict by changing the global hotkey in Zoom Clips or the specific application that has hijacked the shortcut.

When a third-party application like Zoom uses a global keyboard shortcut, it intercepts the keystrokes before Microsoft Word can process them. Changing this setting in the interfering app restores Word's default functionality.

Open Application Settings

Open your Zoom desktop client (or other screen recording app), click on your profile picture, and select 'Settings'.

Navigate to Keyboard Shortcuts

Find and click on the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' tab in the settings menu.

Locate the Conflicting Shortcut

Scroll through the list to find the 'Record New Clip' action that is assigned to Alt+Ctrl+C.

Reassign or Disable

Click on the shortcut combination and either press a new key combination to reassign it, or disable it entirely using the provided toggle or delete button.

Shortcut Restored: Once the global hotkey is disabled in the background app, Alt+Ctrl+C will immediately resume functioning as the Font Color shortcut in Microsoft Word.

Solution 2

Reassign the Font Color Shortcut in Microsoft Word

If you prefer to keep your screen recording shortcut as Alt+Ctrl+C, you can assign a brand new shortcut for the Font Color command directly inside Word.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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If background application conflicts in Microsoft Word are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, fast, and free environment for editing documents seamlessly without frustrating shortcut clashes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do shortcuts in Word get hijacked by other applications?

Some applications register 'global hotkeys' with the operating system so they can be activated regardless of what software you are currently using. If an app registers Alt+Ctrl+C globally, Windows routes that keystroke to that app instead of passing it down to Microsoft Word.

How do I find out which background program is hijacking my keyboard shortcut?

Finding the specific program can sometimes require trial and error. A good method is to check the applications running in your system tray (bottom right corner of your screen). Close them one by one and test the shortcut in Word after each closure until the shortcut starts working again.

Can I reset all keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word to their default settings?

Yes. To restore original shortcuts, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon. Click the 'Customize' button next to Keyboard shortcuts, and then click the 'Reset All' button at the bottom of the dialog box.

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