Excel Online suddenly copies full range D:H instead of only selected columns D, E, and H

It seems this only occurs when pasting into the address bar of a browser — I get the same result in Chrome, FF & Safari. Pasting into Word, Text Edit, Keynote, etc. produces expected result.

Hi @Oktawian,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I would like to provide you with the following information:

As you described, you only want to copy columns D, E, and H instead of copying all columns.

Please follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on one of the three columns you want to copy.

Step 2: Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the other two columns one by one.

Step 3: Then press Ctrl + C.

Excel will copy only the columns that you selected.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.   

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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Excel only supports copying certain kinds of nonadjacent selections. Copying multiple entire columns where there are gaps between them (for example, D, E, and H as full columns) is not a supported pattern and typically results in Excel treating the selection as one contiguous block from D through H.

Supported nonadjacent copy patterns include:

1. Multiple rows within the same column (for example, A1, A3, A5).
2. Multiple columns within the same row (for example, A2, C2, E2).
3. Multiple cells that still form a “slidable” rectangle when hidden/zero‑height rows or columns are collapsed (for example, A1, C1, A3, C3, A5, C5, where collapsing the gaps leaves a clean rectangle).

When a nonadjacent selection does not meet these rules, Excel cannot determine how to “slide” the cells together into a single rectangle for pasting. In such cases, Excel either shows an error like “That command cannot be used on multiple selections” or effectively treats the selection as a contiguous range.

Workarounds:

1. Copy one column at a time (D, then E, then H) and paste them where needed.
2. Rearrange data temporarily so that the columns to be copied are adjacent, copy the contiguous block, then move them back if necessary.
3. Use row‑based nonadjacent selections (multiple columns in a single row) if that fits the scenario, since that pattern is supported.

If this behavior changed recently in Excel for the web, it aligns with the documented design that only certain nonadjacent patterns are supported. Treat it as by‑design rather than a supported feature that regressed.

References:

• Error Message: That command cannot be used on multiple selections
• Move or copy cells, rows, and columns