Draft copying issue in Numbers

My problem is this: Previously, in Numbers, when I copied and pasted a selected area, I could paste it into applications like WhatsApp or Telegram with the same colors, appearance, and formatting. After updating macOS, the copy-paste now only transfers the text, which negatively affects my work. I have been avoiding updating my Macs, but eventually, it will ask for an update, and if I do it, I won’t be able to do my work at all. As shown in the image, it should paste with colors and text, but it only sends the text.


[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Air (M2, 2022)

Posted on Sep 7, 2025 12:04 PM

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Posted on Sep 8, 2025 9:45 AM

This is likely not something we (other users such as yourself) can fix. I am wondering if it is a system-level difference rather than something specific to Numbers. Best I can do is suggest some tests to see where the problem might be, which might lead to a possible workaround.


Can you copy/paste from other apps (other than Numbers) to WhatsApp and Telegram without losing formatting?


Can you copy/paste from Numbers to apps other than WhatsApp and Telegram without losing formatting (I tried TextEdit in RTF mode and Microsoft Word with no problem and also into Affinity Photo which pasted in as an image).


When pasting from Numbers into Telegram or WhatsApp, is it pasting as text or as an image? Pasting into Word or Textedit (into an RTF formatted document) creates a table and retains the formatting for me. Pasting into Affinity Photo it pastes as a low resolution image. Using New From Clipboard in the Preview app it pasts as a vector image that retains its resolution when enlarged. All retain the formatting.


Does it work better if you paste from Numbers into TextEdit (into an RTF formatted document) then copy/paste from there to Whatsapp/Telegram?


Do you have any "helper" apps running in the background that "enhance" the clipboard or the keyboard? Sometimes these apps are the cause of oddball problems.


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 8, 2025 9:45 AM in response to Berkkks

This is likely not something we (other users such as yourself) can fix. I am wondering if it is a system-level difference rather than something specific to Numbers. Best I can do is suggest some tests to see where the problem might be, which might lead to a possible workaround.


Can you copy/paste from other apps (other than Numbers) to WhatsApp and Telegram without losing formatting?


Can you copy/paste from Numbers to apps other than WhatsApp and Telegram without losing formatting (I tried TextEdit in RTF mode and Microsoft Word with no problem and also into Affinity Photo which pasted in as an image).


When pasting from Numbers into Telegram or WhatsApp, is it pasting as text or as an image? Pasting into Word or Textedit (into an RTF formatted document) creates a table and retains the formatting for me. Pasting into Affinity Photo it pastes as a low resolution image. Using New From Clipboard in the Preview app it pasts as a vector image that retains its resolution when enlarged. All retain the formatting.


Does it work better if you paste from Numbers into TextEdit (into an RTF formatted document) then copy/paste from there to Whatsapp/Telegram?


Do you have any "helper" apps running in the background that "enhance" the clipboard or the keyboard? Sometimes these apps are the cause of oddball problems.


Sep 7, 2025 2:39 PM in response to Berkkks

In MacOS 15.6.1 with Numbers 14.4 and no third-party keyboard or clipboard "helper" or "enhancement" apps, copy/paste works fine from Numbers to other apps like Microsoft Word (version 16.84) and TextEdit so it is apparent that the formatting you are asking about is getting copied to the clipboard. I can't say why the two apps you are using will not accept it when pasted. I do not use either one so I cannot test them here.


What version of MacOS are you using now? What version of Numbers for Mac?


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Draft copying issue in Numbers

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