Overview
Microsoft is warning users that a recent Microsoft Edge browser update introduced a bug that breaks right-click paste in chat windows in the Microsoft Teams desktop client. The regression affects the context menu paste option — users attempting to paste text via right-click in Teams chats will find the function unresponsive or non-functional.
The issue was reported by BleepingComputer on April 18, 2026, after users began encountering the problem following an Edge update rollout.
What's Affected
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams desktop client (Windows) | Affected — right-click paste broken |
| Keyboard shortcut paste (Ctrl+V) | Unaffected — works normally |
| Drag-and-drop paste | Unaffected |
| Microsoft Teams web app | Unaffected |
The issue is specific to the Teams desktop client on Windows, which uses the Edge WebView2 runtime for rendering portions of its interface. The Edge update modified behavior in the WebView2 layer in a way that inadvertently broke the context menu paste action.
Root Cause
The Microsoft Teams desktop client relies on Microsoft Edge WebView2 — a component that embeds the Chromium-based Edge engine into desktop applications. When Edge updates, it also updates the underlying WebView2 runtime that Teams and other Electron/WebView2-based applications use.
A change introduced in the recent Edge update altered how WebView2 handles right-click context menu clipboard operations, causing the paste action to silently fail in Teams chat input fields.
Workarounds
While Microsoft works on a fix, the following workarounds are available:
-
Use keyboard shortcut paste —
Ctrl+V(Windows) orCmd+V(macOS) functions normally and is unaffected by the regression -
Use Teams web app — accessing Teams via browser at
teams.microsoft.comis not affected -
Roll back Edge — organizations with strict version control over browser deployments can temporarily revert to the previous Edge version, though this is not generally recommended due to security patch implications
-
Use the Edit menu — in the Teams desktop client,
Edit > Pastefrom the menu bar may function as an alternative to right-click
Microsoft's Response
Microsoft has acknowledged the regression and is working on a fix. The issue is expected to be resolved in an upcoming Edge update. Organizations that rely heavily on Teams for collaboration should monitor the Microsoft 365 Message Center and the Microsoft Service Health Dashboard for status updates.
Broader Context: WebView2 Dependency Risk
This incident highlights a recurring challenge with applications that embed browser engines as UI components. When the underlying browser runtime updates — even for legitimate security or feature improvements — it can introduce regressions in host applications. Notable examples include:
- Slack, Discord, and other Electron apps affected by Chromium security changes
- Visual Studio Code extensions broken by WebView API changes
For organizations managing large Teams deployments, testing Edge updates in a staging environment before broad rollout is a recommended practice to catch regressions like this one before they affect end users.