Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the Copy-Paste Error 0x80070057 Preventing File Movement
If you’ve been trying to drag and drop files on Windows, only to get hit with that annoying 0x80070057 error, you’re not alone. Sometimes Windows just refuses to move files without giving a clear reason, and it’s super frustrating. Usually, it’s tied to permission issues, clipboard glitches, or a hiccup in a system process that’s messing things up. This guide runs through a few troubleshooting methods — some are quick, others a bit more involved — to hopefully get that file moving again. And yeah, it applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Realistically, you might have to try a couple of these steps because that error is weirdly inconsistent. Sometimes just restarting your PC fixes it, but other times you need to get into deeper system stuff. Fingers crossed, one of these will do the trick and save you from the endless clicking cycle.
How to Fix the ‘Unexpected Error’ When Moving Files in Windows
Method 1: Run RDPClip and DWM as Administrator to Fix Clipboard & System Glitches
This one’s kind of weird, but running these two system utilities as admin can clear up clipboard or desktop rendering issues that sometimes cause errors when moving files. On some machines, this helps because Windows has some background process that gets stuck or isn’t running properly, blocking file operations.
- Head over to C:\Windows\System32. This is where both
RDPClip.exeandDWM.exelive. - Find
RDPClip.exe. Right-click, then pick Run as administrator. If you don’t see it, make sure you’re showing hidden files or search for it by name. - Do the same for
DWM.exe. Right-click and choose Run as administrator.
Doing this refreshes the clipboard and desktop compositing services, which can sometimes get out of sync and cause file move errors. I’ve seen a couple of setups where just kicking these processes back into life made the error vanish. Not sure why it works, but it’s worth a try — especially if you’ve been stuck for a while.
Method 2: Clear Clipboard Using Command Prompt
This one’s a classic “turn it off and on again” for the clipboard — which, in these cases, can be corrupted or just wonky enough to throw errors. Clearing the clipboard resets anything stuck in there that could be messing with file operations.
- Hit Windows + S and type
cmd. Right-click on Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator. You need admin rights for this to work correctly. - Type in the command:
cmd /c "echo off|clip"and press Enter.
This command forces Windows to clear the clipboard. Not sure why, but sometimes a stuck clipboard can cause weird errors when moving files, especially if the operation involves copying clip data or overwriting. After this, try moving the file again — often, it’ll work now. Weird, but it’s one of those quirks of Windows.
Method 3: Check Permissions and Run Disk Check
Another place to look is permissions. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If your user account doesn’t have enough rights on the folder or drive, file moves get blocked. Make sure you’re logged in as an administrator or have the right permissions on the folder.
- Right-click the folder or drive, choose Properties. Go to the Security tab.
- Make sure your user name shows up with Full Control. If not, click Edit to adjust permissions.
While you’re at it, it’s good to run a disk check because file system issues can also cause this error:
- Open an Admin Command Prompt again.
- Type
chkdsk /ffollowed by the drive letter, e.g.,chkdsk C: /f. Confirm to schedule it on reboot if prompted.
This scans and repairs any filesystem problems that could be blocking the move.
Method 4: Reboot and Reset Windows Explorer
Sometimes a simple reboot will fix temp glitches, but if not, try resetting the Windows Explorer process — which controls a lot of UI stuff including file management.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click, then select Restart.
After that, try to move the files again. This can clear out deadlocked process states that block actions.
Extra tips & common pitfalls
Watch out for user account control (UAC) settings if you’re hitting permission errors. Also, if your disk is full or nearly full, Windows might just refuse to copy or move files with no clear warning. Double-check your disk space and clear up some room if needed. Disk errors or corrupt files can also cause this, so running chkdsk is a good step if issues persist.
Wrap-up
All in all, a bunch of this comes down to permissions, system process states, or clipboard quirks. Not the most elegant stuff, but if one method doesn’t help, another usually does. Sometimes Windows just needs a nudge in the right place, or a restart, to get back to normal. These steps won’t guarantee perfection, but they’ve helped in a good handful of similar cases.
Summary
- Try running RDPClip and DWM as administrator to refresh system processes.
- Clear the clipboard with the
echo off|clipcommand. - Check permissions on your files and run disk check if needed.
- Reboot Windows and restart Explorer for quick resets.
Final thoughts
Errors like 0x80070057 are annoying because they pop up out of nowhere, but a few targeted tweaks often fix them. Hopefully, this saves someone from the endless trial-and-error while moving important files. If nothing works, maybe it’s worth looking into more advanced system repairs or even backing up and resetting Windows — but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Good luck, and may your file moves be painless from now on!