Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Can't copy certain gvim text, eg :version or error messages

Copy/paste issue in gvim with :version and error messages.

Quick Answer: Try using the `:set clipboard+=term` command to enable copying of terminal output.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The issue you're experiencing is frustrating because it prevents you from copying certain text in gvim, which can be crucial for troubleshooting and debugging purposes. This problem affects users who are accustomed to using gvim's clipboard functionality.

This issue occurs when the mouse pointer displays a symbol instead of allowing text selection and copy-paste operations. The root cause of this behavior is related to the way gvim handles non-printable characters.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The problem arises due to the presence of a non-printable character in the text being copied. When you type ':version' or view error messages, the mouse pointer displays a symbol indicating that it cannot handle the text.
  • Another possible reason for this issue is related to the configuration settings of gvim itself.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Disable Non-Printable Character Handling

  1. Step 1: Open your .gvimrc file in a text editor and add the following line: `set nocopyexpr` This will disable the handling of non-printable characters.
  2. Step 2: Restart gvim to apply the changes. You can do this by typing ':q' and pressing Enter, then typing ':source $MYVIMRC' and pressing Enter again.
  3. Step 3: Verify that you can copy and paste text as expected.

Configure gvim Settings

  1. Step 1: Open your .gvimrc file in a text editor and add the following line: `set mouse=n` This will disable the symbol display when selecting text.
  2. Step 2: Restart gvim to apply the changes. You can do this by typing ':q' and pressing Enter, then typing ':source $MYVIMRC' and pressing Enter again.
  3. Step 3: Verify that you can select and copy text as expected.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve this issue, you can try disabling non-printable character handling or configuring gvim settings. If you're still experiencing problems, consider seeking further assistance from a system administrator or IT professional.

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