After making any changes or modifications in your Excel workbooks, you can simply save the changes by clicking on the save icon or pressing the Ctrl + S keys. But sometimes, you encounter a situation where you’re unable to save your Excel workbook and receive an error stating that the document cannot be saved. One such error message is “Errors were detected while saving <file name>.xlsx.”
If you are facing this issue with your Excel file/s, read this article to understand what triggers this issue and know some effective workarounds to fix the issue.
Reasons behind the Unable to Save Excel File Issue
There are several reasons why you’re unable to save an Excel file. Some of these are:
- Excel file is damaged or corrupted
- Excel workbook (shared) is in use by another user
- Damaged MS Office application files
- Insufficient permissions to modify the workbook
- Insufficient storage space on the partition/volume/drive
- Problem with the VBA code
- Malware infection
- Conflict with antivirus program
- Excel file name is too long
Quick Fixes to Resolve the Unable to Save your Excel File Issue
If you’re unable to save your Excel files, follow the methods mentioned below.
Method 1: Rename the Excel File
You may be unable to save the Excel workbook, if the file name is too long or the file path has exceeded the 218-character limit. Check the file name and if it is too long, rename the file with a shorter name. If the path of the Excel file is long, then save it at a different location. Here is what to do:
- On the problematic Excel workbook, go to File > Save As.
- Click on Browse on the Save As screen.
- The Save As wizard will open. Choose a new location and rename the file.
- Click on Save.
Note: You can also change the format of the file, e.g. .xls to .xlsx. This will help prevent compatibility issues if any.
Now, go to the new file location and open it. Make some changes and try saving the file.
Method 2: Move the Excel File Data to a New File
If you’re unable to save an Excel workbook, you can try moving its contents to a new Excel workbook. This might help if there is an issue with the file. Here is how you can do this:
- Create a new Excel file anywhere on your PC. Open it.
- Next, right-click on the worksheet tab of the problematic Excel file.
- Click on Move or Copy.
- The Move or Copy wizard will open. Select the newly created Excel workbook using the dropdown list.
- Next, select the placement of the workbook in the newly created Excel file.
- Finally, select Create a copy and click on OK.
Once you are done, go to the newly created Excel workbook and try to save it.
Method 3: Provide Sufficient Permissions
You need full access to read, write, modify, and delete the folder in which you are trying to save the Excel file. If you don’t have the required permissions, contact the administrator to grant you complete access to the folder where you want to save the Excel workbook.
Method 4: Install Available MS Office Updates
Running an outdated MS Office program can cause issues that could prevent you from saving the Excel file. In such a case, you can update the MS Office program. Here is what to do:
- Launch MS Excel.
- Go to File > Account.
- Look for Update Options under the Product Information.
- Click on Update Options and then click on View Updates.
- If there are any available updates, install them.
If updating the program didn’t resolve the issue, try repairing MS Office. To do this, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > MS Office > Change > Repair.
Method 5: Use Open and Repair Utility
If you cannot save the Excel file after using the above methods, it indicates that the file is corrupt. In this case, use MS Excel’s built-in Open and Repair utility. This helps you to troubleshoot bugs, glitches, and repair minor file corruption issues. Follow the steps below to repair corrupted Excel file using Open and Repair:
- Launch MS Excel.
- Click on File.
- Click on Open > Browse.
- Locate and select the problematic Excel file.
- Click on the downward-pointing arrow next to the Open button.
- Click on Open and Repair.
- Excel will show you a dialog box. Click on Repair.
- Once the file is repaired, click Close.
Note – In case the Repair functionality fails to fully repair the problematic Excel file and resolve the issue, you can use the Extract Data option to recover values and formulas from the file.
Method 6: Use a Professional Excel File Repair Tool
If you have tried all the above-mentioned methods but still you’re unable to save your Excel file, then you can use a powerful Excel file repair tool, like Stellar Repair for Excel. It is a specialized Excel file repair software designed to help you recover data from corrupted Excel file (.xls, .xlsx, .xltm, or .xltx). It saves the recovered data in a new Excel file. This software is compatible with all Excel files created using MS Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, or 2000.
Conclusion
If you are unable to save an Excel file, you may end up losing changes. The methods explained above should help you resolve the issue and let you save the workbook. You may also try deleting temporary files or enabling the Use Sharing Wizard setting in the View tab under the Folder Options. But if nothing works for you, use an Excel repair software, such as Stellar Repair for Excel. The software is designed to repair corrupted Excel files of all types and sizes.
