Unable to Save Excel File on Mac | Common Errors & Solutions (2024)

Issue - Unable to Save Excel File on Mac

If you're one of those users who can't save Excel files on Mac, read this tutorial carefully and try out the four methods below.

But why can't you save a document or Excel file on your Mac? Check the list of issues below to see which one matches your situation.

• Too Many Elements: When your file contains a large number of elements, it will take longer to save. You might mistake the time Excel takes to process the document for the time it takes to save the file.
• Lack of Storage: Are you connected to a full hard drive instead of one with available space? If your Mac has deleted files but still no free space, Excel won't be able to save your file.
• Third-Party Add-ins: While add-ins are designed to make your Word experience easier, they can interfere with Microsoft Word's normal functioning.
• Third-Party Antivirus Software: Third-party antivirus software can cause issues when saving new modifications to an existing workbook. As the antivirus performs a quick scan, it blocks subsequent file additions to the device. Thus, the saving process is interrupted.

Of course, that is not to say that China does not have serious problems.

 

3 Ways to Recover Unsaved or Lost Excel Files on Mac

This article offers 2 methods to recover unsaved Excel documents lost on your Mac from the temp folder and AutoRecover. Read More >>

Let's learn how to fix the issue of “Can't Save Excel File on Mac.” Before that, don't forget to bookmark this article by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, or any other SNS.

Recovering - How to Retrieve an Unsaved Excel File

We highly recommend that you get a good-quality data recovery software if you want to recover or repair a corrupted Excel file on Mac, or an unsaved Excel worksheet. You don't need to spend hours manually extracting an Excel document from a backup, or search fruitlessly through the AutoRecover folder!

A powerful tool like the Mac Data Recovery can help you retrieve unsaved Excel files, regardless of your macOS version or Microsoft Office edition.

• It is very useful for recovering deleted and lost Excel files on a Mac. Whether your file was not saved or got lost, this tool will come to your rescue.
• It can recover unsaved Excel files from the auto-save versions folder, which is particularly helpful for unsaved Excel files.
• It can also recover lost Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint files, and other Excel file types.

Download the software, and then follow these three steps.

Note: You can click “Disk Backup” on the left first to create a backup. You can then restore data from the backup image when the disk is damaged or unsaved documents on the disk are accidentally deleted or lost.

Step 1: Select a disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac, hover the mouse over the device where your unsaved file was lost, and click Find Lost Files.

Step 2: Choose the unsaved document.

After the scan is finished, click “Category” and then expand “Unsaved Documents”. Click on the specific file type that you've lost – for example, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Keynote, Pages, or Numbers.

Step 3: Preview and Recover the Unsaved Files

Double-click the unsaved file preview, choose the correct version, and click “Recover” to save the file to a secure location on your Mac.

We also have a video on how to recover unsaved Excel files on Mac; check it out!

• 00:16 - Reasons for an unsaved Excel file on a Mac
• 00:38 - Method 1. Recover from the TMP folder
• 01:06 - Method 2. Recover from Auto-Save
• 02:05 - Method 3. Use recovery software

Solution – 4 Ways to Save an Excel File on Your Mac

We've discussed various reasons why Excel might not be saving files on your Mac. Below are four methods to fix this issue:

1. Solution 1: Check and fix your network connection
2. Solution 2: Disable third-party antivirus software
3. Solution 3: Update Microsoft Excel on your Mac
4. Solution 4: Open the Excel app in Safe Mode

Solution 1: Check and fix your internet connection

If your Mac is having trouble connecting to the internet, Microsoft Excel will remain in a "Saving" state. First, restart your router. This clears its temporary or cached memory. Then, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network, or save your file while offline.

Step 1: Click the "Control Center" button in the top right corner.

Step 2. Join a Wi-Fi network. From the same menu, choose Wi-Fi settings.

Step 3: Check that the status under this menu says Connected, with a green dot.

Fix 2: Disable third-party antivirus apps

It's no secret that most antivirus apps run in the background to protect your Mac, but if your Mac is old or has limited storage, these apps can slow it down and prevent you from saving an Excel file on your Mac.

Step 1: Launch your device and open the Spotlight search bar.

Step 2. There, type the name of your antivirus software.

Step 3: After you type your name, it should appear on the screen; tap the icon to place it on the screen.

Step 4: Look for the words “Stop” or “Disable” when the program's interface appears on-screen.

Step 5: Tap Yes or OK on the confirmation screen.

There is an alternative –

Step one: Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen, and find the antivirus icon.

Step 2: A drop-down menu will appear, whether you right- or left-click.

Step 3. Click on the action you want, such as “Disable” or “Stop.” If prompted, confirm by clicking “Yes” or “OK.”

Fix 3: Update Microsoft Excel on your Mac

Keep Microsoft Office up to date to take full advantage of its features. This ensures that your apps run smoothly and you have access to the latest functionalities. The most recent version of the Office suite will also include the latest security updates.

Microsoft Office updates are set to download automatically by default, so you'll get them as they're released. However, you can disable this and update manually at any time.

Microsoft Excel's inability to save on a Mac might be due to an outdated application version. Companies regularly release new app versions to add features and fix issues. You can update Excel through the Mac App Store easily. Follow these steps to do so:

Step 1: Open the Mac App Store.

Step 2: Choose “Updates” from the sidebar.

Step 3: Download and install any available updates for Microsoft Excel.

Please provide the content you want to translate into English, and I'll do my best to help you with the translation.

 

Mac Software Update: How to Update Software on Mac [Automatic & Manual]

Updating Mac software involves some intricacies. Follow this comprehensive guide to learn how to update software on your Mac.Read More >>

Fix 4: Open Excel App in Safe Mode

If you don't have the time to troubleshoot Excel, it's best to run it in safe mode. In safe mode on a Mac, Excel safe mode disables all add-ins that might be causing problems with the application. You can use this method to check if a third-party add-in is causing issues with Excel.

To start Excel in Safe Mode, follow these steps:

If you have Excel open, close it.

Step 2: From the Start menu, choose All apps.

Step 3: Select “Excel.” Hold down the Control key as you open the program.

Step 4. Excel will ask if you want to start in Safe Mode. Select Yes to continue.

Step Five: Open your problematic workbook and try to save it. If this works, the annoying add-in has been disabled.

In sum

For the “can't save Excel file on Mac” issue and recovering unsaved Excel files, the AutoRecover feature of MS Office Excel is a good solution. But if that doesn't work, you may need a professional data recovery tool like the Mac Data Recovery Wizard to get your Excel files back.

Frequently Asked Questions About Saving Excel Files on a Mac

Here are four additional questions about "Can't Save Excel File on Mac." Click here for the answers.

**Why Can't I Save My Excel File?**

This error message indicates that you don't have enough available space on your primary drive, hence the "document not saved." If an unexpected event occurs during the save process (like Excel or the system crashing), Excel displays this error message.

**2. Why can't I edit my Excel files on my Mac?**

One common reason why Microsoft Office might not be editable on a Mac is an invalid or outdated license. You can verify your subscription by visiting portal.office.com through a web browser.

How to recover deleted Excel files on a Mac?

The easiest way to recover deleted Excel files on a Mac is by using a free Mac data recovery software:

• Install and launch the Mac Data Recovery tool.
• Open the software, select the drive, and click on 'Filter' to search for lost Excel files.
• Select 'Excel Files' after the scan and recover those files.

4. Why is my Excel file corrupted on my Mac?

• Opening an Excel file with an outdated application.
• Bad sectors on the internal hard drive or other storage devices.
• Malware or viruses might corrupt Excel files on your Mac.
• Excel files might become corrupted if there's a power outage, especially while modifying or saving them on your Mac.