8 Solutions to Resolve Excel AutoSave Issues

Numerous users have encountered issues with the AutoSave feature not functioning in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. This problem can stem from various factors, including corrupted files, conflicting add-ins, or a damaged Office application.

Initially, verify that the file in question is not using outdated file formats like. xls,. doc, or. ppt, and then move on to the detailed solutions below.

How to Fix AutoSave Not Working in Excel

1. Check if the AutoSave Feature is Enabled

1. Press the Windows key, type excel in the search bar, and click Open.
2. Navigate to File.
3. Click on Options.
4. Select the Save section from the left pane in the Excel Options window.
5. Find the Save AutoRecover information every—minute option, enable it, and specify a time interval in minutes in the provided field.
6. Tick the box next to Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving.
7. Optionally, check the box for AutoSave files stored in the Cloud by default in Excel.
8. Click OK to apply the changes.

2. Use the Open and Repair Option

1. In Excel, go to File, click Open, and then select Browse.
2. Choose the file you are having issues with in the next window.
3. Select Open and Repair from the Open drop-down menu and press Enter .
4. A prompt will appear with two options: Extract Data and Repair. Select Repair to fix the corrupt Excel workbook, or choose Extract Data to retrieve formulas and values from the sheet.

3. Resave the Temp Files

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the following path, replacing <username> with your account username: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\
3. If unsaved files aren’t found there, check this path: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\UnsavedFiles
4. If you find the Excel temp file, press F2 and rename it with an XLS file format to recover the workbook.

4. Update the Excel App

1. Press the Windows key, type excel in the search bar, and click Open.
2. Go to File.
3. Click Account.
4. In the right pane, click Update Options, then select Update Now from the dropdown menu.

5. Disable Add-Ins

1. Press the Windows key, type excel in the search bar, and click Open.
2. Go to File.
3. Click Options.
4. Select Add-ins.
5. Locate Manage, choose Excel Add-ins from the dropdown, and click Go.
6. Uncheck all the Add-ins listed and click OK.

Conflicting add-ins can also lead to problems such as Excel files failing to open in Windows 11; for further information, refer to this detailed guide.

6. Remove Security Features

1. Press the Windows key, type excel in the search bar, and click Open.
2. Go to File.
3. Select Info.
4. Click Protect Workbook and select Encrypt with Password from the dropdown.
5. In the next window, remove the password protection and save the changes.
6. Again, navigate to File > Info > Protect Workbook > Restrict Access and select Unrestricted Access.

7. Refresh Data When Opening the File (Applicable for Table/Pivot Table)

1. Select the table or Pivot table and navigate to Table Tools Design.
2. Click Refresh and select Connection Properties from the context menu.
3. Remove the checkmark next to Refresh data when opening the file.

8. Repair/Reinstall Microsoft Office

1. Press Windows + I to open the Windows Settings app.
2. Navigate to Apps, then click Installed apps.
3. Locate Microsoft Office, click on the three-dot icon, and select Modify.
4. Confirm by clicking Yes on the UAC prompt.
5. In the pop-up window, choose Quick Repair and then click the Repair button to initiate the repair process.
6. If troubleshooting does not resolve the issue, go back to the Installed apps list, locate Microsoft Office, click the three-dot icon, and choose Uninstall.
7. Click Uninstall again.
8. Visit Microsoft’s official website to sign in.
9. Go to Services and subscriptions, find Microsoft Office, and click Install to download the latest version of the app.
10. After downloading the installer, double-click it and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

This comprehensive guide provides you with methods to resolve the AutoSave not working issue in Microsoft Excel. If you are handling corrupted files in Excel, we also have a dedicated guide available for you.

If you have any queries or suggestions regarding the Excel AutoSave not working problem, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments section below.

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