Microsoft Word Wont Save Mac

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  2. Microsoft Word Won't Save Machine
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2019-12-3  Since I upgraded to Word 2016 for mac from the online download store, I've had spotty saving capability, and now it has stopped saving 90% of the time. I even tried to copy and paste it into a new document and it still won't save. Save and save as are both not working, even after I have updated. Hi, What is the OS X Version and what is the Word.

Note

Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.

  1. For instance, some people say that Microsoft Word won’t open on Mac, even after numerous efforts. Chances are that there could be a problem with the software itself or your Mac as well. The good news is that you can learn how to open Word on Mac and fix this issue by following some simple steps.
  2. Save or convert to PDF on your Mac. For information about saving documents as PDFs in other versions of Microsoft Word, go to Save as PDF.

Note

If you experience specific issues when you use Word, visit the Word help center to search for information about your issue.

Summary

This article describes how to troubleshoot problems that may occur when you start or use Microsoft Word. Use the following methods in the order in which they are presented. If you try one of these methods and it does not help, go to the next method.

Resolution

Verify or install the latest updates

You might have to set Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates. Installing any important, recommended, and optional updates can frequently correct problems by replacing out-of-date files and fixing vulnerabilities. To install the latest Microsoft Office updates, see Update Office and your computer with Microsoft Update.

For list of the latest Office updates, see Office Updates. If your issue is not resolved after you install the latest Windows and Office updates, go to method 2.

It's a good idea to make sure that your computer has the latest updates installed for Windows. Updates often fix software problems. Before you use any of the following methods, try first to install updates. After you install the updates, restart your computer, and then start Word.

Troubleshoot problems that occur when you start Word

Important

Wont

Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.

Method 1: Insert your document into another file

The final paragraph mark in a Word document contains information about the document. If the document is damaged, you may be able to retrieve the text of the document if you can omit this final paragraph mark.

To access a document but leave its final paragraph mark behind, follow these steps:

  1. On the File menu, click New and then click Blank Document.
  2. On the Insert tab, click Object in the Text group, and then click Text from File.
  3. Select the file that you want to open and insert, and then click Insert.

Method 2: Start Word by using the /a switch

The /a switch is a troubleshooting tool that is used to determine where a problem may exist in Word. The /a switch prevents add-ins and global templates from being loaded automatically. The /a switch also locks the settings files to prevent it from being read or modified. To start Word by using the /a switch, follow these steps:

  1. Type Run in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
  2. In the **Run **dialog box, type winword /a, and then press Enter.

For more information about the /a switch, go to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

826857 Description of the '/a' startup switch in Word

If the problem does not occur when you start Word by using the /a switch, try the next method to determine the source of the problem.

Method 3: Delete the Word Data registry subkey

Most of the frequently used options in Word are stored in the Word Data registry subkey. A common troubleshooting step is to delete the Word Data registry subkey. When you restart Word, the program rebuilds the Word Data registry key by using the default settings.

Note When you delete the Word Data registry subkey, Word resets several options to their default settings. For example, Word resets the 'most recently used file' list on the File menu. Also, Word resets many settings that you customize in the Options dialog box.

Important

Follow the steps in this section carefully. Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.

To delete the Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.

  3. Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are using:

    Word 2016HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0WordData

    Word 2013HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice15.0WordData

    Word 2010HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0WordData

    Word 2007HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0WordData

    Word 2003HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0WordData

  4. Click Data, and then click Export on the File menu.

  5. Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.

  6. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.

  7. Exit Registry Editor.

  8. Start Word.

If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Data registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Data registry subkey, and then try the next method.

Restore the original Word Data registry key

To restore the original Word Data registry subkey, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.
  2. Double-click the Wddata.reg icon on the desktop.
  3. Click Yes, and then click OK.
    If restoring the Word Data registry subkey doesn't work, go to the next procedure.

Method 4: Delete the Word Options registry key

The Word Options registry key stores options that you can set in Word. These settings are divided into default and optional groups. Default settings are created during the program setup. Optional settings are not created during setup. You can change both the default and optional settings in Word.

To delete the Word Options registry key, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.

  3. Locate the following registry subkey, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

    Word 2016HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0WordOptions

    Word 2013HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice15.0WordOptions

    Word 2010HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice14.0WordOptions

    Word 2007HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice12.0WordOptions

    Word 2003HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0WordOptions

  4. Click Options, and then click Export on the File menu.

  5. Name the file Wddata.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.

  6. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.

  7. Exit Registry Editor.

  8. Start Word.

If Word starts and works correctly, you have resolved the problem (a damaged Word Options registry key). You may now have to change several settings to restore your favorite options in Word.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original Word Options registry key, and then try the next method.

To restore the original Word Options registry key

To restore the original Word Options registry key, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.
  2. Double-click the Wdoptn.reg icon on the desktop.
  3. Click Yes, and then click OK.

Method 5: Replace the Normal.dot or Normal.dotm global template file

You can prevent formatting, AutoText, and macros that are stored in the global template file from affecting the behavior of Word and any documents that you open. To do this, replace the global template file.

Important

This method includes renaming the global template file so that Word does not find it as expected when it restarts. This forces Word to re-create the global template file. By doing this, you save the original file in case you have to restore it. Be aware that when you rename the global template file, several settings are reset to their defaults, including custom styles, custom toolbars, macros, and AutoText entries. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you save the global template file and do not delete it.

Additional note In certain situations, you may have more than one global template file. For example, this occurs if multiple versions of Word are running on the same computer, or if several workstation installations exist on the same computer. In these situations, make sure that you rename each global template file so that it clearly reflects the appropriate Word installation.

To rename the global template file, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Type cmd in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.

  3. At the command prompt, type the following command, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running, and then press Enter:

    Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010, or Word 2007

    Word 2003

  4. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press Enter.

  5. Start Word.

If Word starts correctly, you have resolved the problem. In this case, the problem is a damaged global template file. Now, you may have to change several settings to restore your favorite options.

Note

The old global template file may contain customizations that can't be easily re-created. These customizations may include styles, macros, and AutoText entries. In this case, you may be able to copy the customizations from the old global template file to the new global template file by using the Organizer. For more information about how to use the Organizer to copy macros and styles, press F1 in Word to open Microsoft Word Help, type rename macros in the Search box, and then click Search to view the topic.

If the problem is not resolved, restore the original global template file, and then go to the next section.

Restore the original global template file

To restore the original global template file, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Type cmd in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.

  3. At the command prompt, type the following command, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running, and then press Enter:

    Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010 and Word 2007

    Word 2003

  4. Type exit, and then press Enter.

  5. Start Word.

Method 6: Disable the Startup folder add-ins

When you start Word, Word automatically loads templates and add-ins that are located in the Startup folders. Conflicts or problems that affect an add-in can cause problems in Word. To determine whether an item in a Startup folder is causing the problem, temporarily disable the registry setting that points to these add-ins.

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Start Windows Explorer. Type windows ex in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.

  3. Type the following command in the address bar, as appropriate for the version of Word that you're running and its installation type, and then press Enter: Word 2016

    64-bit C2R installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officerootoffice16Startup

    Jan 25, 2019  Unlock the full Microsoft Office experience with a qualifying Office 365 subscription for your phone, tablet, PC, and Mac. Office 365 annual subscriptions purchased from the app will be charged to your App Store account and will automatically renew within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period unless auto-renewal is disabled beforehand. Does microsoft word come with mac. Jan 24, 2019  The result is an experience that is unmistakably Office but designed for Mac. “We are excited to welcome Microsoft Office 365 to the all new Mac App Store in macOS Mojave. Apple and Microsoft have worked together to bring great Office productivity to Mac users from the very beginning. Jan 18, 2008  Only the trial versions of Microsoft Office and iWork are included with a new Mac. You need to pay for the full versions of those software packages. Jan 30, 2020  Microsoft Word is a word processing application that was first released on the Mac in 1985. The word processor differentiates itself from text editors such as Notes by providing a robust platform with advanced features including spell checking, embedded objects and charts, pictures, and merging data from databases.

    32-bit C2R installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officerootoffice16Startup

    64-bit MSI installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officeoffice16Startup

    32-bit MSI installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officeoffice16Startup

    Word 2013

    64-bit C2R installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officerootoffice15Startup

    32-bit C2R installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officerootoffice15Startup

    64-bit MSI installation:%programfiles%Microsoft Officeoffice15Startup

    32-bit MSI installation:%programfiles% (x86)Microsoft Officeoffice15Startup

    Word 2010

    %programfiles%Microsoft OfficeOffice14Startup

    Word 2007

    %programfiles%Microsoft OfficeOffice12Startup

    Word 2003

    %programfiles%MicrosoftOfficeOffice11Startup

  4. Right-click one of the files that is contained in the folder, and then click Rename.

  5. After the file name, type .old, and then press Enter.

    Important

    Make a note of the original file name so that you can restore the file, if it is necessary.

  6. Start Word.

  7. If you can no longer reproduce the problem, you have found the specific add-in that causes the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, contact the vendor of the add-in for an update.

    If the problem is not resolved, rename the add-in by using its original name, and then repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in the Startup folder.

  8. If you can still reproduce the problem, type the following path in the address bar of Windows Explorer, and then click OK. For Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista

    %userprofile%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWordStartup

    For Windows XP

    %userprofile%Application DataMicrosoftWordStartup

  9. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for each file in this Startup folder.

If the problem is not resolved after you disable the Startup folder add-ins, go to the next method.

Method 7: Delete the COM add-ins registry keys

You can install COM add-ins in any location. Programs that interact with Word install COM add-ins. To determine whether a COM add-in is causing the problem, temporarily disable the COM add-ins by deleting the registry keys for the COM add-ins.

To delete the COM add-ins registry keys, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.
  2. Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
  3. Locate the following registry subkey: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOfficeWordAddins
  4. Click Addins, and then click Export on the File menu.
  5. Name the file WdaddinHKCU.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
  7. Locate the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftOfficeWordAddins
  8. Click Addins, and then on the File menu, click Export.
  9. Name the file WdaddinHKLM.reg, and then save the file to the desktop.
  10. On the Edit menu, click Delete, and then click Yes.
  11. Exit Registry Editor.
  12. Start Word.
    If the problem is resolved, you have determined that a COM add-in program is causing the problem. Next, you must determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem.
Determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem

To determine which COM add-in program is causing the problem, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.

  2. Double-click the Wdaddin.reg icon on your desktop.

  3. Click Yes, and then click OK.

  4. Use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

    Word 2016, Word 2013, or Word 2010

    1. On the File menu, click Options.
    2. Click Add-Ins.
    3. In the Manage list, click COM Add-Ins, and then click Go.

    Note If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins dialog box, clear the add-in check box. If more than one add-in is listed, clear only one add-in check box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.
    4. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.
    5. On the File menu, click Exit.

    Word 2007

    1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word options.

    2. Click Add-ins.

    3. In the Manage list, click COM Add-ins, and then click Go.

      If an add-in is listed in the COM Add-Ins dialog box, click to clear the add-in check box. If more than one add-in is listed, click to clear only one add-in check box at a time. This procedure helps determine which add-in is causing the problem.

    4. Click OK to close the COM Add-Ins dialog box.

    5. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Exit Word.

    6. On the File menu, click Exit.

  5. Start Word.
    If the problem is resolved when you start Word, you have determined which COM add-in is causing the problem. If you must have the features that the add-in provides, you must determine which add-in includes those features so that you can contact the vendor for an update.

If the problem is not resolved when you start Word, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each COM add-in that's listed until you determine which add-in is causing the problem.

To restore the COM add-ins, repeat step 4, but select the check box for each COM add-in that you want to restore.

Method 8: Change the default printer

To change the default printer, follow these steps:

  1. Exit all Office programs.
  2. Type regedit in the Search box (in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8) or in the Start Search box on the Start menu (in earlier versions of Windows), and then press Enter.
  3. Right-click Microsoft XPS Document Writer, and then click Set as default printer.
  4. Start Word.
    If the problem is resolved after you start Word, you have determined that the printer is causing the problem. If this is the case, contact the vendor to see whether there is an update for the printer driver.

Microsoft Support options

If you can't resolve this problem, you can use Microsoft Support to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base and other technical resources for answers. You can also customize the site to control your search. To start your search, go to the Microsoft Support website.

Additional resources

If you experience specific issues when you use Word, go to the following websites to search for specific information about your program version:

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Note

Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.

Summary

You may have problems when you try to save a Microsoft Excel workbook if one or more of the following conditions are true:

  • You save an Excel workbook to a network drive on which you have restricted permissions.
  • You save an Excel workbook to a location that does not have sufficient drive space.
  • The connection to the Excel workbook is lost.
  • There is a conflict with an antivirus software program.
  • You save an Excel workbook that is shared.
  • The 218-character path limitation is exceeded when you save an Excel workbook.

Workarounds and resolutions

The following sections include workarounds to save your workbooks and troubleshooting steps to help you find the cause of the problem. We recommend that you first try to save changes in any open Excel workbooks before you start troubleshooting.

Workarounds to save Excel workbooks

To work around this problem and try to save your work before you troubleshoot, use the following methods. Depending on the cause of the problem, you may be unable to recover the current file as-is. However, the following methods are typically successful. These methods are listed in order of format retention when you are trying to keep the original file formatting.

Note

Mac

The following methods may not save all the latest changes, formatting, and feature sets of the workbook that are specific to the version of Excel that you are using. The following methods are intended to let you obtain a usable, saved version of the file. These methods require you to save the file to your local hard disk by using a unique file name.

Method 1: Save the workbook by using a new file name

  1. On the File menu, select Save As.
  2. Save the Excel workbook by using a unique file name.

Method 2: Move the original worksheets to a new workbook

  1. Add a filler worksheet to your workbook. To do this, press Shift + F11.

    Note

    This sheet is required because there has to be at least one remaining sheet in a workbook after you move all relevant data sheets.

  2. Group all the worksheets (except the filler). To do this, select the first sheet, hold the Shift key, and then select the last sheet.

  3. Right-select the grouped sheets, and then select Move or copy.

  4. In the To Book list, select (New Book).

  5. Select OK.

    Note

    These steps should move the active (grouped) worksheets to a new workbook.

If your workbook contains VBA macros, copy the modules from the old workbook to the new workbook.

Method 3: Save the file as a different Excel file type

  1. On the File menu, select Save As.
  2. In the Save as Type list, select a file format other than the current file format. If you are using Microsoft Excel 2007 or a later version, save the file as .xlsx or .xlsm instead of as .xls.

Troubleshooting

To troubleshoot this problem, follow these steps in the given order.

Step 1: Try to save the workbook to another location

Try saving your notebook to another location, such as a local hard drive, a network drive, or removable drive. If you are successful, the following are possible causes of the problem:

Step 2: Try to save a new workbook to the original location

To save a new Excel file to the original location, follow these steps:

  1. Create an Excel workbook.

  2. On the File menu, select Save As.

  3. In the Save As dialog box, follow these steps:

    1. In the Save in box, select the location in which the original workbook is saved.
    2. In the File name box, type a name for the new file.
    3. Select Save.

If you can save a new workbook to the original location, the following are possible causes of the problem:

If you cannot save a new workbook to the original location, the following is a possible cause of the problem:

If you have sufficient drive space, try Step 3.

Step 3: Try to save the workbook in safe mode

Restart Windows in safe mode, and then try to save the workbook to your local hard disk.

Notes

  • If you use a network location to save your workbook, try to restart Windows in safe mode with network support, and then try to save.
  • Windows safe mode cannot be used to troubleshoot issues in Microsoft Excel 2010 or later versions.

For more information about how to start Windows in safe mode, see Advanced startup options (including safe mode).

If the workbook saves after you restart Windows in safe mode, try to save the file again. To do this, select Save on the File menu.

If the workbook does not save (or save again) after you restart Windows in safe mode, the following are possible causes:

Causes

Third-party add-in

If the Excel file is not saved when you run Excel in Windows safe mode, the issue may be caused by a third-party add-in or by a file that is in one of the Excel startup locations. By default, these files are loaded when you start Excel.

Sometimes, third-party software vendors install custom add-ins to work with Excel. Some of these add-ins work with existing Excel features by design, and some are intended to enable a seamless transition when you are using a third-party product. Typically, these third-party add-ins do not interfere with normal Excel functionality. However, there are some exceptions. For example, Excel save conflicts have occurred because of an add-in.

To test for and eliminate the possibility that a third-party Excel add-in or file is causing an Excel save issue, start Excel in safe mode. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Exit Excel.

  2. Select Start, and then point to Programs.

  3. Press Ctrl when you start Excel, and hold it until you receive a message that resembles the following:

    Excel has detected that you are holding down the Ctrl key. Do you want to start Excel in safe mode?

  4. Select Yes.

  5. Try to save a new Excel file, and then resave the same Excel file again.

If the file saves correctly, a custom add-in or a file that is located in an Excel startup location is most likely the cause. You must locate and remove the add-in or the file to eliminate the problem. After you determine the add-in or the file that caused the problem, contact the vendor that designed it. The vendor may have additional information about this issue and an update that does not cause the issue to occur.

For more information about Microsoft Excel safe mode, press F1 in Excel to open the Help menu, type safe modein the Search box, and then select Search to view the topic.

For more information about how to determine the folders that Excel uses during startup and additional options to disable this functionality, select the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

822107 How to use startup folders in Excel

826922 How to prevent files from opening automatically in Excel

Restricted permissions

When you save an Excel file, you must have the following permissions to the folder in which you are saving the file:

  • Read permission
  • Write permission
  • Modify permission
  • Delete permission

Microsoft Word Won't Save Mac File

Note

If you do not have these permissions, the Excel save process cannot be completed.

Insufficient drive space

When you save to any medium, such as a floppy disk drive, a local hard disk, or a network drive, you must make sure that the drive has sufficient free space to enable the file to save. If the destination drive does not have sufficient space, Excel cannot complete the save operation, and you receive the following error message: Disk is Full.

For more information about this error message, select the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

214245 You receive the 'Disk is Full' error message when you save a workbook in Excel

214073 You receive an error message when you try to save a file in Excel

Antivirus software conflict

When antivirus software is installed or is running, you may receive an error message when you try to save an existing workbook. You do not receive an error message if you try to save a new file. You may receive an error message because some antivirus programs quickly scan any new files that appear on a computer. This scan can sometimes disrupt the Excel save process. This interruption may stop Excel from saving the file correctly.

File sharing conflict

Microsoft Word Won't Save Machine

If you and a second user work concurrently on a shared workbook, you may receive an error message if you and the second user try to save the file at the same time. You receive an error message because Excel cannot save the file if another instance of Excel is saving the same file.

For more information about this error message, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

130494 Unlock a file that has been locked for editing

File name length

If you try to save or open an Excel file, and the path of that file (including the file name) is more than 218 characters, you may receive the following error message: Filename is not valid.

Microsoft Word Won T Save As Pdf

For more information, select the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 213983 Error message when you open or save a file in Microsoft Excel: 'Filename is not valid'

Process to save a file

Excel follows these steps when it saves a file:

  1. Excel creates a randomly named temporary file (for example, Cedd4100 without a file name extension) in the destination folder that you specified in the Save As dialog box. The whole workbook is written to the temporary file.
  2. If changes are being saved to an existing file, Excel deletes the original file.
  3. Excel renames the temporary file. Excel gives the temporary file the file name that you specified (such as Book1.xls) in the Save As dialog box.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

814068 Description of the way that Excel saves files

Note

Microsoft Word Won't Save Mac File

Other processes that occur on your computer may disrupt the Excel save process. These issues may occur if the Excel temporary file is accessed before the Excel save process is completed. For example, the local antivirus software locks the temporary file for scanning before the file can be renamed. Therefore, you must keep track of any new software installations or updates that are performed before you have problems when you try to save workbooks. This information will be helpful if this article does not fix your issue and you have to contact Microsoft Support. For more information, go to the following Microsoft website: http:/support.microsoft.com