OneDrive Can't Save Your Changes

Question

OneDrive Can't Save Your Changes

Khun Kyaw Soe 0

Hi,

I've recently started using OneDrive to hold some small, simple Excel files. I access these files from a couple of PCs and mobile devices. Each time I finish using the Excel file I close it as one should. At some point later I attempt to open/edit/save the Excel file & far too frequently I encounter the following error:

Can't Save Your Changes

Your file wasn't saved because we couldn't merge your changes with changes from someone else. Click button options: Save a Copy or Discard My Changes Since I'm the only one using these files, and I'm confident I close and save them appropriately, I don't understand why I frequently get these messages. It's not every time, but it is far too often. I'm then forced to save the newly edited file with a different filename, and then delete my original and rename the newly edited. It's painfully annoying!

Clearly I'm doing something wrong/one of my settings is wrong/ or something peculiar is happening. Any suggestions please?

Thank you all

Khun Kyaw Soe 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T09:33:24.8+00:00

Thanks all
Wail Waked Amer 75 Reputation points

2024-12-23T14:19:44.01+00:00
Understanding the Issue

OneDrive Sync Conflict:

OneDrive attempts to sync files across devices. If a file is still syncing on one device when you access or edit it on another, conflicts can arise.

Even if you are the only user, OneDrive might interpret background processes or delayed syncs as simultaneous edits.

Temporary Files:
- Excel creates temporary files (`~filename.xlsx`) during editing. If these files are not cleaned up properly (e.g., due to improper closing or network issues), conflicts may occur. **AutoSave Feature**: - If AutoSave is enabled and changes are made simultaneously on different devices, OneDrive may encounter issues while merging edits.

Solutions

Ensure Proper Closure of Files

Before switching to another device, ensure the file is completely saved and closed.

Check OneDrive’s sync status (blue circle icon). Ensure sync is complete before accessing the file elsewhere.

Disable AutoSave Temporarily

Open the Excel file and disable AutoSave in the top-left corner of the Excel window.

This reduces frequent file updates that can trigger sync conflicts.

Use "Always Keep on This Device" Option

Right-click on the Excel file in your OneDrive folder and select "Always keep on this device".

This ensures the file is always available offline, reducing the chances of sync issues.

Check and Resolve Sync Issues

Open the OneDrive App on your PC:

Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.

Look for any sync errors or warnings and resolve them.

If you find conflicting copies, merge the changes manually and delete the duplicates.

Update OneDrive and Office Applications

Ensure both OneDrive and Excel are updated to the latest versions. Older versions may have bugs causing these conflicts.

Turn Off Collaboration Features

If you don't need real-time collaboration:

Go to File > Info > Protect Workbook in Excel.

Disable Shared Workbook or similar options.

Clear Cache

Sometimes, OneDrive's cache may be causing issues:

Go to Settings > Apps > OneDrive on your PC or device.

Select Reset OneDrive (this won't delete files but will refresh the sync process).

Use a Static Folder Structure

Avoid renaming or moving files across folders during sync. Keep files in a fixed location.

Preventive Measures

Avoid Simultaneous Edits: Always wait for OneDrive to finish syncing before opening files on another device.

Work Offline: If you know you’ll edit the file exclusively, download it locally and re-upload it after editing.

Use File Version History: OneDrive retains a version history for files. If conflicts occur, restore an earlier version instead of creating new filenames.

How to Resolve Existing Conflicts

Save your changes with a different name (as you're currently doing).

Open the original and the newly saved file.

Manually compare and merge changes.

Replace the original with the updated file.

Monitor for recurring issues. Understanding the Issue

OneDrive Sync Conflict:

OneDrive attempts to sync files across devices. If a file is still syncing on one device when you access or edit it on another, conflicts can arise.

Even if you are the only user, OneDrive might interpret background processes or delayed syncs as simultaneous edits.

Temporary Files:

Excel creates temporary files (~filename.xlsx) during editing. If these files are not cleaned up properly (e.g., due to improper closing or network issues), conflicts may occur.

AutoSave Feature:

If AutoSave is enabled and changes are made simultaneously on different devices, OneDrive may encounter issues while merging edits.

Solutions 1. Ensure Proper Closure of Files

Before switching to another device, ensure the file is completely saved and closed.

Check OneDrive’s sync status (blue circle icon). Ensure sync is complete before accessing the file elsewhere.

2. Disable AutoSave Temporarily

Open the Excel file and disable AutoSave in the top-left corner of the Excel window.

This reduces frequent file updates that can trigger sync conflicts.

3. Use "Always Keep on This Device" Option

Right-click on the Excel file in your OneDrive folder and select "Always keep on this device".

This ensures the file is always available offline, reducing the chances of sync issues.

4. Check and Resolve Sync Issues

Open the OneDrive App on your PC:

Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.

Look for any sync errors or warnings and resolve them.

If you find conflicting copies, merge the changes manually and delete the duplicates.

5. Update OneDrive and Office Applications

Ensure both OneDrive and Excel are updated to the latest versions. Older versions may have bugs causing these conflicts.

6. Turn Off Collaboration Features

If you don't need real-time collaboration:

Go to File > Info > Protect Workbook in Excel.

Disable Shared Workbook or similar options.

7. Clear Cache

Sometimes, OneDrive's cache may be causing issues:

Go to Settings > Apps > OneDrive on your PC or device.

Select Reset OneDrive (this won't delete files but will refresh the sync process).

8. Use a Static Folder Structure

Avoid renaming or moving files across folders during sync. Keep files in a fixed location.

Preventive Measures

Avoid Simultaneous Edits: Always wait for OneDrive to finish syncing before opening files on another device.

Work Offline: If you know you’ll edit the file exclusively, download it locally and re-upload it after editing.

Use File Version History: OneDrive retains a version history for files. If conflicts occur, restore an earlier version instead of creating new filenames.

How to Resolve Existing Conflicts

Save your changes with a different name (as you're currently doing).

Open the original and the newly saved file.

Manually compare and merge changes.

Replace the original with the updated file.

Monitor for recurring issues.
D B 0 Reputation points

2026-11-12T19:25:37.39+00:00

I have been having the same problem as the above user. When I have the "autosave" mode on Excel files, and update/add info etc every day, you cannot expect me to check both original version and new version. Basically the info that I thought was saved 2 days ago, looks like it is not saved. So I had to re-enter all the info onto the file again and saved under a NEW name. Do you expect me to do this forever? I'd prefer NOT to have OneDrive and have to deal with this double work!!!

2 answers

Your answer

Khun Kyaw Soe 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T09:33:24.8+00:00

Thanks all
D B 0 Reputation points

2026-11-12T19:25:37.39+00:00

I have been having the same problem as the above user. When I have the "autosave" mode on Excel files, and update/add info etc every day, you cannot expect me to check both original version and new version. Basically the info that I thought was saved 2 days ago, looks like it is not saved. So I had to re-enter all the info onto the file again and saved under a NEW name. Do you expect me to do this forever? I'd prefer NOT to have OneDrive and have to deal with this double work!!!

Answer 1

Hi,

I suggest you ensure that you have both Modify and Delete rights for the folder where you are saving the file. If Excel cannot delete the existing file or rename the temporary file, it may cause the save operation to fail.

You can also try to delete cached fi les, please click on Windows key> Enter Office Upload Center> Click on it to Open> Settings> Delete cached file> Ok.

If this error message still exists, try resetting OneDrive by following these steps:

Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar and select "Settings."

Go to the "Office" tab and uncheck "Use Office 2016 to sync Office files that I open."

Follow the steps to reset OneDrive.

Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Khun Kyaw Soe 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T09:43:22.2466667+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion and I can't find office tab on OneDrive setting as per screenshot, Now, some user are using OneDrive on Browser but issue is still happen.

Answer 2

Hi Khun Kyaw Soe,
Thank you for reaching out to us on the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Please try the troubleshooting procedures below, they should fix your problem:

Restart OneDrive: Consider restarting the OneDrive application on your device. In some situations, exiting and launching the application again is enough to fix the issue with synchronization.

Restart Your Device: A quick restart of the device may also eliminate some temporary bugs and then reconnect to OneDrive.

Check File Permissions: Make sure you have appropriate rights to access and change the files within your OneDrive account. You can check the file permissions by logging into your OneDrive Web and checking the affected files’ sharing settings.

Clear OneDrive Cache: Sometimes, deleting the cache of the OneDrive application helps in fixing the issue of file synchronization. You can do this by going to settings of the OneDrive application installed on your device and then looking for the option “Clear cache” or “Delete temp files”.

Update OneDrive: Make sure that your device has the updated version of the OneDrive application. These updates are essential since they help in bug fixes and performance related issues that may be the cause of your problem.

Reinstall OneDrive: If that doesn’t work, you could try removing and reinstalling the OneDrive software on your computer. This can assist in resetting the application and solving any residual problems.
I trust that these solutions address your problem, and if there are still other problems or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask again.

If you continue to face issues, please let us know in the comments. We are here to help.

If you find this information helpful, please acknowledge by clicking the "Upvote" and "Accept Answer" buttons on the post.

Khun Kyaw Soe 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T07:42:30.7433333+00:00

Thanks for your solution but we're using OneDrive in browser so issue is still happen.
kguntaka 6,865 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-12-16T09:20:37.2366667+00:00

Hi Khun Kyaw Soe,
We are happy to hear that your issue got resolved that was provided by @Emi Zhang-MSFT. If you encounter any further challenges, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us, and we'll be more than happy to provide additional assistance.