excel doesn't allow me to save changes

If you're unable to save changes in Excel after installing Microsoft 365, there could be several reasons for this issue:

1. Permissions: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to save files in the folder you're trying to use. You need both read and write permissions.
2. Disk Space: Check if there is sufficient disk space available on your hard drive or the drive you're trying to save to. If the disk is full, Excel will not be able to save your changes.
3. Antivirus Software: Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with the saving process. If it's running, try temporarily disabling it to see if that resolves the issue.
4. Third-party Add-ins: If you have any third-party add-ins installed, they might be causing conflicts. Try starting Excel in Safe Mode to see if you can save your file there. If it works in Safe Mode, you may need to identify and disable the problematic add-in.
5. File Sharing: If the workbook is shared with other users, ensure that no one else is trying to save changes at the same time, as this can cause conflicts.
6. File Naming: Ensure that the file name and path are not exceeding the character limit (218 characters). If they do, you may receive an error message.

If the problem persists, consider checking for updates or reinstalling Excel to ensure that all components are functioning correctly.

References:

• Troubleshoot why Excel doesn't save changes

Hi @Carol Johnson, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.   

Thank you very much for reaching out regarding the issue you are experiencing with Excel after installing Microsoft 365.  

To better assist you, could you please provide the following information: 

• Where the file is stored (local drive, OneDrive, SharePoint, network drive) 
• Any error messages shown when attempting to save 
• Your Windows version and Microsoft 365 version 

Once I have this information, I’ll be better positioned to guide you through the next steps.

In the meantime, as a workaround, you may try the steps below: 

1/ Check Microsoft 365 sign-in and activation status 

• Please open Excel and click File > Account. 
• Ensure you are signed in with your Microsoft 365 account. 
• Confirm that the product status shows “Microsoft 365 - Activated”. 
• If not signed in, please sign in and restart Excel. 
• 

2/ Verify the file is not in Read-Only mode 

• When the file is open, please check the title bar for “Read-Only”. 
• If the file was opened from an email or Teams chat, please save it to a local folder (e.g., Documents), then open it again from there. 
• Right-click the file > Properties > ensure Read-only is unchecked. 
• 

3/ Test saving the file to a local location 

• Use File > Save As and save the file to a local path such as: 
  • Documents or Desktop 
  • This helps determine whether the issue is related to network, OneDrive, or SharePoint permissions. 

4/ Check OneDrive / SharePoint sync status (if applicable) 

• Confirm you are signed in to OneDrive and that syncing is active (blue cloud icon without errors). 
• If you see any sync error messages, please resolve them and try saving again. 
• Ensure you have a stable internet connection. 

For additional details, you can refer to these articles: 

• How to troubleshoot errors when you save Excel workbooks - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn 
• SharePoint files open as read-only - SharePoint | Microsoft Learn 
   

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.    

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. 

I'm looking forward to your response. 

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