Microsoft Excel Not Saving Mac

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If you need to share a file with someone who does not have Office for Mac or who has an older version, you can save your document in a file format that a different or older application can read. You can also export a document as a PDF file or an HTML file, among other choices. On the File menu, click Save As. Excel won't save my formatting changes to a worksheet. I am trying to format a spreadsheet with simple stuff like bold font, borders, and highlighting cells. I save it, but when I go back into the worksheet all my formatting has been deleted.

  1. Excel Not Saving Mac
  2. Microsoft Excel Not Saving Mac Files
  3. Energy Saving
  4. Mac Excel Not Saving
  5. Microsoft Excel Not Saving Changes
  6. Saving Rate
  • Notes: After you specify the default file format, all new workbooks are saved in the selected file format unless you specify a different format in the Save As dialog box when you save a workbook. Some features and formatting might not be available if you save the workbook in the file format of an earlier version of Excel or another spreadsheet program.
  • Some of the content in this topic may not be applicable to some languages. The file formats that are listed in the Save As dialog box vary, depending on what type of sheet is active. If you are saving your file into a different format, in most cases, Excel converts only the active sheet.

You can convert and open spreadsheets in Numbers on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or online at iCloud.com.

Convert and open spreadsheets in Numbers on iPhone or iPad

You can work with a variety of file formats in Numbers on your iPhone or iPad. Check which formats are compatible with Numbers on iPhone and iPad.

Convert a Numbers spreadsheet in Numbers on iPhone or iPad

If you want to open a Numbers spreadsheet in another app like Microsoft Excel, use Numbers to convert the spreadsheet into the appropriate format.

  1. In Numbers, open the spreadsheet that you want to convert, then tap the More button .
  2. Tap Export.
  3. Choose a format for your spreadsheet. For example, if you want to open your Numbers spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, choose Excel.
  4. Choose how you want to send your spreadsheet, like with Mail or Messages.

Open a file in Numbers on your iPhone or iPad

To open a file like a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet on your iPhone or iPad, tap the file in the spreadsheet manager. If you don’t see the spreadsheet manager, tap the Back button (on an iPhone or iPod touch) or Spreadsheets (on an iPad), then tap the file that you want to open. If a file is dimmed, it’s not in a compatible format.

You can also open a file in Numbers from a different app like the Files app, or from an email:

  1. Open the other app, then select the spreadsheet or attachment.
  2. Tap the Share button .
  3. Tap Copy to Numbers. The original file remains intact.

After the file opens, you might get a message that the file was last edited in an app other than the most recent version of Numbers. Tap Done to open the file in Numbers.

Convert and open spreadsheets in Numbers for Mac

You can work with a variety of file formats in Numbers for Mac. Check which formats are compatible with Numbers for Mac.

Convert a Numbers spreadsheet in Numbers for Mac

If you want to open a Numbers spreadsheet in another app like Microsoft Excel, use Numbers to convert the spreadsheet to an appropriate format.

  1. In Numbers, open the Numbers spreadsheet that you want to convert.
  2. Choose File > Export To, then select the format.
  3. In the window that appears, you can choose a different format or set up any additional options. For example, you can require a password to open an exported PDF, or choose the format for an exported Excel spreadsheet.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Enter a name for your file and select a folder to save it to.
  6. Click Export.

To send a file in a specific format through Mail, Messages, AirDrop, or Notes, choose Share > Send a Copy, choose how you want to send the spreadsheet, then choose a format.

Open a file in Numbers for Mac

You can open a file from the Finder or from the Numbers app:

  • From the Finder, Control-click the file, then choose Open With > Numbers. If Numbers is the only spreadsheet app on your Mac, you can just double-click the file.
  • From the Numbers for Mac app, choose File > Open, select the file, then click Open. If a file is dimmed, it’s not a compatible format.

When the file opens, you might get a message that the spreadsheet will look different. For example, Numbers notifies you when fonts are missing. You might see also see warnings when you open spreadsheets created in older versions of Numbers.

Convert and open spreadsheets in Numbers for iCloud

Numbers for iCloud lets you open, edit, and share your files from a supported browser on a Mac or PC. Check which formats are compatible with Numbers for iCloud.

Convert a Numbers spreadsheet in Numbers for iCloud

  1. Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.
  2. Click Numbers.
  3. In the spreadsheet manager, click the More button on the file you want to convert, then choose Download a Copy. If you have the spreadsheet open, click the Tools button in the toolbar, then choose Download a Copy.
  4. Choose a format for the spreadsheet. The file begins to download to your browser’s download location.

Open a file in Numbers for iCloud

  1. Sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.
  2. Click Numbers.
  3. Drag the file you want to upload into the spreadsheet manager in your browser. Or click the Upload button , select the file, then click Choose.
  4. Double-click the file in the spreadsheet manager.

Check file format compatibility

Formats you can open in Numbers

You can open these file formats in Numbers on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and online at iCloud.com:

  • All Numbers versions
  • Microsoft Excel: Office Open XML (.xlsx) and Office 97 or later (.xls)
  • Comma Separated Values (.csv)
  • Tab-delimited or fixed-width text files

Formats you can convert Numbers spreadsheets into

Numbers on iPhone or iPad:

  • Microsoft Excel Office Open XML (.xlsx)
  • PDF
  • Comma Separated Values (.csv)
  • Tab Separated Values (.tsv)

Numbers for Mac:

  • Numbers ’09
  • Microsoft Excel: Office Open XML (.xlsx) and Office 97 or later (.xls)
  • PDF
  • Comma Separated Values (.csv)
  • Tab Separated Values (.tsv)

Numbers for iCloud:

  • Microsoft Excel Office Open XML (.xlsx)
  • PDF
  • Comma Separated Values (.csv)

Learn more

  • Numbers on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and online at iCloud.com use the same file format. If you create or edit a spreadsheet in Numbers on one platform, you can open it in Numbers on any of the other platforms.
  • You can update to current versions of Numbers on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from the App Store. To update Numbers for Mac, use the App Store app on your Mac.
  • If you convert a Numbers spreadsheet into Numbers ’09-compatible spreadsheet, learn more about changes that happen when you export to iWork ’09.
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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.

Symptoms

Microsoft excel not saving machine

When you double-select an icon or file name for a Microsoft Excel workbook, Excel starts, then displays a blank screen where you expect the file content to appear.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, try the following methods, as appropriate, in the given order.

Method 1: Ignore DDE

This problem may occur if the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box in Excel options is selected.

When you double-select an Excel workbook in Windows Explorer, a dynamic data exchange (DDE) message is sent to Excel. This message instructs Excel to open the workbook that you double-selected.

If you select the 'Ignore' option, Excel ignores DDE messages that are sent to it by other programs. Therefore, the DDE message that is sent to Excel by Windows Explorer is ignored, and Excel does not open the workbook that you double-selected.

To correct this setting, follow these steps:

Note

This step can be skipped for Excel 2019 and Excel O365

  1. In the upper-left corner of the Excel window, select File, then Options.
  2. On the left side of the Options window, select Advanced to open the Advanced window.
  3. In the Advanced window, scroll down to the General section.
  4. Clear the Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) check box, then select the OK button at the bottom of the window.

Note

For more information about how to turn off DDE, see 'An error occurred when sending commands to the program' in Excel

If these steps do not resolve the problem, continue to Method 2.

Method 2: Repair User Experience Virtualization (UE-V)

If you are running Update User Experience Virtualization (UE-V), install Hotfix 2927019. To do this, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

2927019 - Hotfix Package 1 for Microsoft User Experience Virtualization 2.0

If you are not sure whether you are running UE-V, examine the program list in the Programs and Features item in Control Panel. An entry for 'Company Settings Center' indicates that you are running UE-V.

If these steps do not resolve the problem, continue to Method 3.

Method 3: Reset file associations

To check whether the file associations in the system are performing correctly, reset the Excel file associations to their default settings. To do this, follow the steps for your operating system.

Windows 8.1/10

  1. Copy the file that is opening incorrectly, to your desktop.
  2. Right-click the file, and choose Properties
  3. On the General tab, next to Type of file, the type of file will be indicated within parenthesis. For example, (.docx), (.pdf), or (.csv).

Excel Not Saving Mac

The Opens with shows you which app it is currently associated with.

Microsoft Excel Not Saving Mac Files

To open this type of file in a different app:

  1. Select Change.
  2. Select More apps.
  3. Select the desired app, then select the checkbox to Always use this app.
  4. Select the OK button.

Windows 8

  1. On the Start screen, type Control Panel.
  2. Select or tap Control Panel.
  3. Select Default Programs, then select Set your default programs.
  4. Select Excel, then select Choose default for this program.
  5. On the Set Program Associations screen, select Select All, then select Save.

Windows 7

  1. Select Start, then select Control Panel.
  2. Select Default Programs.
  3. Select Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program.
  4. Select Microsoft Excel Worksheet, then select change program.
  5. Under Recommended Programs, select Microsoft Excel.
  6. If Excel does not appear in this list, select Browse, locate the Excel installation folder, select Excel.exe, then select Excel.

If these steps do not resolve the problem, continue to Method 4.

Method 4: Repair Office

Try to repair your Office programs. To do this, follow the steps for your installation type and operating system.

For an Office 365 or Office 2019 Click-to-Run installation

Windows 10
  1. On the Start screen, type Settings.
  2. Select or tap Settings.
  3. In the Settings window, select or tap Apps.
  4. In the Apps & features window, scroll down to your Office program and select or tap it.
  5. Select or tap the Modify button.
  6. In the How would you like to repair your Office programs window, select or tap the Online Repair radio button, then select or tap the Repair button.
Windows 8
  1. On the Start screen, type Control Panel.
  2. Select or tap Control Panel.
  3. Under Programs, select or tap Uninstall a program.
  4. Select or tap Microsoft Office 365, then select or tap Change.
  5. Select or tap Online Repair, then select or tap Repair. You may have to restart your computer after the repair process is finished.
Windows 7

  1. Select Start, then select Control Panel.

  2. Double-select Programs and Features.

  3. Select Microsoft Office 365, then select Change.

  4. Select Online Repair, then select Repair.

Note

You may have to restart your computer after the repair process is complete.

For an Office 2013, Office 2010, or Office 2007 installation

To repair Office 2013, Office 2010, or Office 2007, follow the steps in the following Office website topic:

If these steps do not resolve the problem, continue to Method 5.

Method 5: Turn off add-ins

Excel and COM add-in programs can also cause this problem. These two kinds of add-ins are located in different folders. For testing, disable and isolate the conflict by turning off each add-in one at a time. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. On the File menu, select Options, then select Add-Ins.
  2. In the Manage list at the bottom of the screen, select COM Add-Ins item, then select Go.
  3. Clear one of the add-ins in the list, then select OK.
  4. Restart Excel by double-selecting the icon or file name for the workbook that you are trying to open.
  5. If the problem persists, repeat steps 1-4, except select a different add-in in step 3.
  6. If the problem persists after you clear all the COM Add-ins, repeat steps 1-4, except select Excel Add-Ins in step 2, then try each of the Excel add-ins one at a time in step 3.

If Excel loads the file, the add-in you last turned off is causing the problem. If this is the case, we recommend that you visit the manufacturer's website for the add-in to learn whether an updated version of the add-in is available. If a newer version of the add-in is not available, or if you don't have to use the add-in, you can leave it turned off.

If Excel does not open the file after you turn off all the add-ins, the problem has a different cause.

If these steps do not resolve the problem, continue to Method 6.

Method 6: Disable hardware acceleration

NotNot

To work around this problem, disable hardware acceleration until a fix is released by your video card manufacturer. Make sure to check regularly for updates to your video card driver.

Energy Saving

To disable hardware acceleration, follow these steps:

  1. Start any Office 2013, 2016, 2019, or O365 program.

  2. On the File tab, select Options.

  3. In the Options dialog box, select Advanced.

  4. In the list of available options, select the Disable hardware graphics acceleration check box.

    The following screen shot shows this option in Excel.

  5. Select the OK button.

Note

For more information about hardware acceleration, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

2768648 - Performance and display issues in Office 2013 client applications

Method 7: Minimizing and maximizing the window

Mac Excel Not Saving

Minimizing and then maximizing the window can sometimes refresh the Excel page and cause any hidden data to appear.

  1. Select the minimize button in the top-right corner of the Excel sheet.
  2. In the task tray, right-click Excel and select your spreadsheet. (Or double click the Excel icon.)

Microsoft Excel Not Saving Changes

When your sheet is maximized, your data may appear.

Method 8: Check for hidden sheets

An Excel sheet may have inadvertently been saved as a hidden document. To find out:

  1. Go to the View tab.
  2. Select Unhide.
  3. Choose a workbook from the list.
  4. Select OK.

Saving Rate

If you still experience this problem after you try all these methods, contact Microsoft Support for additional troubleshooting help.