How to Fix the “Errors were Detected while Saving Excel” Error?

Encountering errors while working on Excel is not uncommon. You may encounter errors when opening or saving the Excel file. One of the common errors you may encounter is “Errors were detected while saving filename.xlsx.” The complete error message reads as follows:

“Errors were detected while saving [file name]. Microsoft Excel may be able to save the file by removing or repairing some features. To make the repairs in a new file, click Continue. To cancel saving the file, click Cancel.”

This error typically occurs when features, like macros, charts, and pivot tables in the Excel file get corrupted. However, there can also be several other reasons that can trigger this error. In this article, we’ll discuss the common causes of the “Errors were detected while saving Excel” error and the solutions to resolve it.

Reasons for “Errors were Detected while Saving Excel” Error

The “Errors were detected while saving Excel” may occur due to several reasons. These include:

Incompatible File Format

The Excel file you are saving is not compatible with the Excel application version.

Lack of Permissions

You do not have the necessary permissions to save the file.

Conflicting Add-Ins

A third-party add-in or software is interfering with the saving process.

Bugs or Glitches in the Program

Any bugs or glitches in Excel or any related software may also interrupt the file saving process.

File Corruption

The Excel file you’re trying to save is corrupted. Excel files usually get corrupted due to system crashes, software bugs, or power outages.

Formula Issues

The Excel file you are saving has invalid cell ranges or issues with formulas.

Corrupted VBA Code

Corrupted VBA codes within the Excel files may trigger errors while saving the file.

Methods to Fix the “Errors were Detected while Saving Excel” Error

It may happen that anti-virus program is interfering with Excel functioning. You can temporarily disable your antivirus protection to see if it is causing the issue. You can also check the drive space. Lack of storage space can prevent you to save the Excel file. If the issue persists, follow the troubleshooting methods given below to resolve the error.

Method 1- Disable Add-Ins

Any faulty or incompatible add-ins can also cause the error. You can open Excel in Safe Mode to understand if this error is caused by any add-ins.

To open Excel in safe mode,

1. Exit Excel completely (including any Excel files that are open.)
2. Press and hold the “CTRL” key on your keyboard and simultaneously double-click the Excel icon on your desktop.
3. Continue holding the “CTRL” key until you notice a pop-up asking if you want to start Excel in Safe Mode.
4. Click on “YES”

This will launch Excel in Safe Mode. Now, try to save the file. If the file is saved without any issue, it means any third-party add-ins are causing the issue.

You can disable the add-ins by following these steps:

1. Open the Excel. From the “FILE” menu, select “OPTIONS”.
2. Now, click on “Add-Ins.” At the bottom of the Add-Ins window, you’ll see a dropdown labeled “Manage.”
3. Select “Excel Add-ins” from the dropdown and click on “GO”.
4. Uncheck the boxes next to each add-in listed on the Add-ins window and click on “OK.”

Now, you can enable the add-ins one-by-one to identify the add-in that is causing the error.

Method 2- Check Excel File Name

You may face error when saving the Excel file if the file name is invalid or incorrect. When naming the file, consider the following:

1. Avoid special characters and stick to alphanumeric characters.
2. Keep the file name short. Ensure the file/path name does not cross 218 characters.
3. Use appropriate file extensions.
4. Avoid using reserved words or phrases that have a special meaning in the application or operating system. Reserved words for Windows OS are “AUX,” “COM,” “PRN,” “CON,” “NUL,” and “LPT.”

Method 3- Copy the Data from the Affected File to a New File

You can try copying data from the affected Excel file to a new file. By doing this, you can bypass the underlying issues that may have triggered the error while saving the file.

Method 4- Check File Permissions

You can encounter the error while saving the file if you don’t have appropriate file permissions. You can check and provide file permissions to fix the issue.

Here is how you can do it:

1. Navigate to the Excel file location, right-click on the file, and select “Properties.”
2. Go to the “Security” tab and check if your user account has all the necessary permissions (Full control, Modify, and Write.)
3. If the permissions are not granted, click on “Edit”.
4. Now, assign the appropriate permissions to your user account.
5. Select “Apply” and click on “OK” to save the changes.

Method 5- Check Pivot Tables

If the pivot tables are causing the saving error, then check and modify them to solve the error.

Here is how you can approach this:

1. Open the Excel file.
2. Click on the “Power Pivot” tab and select “Manage.”
3. The Power Pivot dialog box will pop up. Here, you can check the data and formulas used in the table. Sometimes, even a random typo can trigger an error. So, ensure all the formulas are correct.

Method 6- Repair the Excel File

You may face the “Errors were detected while saving Excel” error if your Excel file is corrupted. You can repair your corrupt Excel file by using the Open and Repair utility in MS Excel.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Excel, select the “File” option from the home ribbon and click on “Open”.
2. Click on Browse and search for the desired file.
3. Select the file and click on the arrow next to “Open”.
4. From the dropdown, select “Open and Repair.”
5. Now, Excel will attempt to repair your file, if successful, you’ll be prompted to save the repaired version.

If Excel’s Open and Repair utility fails to fix the issue, you can utilize a third-party Excel repair tool, like Stellar Repair for Excel. This tool is designed to address Excel file corruption and retrieves all components, such as charts, images, pivot tables, formulas etc. from the file while maintaining original formatting. It is compatible with all Windows versions – starting from Windows 7 through Windows 11.

Conclusion

The “Errors were detected while saving Excel” error can prevent you from saving your Excel file. It may lead to workflow disruption or data loss. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can resolve the error effectively. If your Excel file is corrupted, you can use a specialized Excel repair tool, like Stellar Repair for Excel. It can repair the corrupt Excel file and restore all the data to a new file, thus help in fixing the error.