How to Fix ‘Errors Were Detected While Saving’ in Microsoft Excel

The “Errors were detected while saving” message in Microsoft Excel appears when the application fails to save your workbook properly, often without providing any specific explanation. This can lead to failed auto-saves or blocked manual saves, putting your data and workflow at risk.

This issue may occur due to file corruption, invalid references, deleted macros, or conflicts in Excel’s regional settings. It has been observed across various Excel versions including 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365. Certain workbook-specific settings such as missing ActiveX controls, outdated object references, or problematic VBA scripts can also prevent the file from saving.

Below are the most common causes of this error, compiled from verified community feedback and Microsoft support documentation:

• Region or Language Format Mismatch: Excel formulas and macros may malfunction when regional settings use different decimal or date formats (e.g., comma vs. period).
• Corrupted Workbook File: If the file structure is damaged—including styles, tables, or charts—Excel may fail to save properly.
• Invalid References or Deleted Objects: Missing named ranges, broken external links, or removed custom objects can block the save function.
• Problematic Macros or VBA Code: Malformed or looping VBA scripts, especially within Workbook_BeforeSave events, can silently prevent saving.
• ActiveX or COM Add-ins: Outdated or missing controls in legacy add-ins may trigger errors when saving files containing embedded forms.

Now that you understand the likely causes, let’s walk through practical steps to fix the problem and restore full saving functionality.

1. Adjust Excel’s Language and Region Settings

Microsoft Excel behaves differently based on your language and regional settings. If your workbook was created with a different format, it could cause compatibility issues in your version of Excel.

1. Open Excel and navigate to the bottom-left corner. Click on ‘Options’.
2. Go to the Language section. Uncheck the box for ‘Store my authoring languages in the cloud for my account’, then click ‘OK’.

2. Save Microsoft Excel File as XLSB

Saving your Excel file in the XLSB (Binary Workbook) format can resolve issues related to cache, corrupted styles, or damaged objects in the file.

1. Open your workbook and click on “File”.
2. Select “Save a Copy” from the left menu.
3. From the format dropdown, choose the XLSB format and save the file to your computer.

3. Check and Delete Invalid Named Ranges

Custom names for cells or ranges help with workbook organization, but invalid or broken ranges can cause save failures.

1. Open your workbook, go to the “Formulas” tab, and click “Name Manager”.
2. In the Name Manager window, check for any entries showing “#REF!” or broken references. Select and delete them to remove the error.

4. Convert Table to Range

Excel tables may retain hidden or outdated links that cause save errors. Converting the table back to a normal range can resolve such issues.

1. Select any cell in your table, press “Ctrl + T”, confirm the table creation window by clicking “OK”.
2. Go to the “Table Design” tab, click on “Convert to Range”, then confirm by clicking “OK”.

5. Duplicate Microsoft Excel File (Workaround)

Sometimes, hidden formatting issues can corrupt your workbook. Duplicating the file creates a fresh copy, often bypassing these problems.

1. Right-click your Excel file and select “Open File Location”.
2. Select the file, press “Ctrl + C” to copy, and then “Ctrl + V” to paste the duplicate. Open the new file and try saving it again.

6. Making Another Workbook

Transferring your sheets to a new workbook helps eliminate hidden formatting issues or references that are otherwise hard to detect.

1. First, create a backup of your current Excel file, as described in the previous method.
2. Open the original file, go to the sheet tab at the bottom (e.g., “Sheet1”), then right-click it.
3. Select “Move or Copy…”.
4. In the “To Book” dropdown, select “new book” and click “OK”. Do not tick the “Create a copy” box.
5. If your workbook has multiple sheets, repeat these steps for each one. Finally, save the new workbook with a different name.