Trying to save an Excel 2010 file but no files are shown in small window

Resize the small Save As window, select a local folder such as Desktop, enter a name in File name, and click Save—the folder does not need to contain existing files for Excel to save a new workbook.

Save the workbook locally

1. In the small Save As window, drag an edge or corner outward to enlarge it.
2. Select Desktop or Documents in the left pane.
3. In File name, enter a new name such as Book1.xlsx.
4. Confirm Save as type is an Excel workbook format.
5. Click Save.

Excel 2010 writes the workbook into the destination selected in the Save As dialog. For an existing workbook, it normally creates a temporary file there and then renames it, so the destination must be writable.^1^

If Desktop works but the original folder does not, the problem is associated with that destination—commonly a network, redirected, offline, or otherwise unavailable folder. Continue saving locally until access to the original location is corrected.

If the dialog is blank or unusable everywhere

Test Excel without add-ins:

1. Close Excel.
2. Press Windows key + R.
3. Enter:

      excel /safe
   

4. Click OK, open the workbook, and try File > Save As again.

Office Safe Mode bypasses add-ins and certain startup customizations.^2^

If Save As works in Safe Mode:

1. Restart Excel normally.
2. Open File > Options > Add-ins.
3. At the bottom, select COM Add-ins, then Go.
4. Clear the enabled add-ins and restart Excel.
5. Re-enable them individually, restarting each time, to identify the conflicting add-in.

If excel /safe is not recognized or the problem remains in Safe Mode, the available information does not identify a documented Excel 2010-specific repair for a blank or undersized Save As window. Preserve the workbook by copying its sheets or data into a new workbook and saving that locally, then consider repairing or reinstalling Office 2010 from Windows Control Panel.

References

1. Description of the way that Excel saves files
2. Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC | Microsoft Support