A problem with AutoSave

Question

A problem with AutoSave

LH Lonon 0

I do many whatif type experiments with creating formulas in Excel. I have turned off all autosave options in the Save page of the Excel options. It is still saving. The behavior is like database behavior wherein if you type or delete one character it saves.

How can i correct this? My worksheets are getting messed up.

Thanks

[moderator's note: PII removed]

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2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Turn off the AutoSave switch in Excel’s title bar for the workbook itself; the Save-page setting controls the default for cloud files but may not change a workbook whose AutoSave state was previously remembered.

Stop the current workbook from saving every change

Open the workbook.
In the upper-left corner of Excel’s title bar, set AutoSave to Off.
Close and reopen the workbook, then verify that the switch remains Off. Excel remembers the AutoSave setting separately for each file.
Make the temporary formula changes.
When finished:
- Close the workbook and select No when prompted to discard the experiment, or
- Press Ctrl+S only if you want to retain the changes.

AutoSave saves every few seconds for files stored in OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online. This is separate from AutoRecover, which retains recovery information for crashes and can continue working while AutoSave is off.^1^

Because you already disabled the options under File > Options > Save, do not repeat that configuration. Restart Excel once if you have not done so since changing it—the default AutoSave setting takes effect after the application restarts. Then check the workbook-specific title-bar switch again.^1^

Safer method for what-if experiments

For experiments where the original must remain unchanged:

Open the original workbook.
Immediately select File > Save a Copy.
Give the experimental copy a different name.
Perform the what-if work only in that copy.

Do this before making any changes. With AutoSave active, using Save As afterward is too late because earlier edits may already have been written to the original.^1^

Recover a workbook that was already overwritten

For a workbook stored in OneDrive or SharePoint:

Select File > Save a Copy to preserve its current state.
Reopen the original workbook.
Select the filename at the top of Excel, then Version History.
Find the version from before the unwanted changes and select Open version.
Review it and select Restore.

Restoring replaces the current cloud version, so preserve any work you might need with Save a Copy first.^1^

References

Windows

Answer 2

Hi LH Lonon,

I can understand how disruptive this can be, especially when you are making temporary formula changes and expect to be able to discard them.

The AI answer has already covered turning off the AutoSave switch and using a copy for what-if testing. One additional point worth checking is where the affected workbook is stored. AutoSave is normally used for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and can save changes every few seconds.

Could you check whether the workbook is stored locally on your computer or in OneDrive/SharePoint? Also, after opening the workbook, please check the AutoSave toggle in the upper-left corner of Excel and let me know whether it shows Off.

If the toggle remains Off but Excel still saves changes automatically as you edit, please let me know. That would help distinguish this from the normal AutoSave behavior and narrow down what is causing the workbook to be saved.

For now, I would also recommend making a backup copy of the affected workbook before further testing.

Official Microsoft reference: What is AutoSave?

Thank you so much for your understanding.

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