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Microsoft Excel won't let me save

Anonymous
2020-06-06T07:09:01+00:00

I downloaded a spreadsheet that I needed from this website. After editing it, it will not let me save it at all no matter what I try. Any of the options to save are greyed out where they don't work. I can't even do command + S to save on the keyboard. I updated my computer and I looked to see if I needed to update excel. Nothing seems to fix this problem and I don't know what else to do. My excel version is 16.16.22. The only message on my excel up top that I'm also confused about is "Activate Office to create and edit". I have never had this problem or issue before.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2020-06-06T14:06:42+00:00

    Please back up just a bit :-) You clearly stated in your original message that your Excel version is 16.16.22 [which is Office 2016 for Mac] but you selected Office 2011 as the Office Product. That appears to have caused some confusion. Also, the version of macOS is not a problem... Your edition of Mac Office requires macOS 10.10.x or later, so that isn't the problem.

    Are you able to create new workbook files? Are you able to save other workbook files or does this pertain to just this one particular workbook? If the latter, what is the source of the file? What additional details can you provide?

    It sounds like the problem is exactly what the notification explains: The Office software has not been activated. The typical causes are:

    • the user had a 30-Day free trial which has expired, or
    • the one time purchase software actually hasn't been registered/activated, or
    • the Office /Microsoft 365 subscription has lapsed.

    How did you obtain Mac Office: By subscription or by one-time purchase? When did you purchase/subscribe? You can go to Excel> About Microsoft Excel in the main menu to verify the Version & determine the type of License for your Office software. Include those details in your reply.

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  2. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-06-06T19:28:11+00:00

    This is a standard warning that I give whenever I see a thread had a message from a support scammer. You may have not seen the message (it was deleted from the forum), but if you had subscribed to the thread would you have received an email with the scam message. Just in case, here's my warning:

    Do NOT respond to replies asking you to contact Microsoft Support, MVP or advisor.

    Microsoft Support, Microsoft Advisors, and MVPs will NEVER ask you to call or contact them. Do not respond to such requests in this forum or in an email message resulting from your posting here. Forum support questions and comments are answered in the forums themselves, not elsewhere.

    Such a request for you to contact is fake. It is an attempt to take over your computer, steal your data and your identity.

    Protect yourself from phishing schemes and other forms of online fraud - Office Support

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-06-06T07:39:00+00:00

    So then what do I need to do?  My mac says under "About This Mac" that the version is OS X El Capitan (10.11.6).

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-06-06T07:30:20+00:00

    If you updated your device to Catalina then I'm afraid Office 2011 is not compatible with that o/s

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