Saving to Network folder with Excel 2016 - someone else is working in right now

Question

This is related to (but different from) https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/582305/microsoft-office-2016-somebody-else-is-working-in

A user tries to use Excel to open and edit a spreadsheet on a network folder. After making changes, the same user gets one of two errors:

Someone else is working in {Folders/File} right now. Please try again later.

...Sharing violation... (I did not keep a screen shot of this error)

The user can save to desktop and use Windows Explorer to move the file to the proper place, so this is clearly related to Excel 2016. I just ran Microsoft Updates and restarted the computer and am getting the same issue.

However, the first time using Save As after that, I was able to force it to Save As with the same name. When that happened, it created an odd no-extension file in the same folder as where the Save As occurred. Virus scan (updated Sophos with Intercept-X) was negative.

Since then, even Save As to the network drive fails, giving multiple error messages. Those messages include the first one above, with later messages saying that the file cannot be saved in this location.

Windows Explorer file copy and paste works, still. So, the permissions are correct.

Answer 1

Hi @Rick@ROKI

• Could you please tell us how did you access this Network Folder?

Such as via mapped driver or through a UNC path.

It is recommended to add this Network Folder as a trusted location in Office. Please go to Excel > File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations.

If you use UNC path, please enter a full UNC path.

• Then I suggest you try the workaround in this thread: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/819779/someone-else-is-working-in-(t-folderfile)-right-no

The registry key should be [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options]
"DisableRobustifiedUNC"=dword:00000001

(Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, please remember to back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.)

• If there is any antivirus software on the client, please exit it temporarily to check this issue.

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