PowerPoint files cannot be overwritten when the Preview Pane is enabled in File Explorer.

Question

When someone in our company opens a PowerPoint (PP) file, then modifies it, and then tries to save the changes (overwriting the existing file), they get an error message saying "An error occured while PowerPoint was saving %filename%".

It happens ONLY if the Preview Pane in Windows File Explorer is ON.

If we turn the Preview Pane OFF, then open the file, make changes, and then try overwriting it, it works.

So, Microsoft, I have a question to the developer's team: what the heck, really? Disabling the Preview Pane is NOT A SOLUTION - and it has been suggested to be used as a solution on multiple forums. We actually had to force another company - client of us - to stop having the preview pane on in the file explorer as they could not work normally with the files.

Is there a PROPER SOLUTION for this annoying issue?

The Preview Pane must stay ON on customers' computers.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hi @The IT guy,

The issue you described is a known issue with Microsoft Office products, specifically PowerPoint, when the Preview Pane is enabled in Windows File Explorer. This occurs because file locking does not function correctly with the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer, which prevents a file from being overwritten when it has been opened and modified.

As per knowledge, there is currently no fix for this issue except disabling Preview Pane. I suggest posting your feedback to MS in this portal: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/forum/af2977de-2f1c-ec11-b6e7-0022481f8472. Hope this issue will be fixed in the future.

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