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"This is not a valid file name." error message

Anonymous
2018-09-11T19:57:29+00:00

When I am in a Word Document (which I use in my laptop's OneDrive folder system), and try to "Save As", I frequently get the following error message:

This is not a valid file name.

Try one or more of the following:

* Check the path to make sure it was typed correctly.

* Select a file from the list of files and folders.

(See screenshot below.)

I know that it is not an issue with the path because I haven't changed the path. I'm just clicking Save As and saving a new version in the same folder. I'm not adding any unusual characters that aren't allowed. I'm not making the file name any longer (usually just changing a rev number, from 3 to 4, for example). If I exit Word, go to the folder, copy and paste the document, and change the name of the pasted document to whatever my desired file name was, I receive no error message. This is an extremely unwieldy work-around, however. What is happening wit this error message?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-10-25T22:12:49+00:00

    Are there any updates on this issue?  I'm having the same problem.  When I'm working in a document that I've already saved and try save it again, I get an error that the file name is invalid, even though the file name doesn't contain any invalid characters (e.g., / , . ).

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-14T22:05:49+00:00

    Are there any updates on this issue?  I'm having the same problem.  When I'm working in a document that I've already saved and try save it again, I get an error that the file name is invalid, even though the file name doesn't contain any invalid characters (e.g., / , . ).

    Same here. It happens the first time I actively save after having done a 'save as' to copy an existing file. Any answers Alex, Microsoft?

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-16T22:20:04+00:00

    This is an ongoing problem I'm suffering from too and it doesn't seem to be addressed by Microsoft. It's NOT invalid characters in the name, it's NOT the length of the file name, it's NOT the use of "spaces" in the name.

    This issue causes us to use work arounds like saving to desk top and then dragging into OneDrive which can't be right - it's just encouraging me and my team to not use onedrive.

    I've been reading through numerous posts across a number of years so this is not an isolated problem and is sooooo frustrating.

    Whinge over - now if Microsoft could just fix the problem please.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T19:20:59+00:00

    Has there been an answer to this.  I have the same issue.   User has 170 Characters.   No special Characters.   file path is correct.    The funny part is she can save the file to her desktop and then paste it to this location.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-01-22T22:22:25+00:00

    I checked the file path and it has only 187 characters (no space) and 200 characters (with spaces) 

    I then went to File Open and right clicked the file.

    I coped the location and the pasted it into word.   With the hidden characters, word count found 273 characters.   I wonder if it is counting the hidden charters as well.  If so, this might be our problem.  

    Does anyone know the true answer?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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