Autosave

Question

Hi, wondering if anyone can help.

I'm new to Windows 10, been using it a few weeks. Every time I create a new Word document and save it with a file name in a relevant location on my PC autosave turns on - so far great. However after some time, maybe an hour, maybe a week, autosave turns off and I'm told to save it manually. When I try I'm told that 'This is not a valid file name' and advised to check the path etc

It was valid seconds before and I've done literally nothing. I haven't attempted to move the file or anything. Haven't found any useful advice online so I'm resaving the files with a 2, shutting it down, deleting the original and then removing the 2 from the new filename. This obviously isn't the best solution so if anyone can help I'd be grateful!

Thanks

Answer 1

Hi, apologies but it hasn't worked.

I've tried what you advised:

Onedrive > Settings > Office > the feature: "Use Office applications to sync Office that I open" "disable", then save, next, re-active.

but it doesn't work. I opened a file (from onedrive) that was autosaving fine yesterday and now it can't save, I need to rename it. I tried disabling the "Use Office applications to sync Office that I open" as you advised, and turned it back on, but it hasn't worked. It still tells me 

This is not a valid file name.

Try one or more of the following:

*check the path to make sure it was typed correctly

*selected a file from the list of files and folders

(C:\Users etc...

What could I possibly be doing wrong? I'm literally just opening a file I saved yesterday, from the place I saved it, and letting it autosave - but it won't even though it has been. And I've changed NOTHING!

It's only a small inconvenience but it's wasting five minutes every time I need to work on a Word document, and sometimes I don't have much more than that.

Answer 2

The cloud has now appeared on the bottom right, possibly since I did the Windows Key + R you advised. As you say, everything looks as it should.

Could the reason Word has been autosaving then suddenly refusing to recognise the file name as valid be related to the cloud not being there before? I'm hoping it is, I suppose time will tell.

Thanks for your help

Answer 3

OK Nathan, I think that you are doing all right.

Check this, in Onedrive > Settings > Office > the feature: "Use Office applications to sync Office that I open" must be active. See the screen-capture.

By other hand, Autosave has his own limitations,

• Your file is in an older format like .xls, .ppt, or .doc.
• Your file is in a local OneDrive folder and OneDrive synchronization is paused.
• Your file is being synced by an older version of the OneDrive sync app. For more information on updating OneDrive, see Sync files with OneDrive in Windows.
• Your file is embedded inside another Office file.
• Your presentation is in slide show mode.

If you are using Excel, and tried the above, you may have a file that contains features that are not supported by AutoSave.

See more here:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/what-i...

Another thing, you could update your Windows 10 installation, here:

https://support.microsoft.com/es-pr/help/402766...

And update your Office installation:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/instal...

And as a last resource: Repair you Office installation:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/repair...

Answer 4

Hi Renzo,

Thanks very much for the response. Unfortunately the Word files are already in Onedrive and have been autosaving fine, then randomly deciding they can't. I say randomly because literally nothing has changed! It's saved to the Onedrive, perhaps I'll be working on it for an hour or two with autosave working fine, shut the computer down and the following day pick up where I left off, all fine. Then maybe on the third day, while I'm working, the little autosave button shuts itself off (I'm working on the document and not attempting to manually save or do anything beyond typing) and suddenly 'this is not a valid file name'. 

It's happened maybe ten times, with varying timescales, all files saved in Onedrive, autosave working fine, then suddenly it can't be saved.

I could well be doing something wrong, but as it works and then suddenly doesn't I can't figure out what.

Answer 5

Dear NathanBox,

Thanks for participating in the Microsoft Community. I'm an Independent Advisor and I'll help you.

Autosave feature, only works in a synced folder with Onedrive, if you have installed Onedrive client in you pc, open Files Explorer > find you Onedrive folder and put any file of "Word/Excel/PowerPoint in there". You'll are allow to work with Autosave function.

See more information about Autosave properties and limitations:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/what-i...

Do not hesitate to ask if you need more information.

I hope it has been useful to you.

Regards,

Renzo.