Excel file name

Question

Excel gives the message: "You do not have permission to save files to this location." when trying to save a file with the character "/" in the name on a Mac.

Answer 1

Hi JoelStutz,

Thanks for sharing updates with us and I really appreciate your effort and your precious time doing those tests. First, please accept my apologize you meet such an issue and I understand it effort on your daily work.

It seems issue only with Excel app. If you don't mind, could you please allow me some time to check if this is bug in Excel verson, I need to test in different version of Excel on Mac OS and I will post back ASAP.

I appreciate your understanding and stay safe!!

Best regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 2

A little more info. I saved a new Excel spreadsheet without a "/" in the file name to that same location and then added a "/" to the file name in Finder. Then I opened that file (the one with the "/" now in the file name) in Excel made some changes to the spreadsheet and then saved it back to that same location and there was no problem. However, if you open the file with the "/" and then try to save it with the same name using Save As instead of Save you get the message saying you don't have permission.

So, it seems like Excel only has a problem saving a file with "/" in the name if you use Save As.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Thanks for your response. Here is a another update. I could save a file with Excel with the following characters in the file name: @#$*%(&

The only characters it objects to are "/" and "" and the error messages are different for them. When you use a "/" it says you don't have permission to save to that location. When you use "" in the file name it there is an error in the file name. Interesting right!

I asked a friend to try some of this in Windows and it wouldn't save a file with any of those special character in the name. It said those characters were not allowed in a file name. Also interesting!

And remember Word doesn't have a problem with any of these characters except the "" (backslash)

Answer 4

Hi Bearcat93,

Thanks for your valuable feedback and sharing updates with us.

I understand the inconvenience caused and apologize for it. I request you please report this issue to Excel development related team so that they can get notice about it and will fix in next update version of Excel. . It’s the best way to report to development related team

I appreciate your understanding and stay safe!!

Best Regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 5

Hi JoelStutz,

Thanks for sharing updates with us and I really appreciate your effort and your precious time doing those tests. First, please accept my apologize you meet such an issue and I understand it effort on your daily work.

I understand the inconvenience caused and apologize for it.

First please accept my apologize for late reply due to out of work

Based on my test result with different Excel version, I can confirm I can reproduce issue as like you described above with only Excel app on Mac OS. Even I tested Excel( insider fast) 16,58 version but meet same error message when I trying to "Save As" with "/" in the file name. See image beow for your reference:

Since, I also reproduce issue from my side as well, in this situation, to report this issue to Excel development related team, I suggest you provide the feedback via Microsoft Excel app, to development related team or via our Excel feedback portal so that they can get notice about it. It’s the best way to report to development related team and we are sure it will speed up this process. Your advice is very important to us. Refer to this article:  How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office?

Thanks for your corporation and understanding. I appreciate your your effort and your precious time and stay safe!!

Best regards

Waqas Muhammad