The save failed due to out of memory or disk space

Question

I'm having an issue with my Microsoft 365-word app,

while using the app it keeps displaying the message " the save failed due to out of memory or disk space " and I tried every solution I could find but it still happening.

My laptop have more than enough space and have 16 gigs of RAM and this only happens with WORD.

Answer 1

The error message "the save failed due to out of memory or disk space" in Microsoft Word can occur even when there appears to be sufficient RAM and disk space available. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Disk Space: Ensure that your hard disk has enough free space. You can use the Disk Cleanup app to remove unnecessary files. To do this, search for "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu, select it, and follow the prompts to delete temporary and unwanted files.
2. Scan for Malware: Run a full antivirus scan to ensure that there are no malware infections affecting your system's performance.
3. Check for Disk Errors: Use the Command Prompt to check for disk errors. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the commands sfc.exe /scannow followed by chkdsk /r /f.
4. Clear Temporary Files: Sometimes, Word may have trouble accessing temporary files. You can create a temporary Internet Files folder if it doesn't exist. Navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache and create a folder named Content.Word.
5. Environment Variables: Ensure that the environment variable for your user profile is set correctly. Go to System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables and check if %userprofile% is set to your user directory.
6. Mapped Drives: If you are using mapped network drives, ensure they are accessible. Disconnect any mapped drives that are not currently available or that may be causing delays.

If the issue persists after trying these steps, you may want to consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.

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References:

• "Your system is low on virtual memory" error message when you try to start an Office program
• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document
• "Could not create the work file" error in Office

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

Try renaming the normal.dotm folder,

1. Click Windows + R key, type %Appdata% and click ok.
2. Open the Microsoft Folder > Templates.
3. Select View > Show > Check 'File name extensions'.
4. Rename the normal.dotm file to normal.old
5. Restart your computer and open Microsoft Word.
6. Save the document.

Normal.dotm file is the default template that Microsoft Word uses to create new blank documents. It stores your basic settings like fonts, styles, and layout. If you delete or change it, Word will automatically create a new normal.dotm file the next time you open Word.

If you're having the same issue, let me know.