Imac Word can open existing file, but cannot save changes back to it

Question

Imac Tahoe 26.3, Word 16.106.1

Both of these versions are new to this computer in the last few days.

I can open existing Word files, but I cannot save my work to a local directory on my local SSD storage. If I save-as to a new location (like my desktop) it will save.

Steps taken to date:

1. Uninstalled and reinstalled Microsoft365
2. Looked under Mac system settings "privacy and security" "Files and Folders" -- none of the Microsoft 365 products are shown as applications that I can configure there.
3. Looked at the file itself (Command-I) it is set up for read / write access.

Once I save-as to the desktop I can use Finder to copy it over the file in its original folder.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

Adding more information:

• this is an ARM machine
• I also have Win11 ARM on this machine and it has a Microsoft365 license. If I edit the same file using Win11 Word in the VM machine, it works fine. It is Word365 MSO (Version 2602, build 16.0.19725.20058) 64 bit

The more I scratch around this, the more it seems to be a problem with Word on Mac and not configuration issues, usage, etc.

Answer 2

That did not fix it. I added Word to "full disk access" with no change in Word's problem.

A few observations:

• Excel does not seem to be having this problem, even though it is not in the privacy and security list for either "files and folders" or "full disk access".
• In Word, if I create a new file, I can save it. I can continue to work on it in the same session and save it again and again. If I quit Word and reopen it, I cannot save changes to it on subsequent openings.

Answer 3

Hi! Based on what you described, is most commonly macOS Privacy & Security folder access blocking Word from writing to that specific location, even though Finder shows you as Read/Write. On macOS, apps may need explicit permission to access protected locations.

Go System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access > enable Microsoft Word, then fully quit Word and reopen it and try saving again.