Out of memory for a large file

Question

I received an edited manuscript from my publisher. And I could not d/l it to my desktop - not enough memory. I tried rebooting my desktop computer (mac) and I removed many old files. I need help

Answer 1

'Not enough memory' means not enough RAM. To free up RAM, close other apps that are currently running. You can also ask your publisher to send the manuscript in several files rather than one large file. Best wishes for your publication.

Answer 2

Follow these steps on the Mac to free enough space and memory to download and open the large Word manuscript.

1. Free disk space with built‑in tools (Windows guidance concept applies similarly)
   A full or nearly full disk can prevent large files from downloading or opening. Remove temporary, duplicate, and unnecessary files:
   • Delete files in the Trash.
   • Remove old downloads and large videos or archives that are no longer needed.
   • If using any Windows partition or external drive for Office files, use the Disk Cleanup approach described for Windows to clear temporary items (Windows Update files, temporary Internet files, error reporting files, Recycle Bin, temporary files, and user file history). The same principle applies on macOS: remove temporary and unneeded files to free space.
2. Check for low virtual memory / paging space
   If the system is low on virtual memory, Office apps may fail to start or open large documents even if RAM seems sufficient. Ensure there is free disk space so the system can use it as virtual memory. If the disk is nearly full, free space as in step 1 and then try downloading and opening the file again.
3. Close other applications before opening the file
   Large Word documents require more memory:
   • Quit all other apps (browsers, mail, other Office apps) before opening the manuscript.
   • Then try downloading the file again and opening it in Word.
4. If the file still will not open
   • Confirm that the file is actually stored locally (for example, in the Mac Downloads or Documents folder) and not only in cloud storage.
   • If the file is in a synced folder (such as OneDrive), ensure there is enough local disk space for the file to fully download.

If, after freeing disk space and closing other apps, the file still cannot be downloaded or opened, contact support using the Office support options referenced in the documentation.

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References:

• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document
• "Your system is low on virtual memory" error message when you try to start an Office program