Excel file locked for editing after Save As

RJames2010 36 Reputation points
2021-02-03T23:07:00.933+00:00

We have a single user who will open an Excel (O365 2002) file from a file share, save it as a different file name and then when she goes to open the original file, it's telling her that it's locked for editing. I checked on the file server and there were no temporary files and the file wasn't showing as being open in fsmgmt.msc.

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas.

Thank you!

Excel Management
Excel Management
Excel: A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Graham D Llewellyn 6 Reputation points
    2021-09-24T13:00:25.34+00:00

    I have the same issue, and its only if we use "Save As" on a file from a network share.
    Our situation is this:
    A user exports data from an app, into a TXT file on the network share. Opens in in Excel 365, and does a Save As to convert into an XLSX.
    The original TXT file on the share becomes locked.
    Closing all of the users Excel windows WILL unlock the file, but that isn't acceptable.

    If the user does the same actions, except start with the TXT file on the local computer....no locking.
    I checked Open Files on the server where the share resides, and YUP - the owner file that starts with ~ says its open and locked.

    This issue wasn't present until our users starting migration to O365.
    I added the users network shares as a Trusted Location on the network, but no dice!

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Emi Zhang-MSFT 21,856 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2021-02-04T09:26:49.86+00:00

    Hi @RJames2010 ，
    How about opening the second time save as Workbook? Did you get the same message?
    I suggest you go to Task Manager- End all Microsoft Excel tasks and re-open the problem Workbook.
    Try to check if the user have different account permission for accessing the shared folder.
    Disable firewall and antivirus software and test the result.
    Any updates please let me know and I'm glad to help you.

    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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  3. Ivan Arnerich 1 Reputation point
    2021-11-21T20:23:32.07+00:00

    We have the same issue. This seems to only impact spreadsheets that have links to other spreadsheets (we can test with a blank sheet that has no links fine).
    At this stage, our users have to copy a 'template file' (standard XLSX, but has links that pull current data) to the new location, then open that.
    It's not ideal for the end user to have to go about this, as they have along history of following a process that worked fine in Excel 2016 (and any previous version they have used).

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  4. kssox05 1 Reputation point
    2021-12-27T19:32:31.693+00:00

    Anyone figure out what the issue was with this? One of my clients is having a very similar issue.

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  5. Mx5 1 Reputation point
    2022-03-17T05:52:07.893+00:00

    Anyone fixed it?