error message: 'couldn't save automatically. to avoid losing your changes please copy them before you reload this document'. Once this message pops up I cannot edit the document

P H 0 Reputation points
2025-08-11T14:43:24.01+00:00

I am editing a document using Microsoft Word online. I am able to open the document, make a couple of changes, and then I get this message:

"couldn't save automatically. to avoid losing your changes please copy them before you reload this document'"

Once this error message appears, I can no longer edit the document or the comments that have been made on it. I have seen that others have resolved this issue by making a copy of the document - this hasn't worked for me. I still get the error message on the new document

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | MacOS
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  1. Dora-T 3,225 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-12T01:20:01.39+00:00

    Hi @P H
    Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum. 

    I understand how frustrating it is when you encounter a saving error, especially after you've already tried to resolve it by creating a copy of the document. 

    Could you let me know if you've had a chance to try these steps? 

    1.Sign out and sign back in: Log out of your Microsoft account in your browser, then log back in. 

    2.Try a different browser or an InPrivate/Incognito window 

    3.Clear browser cache and cookies 

    4.Test the file in the desktop application: If you have the desktop version of Word, try downloading the document and opening it.  

    5.Try creating a brand-new Word document, copy and paste the content from the original file into it, then save it with a new name to see if the issue persists. 

    If these steps don’t resolve the issue, please share more information to help us further investigate the situation and assist you more effectively: 

    • Does this issue occur with all documents, or only this specific one? 

    • Is the document being co-authored, and are other users editing it at the same time?  

    Please understand that our initial reply may not always immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

    I am looking forward to your reply. 


    If the answer is partially helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".      

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