For some strange reason, if you are getting the “Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space” error while opening Excel 2019 or 2016/2013 or Office 365 documents from a local disk or Outlook attachment, here are the working solutions fix it.
The below steps will work on most of the Windows Operating Systems, including Windows 10/11, 8.1 or Windows 7 since this is related to Microsoft Excel only.
Even though the PC has enough disk space and RAM, the error may not make sense related to the space issue. So, the main issue is something else in this case. Mostly these Excel files have some complicated formulas, calculations, or external resources inside the Excel sheets. Therefore, the security settings in your Excel prevent opening these files and show an irrelevant error message.
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Steps to Fix Microsoft Excel Cannot Open or Save Any More Documents
As said earlier, this is something to do with the built-in security settings of Excel 2019 or 2016/365. Follow these simple steps to troubleshoot the issue.
1) Create a new Excel file (or open the Excel program), then go to Options from File Menu.
2) Open Trust Center Settings as shown below.
3) Under the Trust Center settings, uncheck all checkboxes in Protected View as below.
This setting will allow the Excel file to open without any security errors or warnings like “Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space”.
After applying the changes, open the same Excel file which used to give the error. It should open without any problems now. This method helped me fix the problem at my workplace several times, especially when the user tried to open the Excel attachment from Outlook.
Additional Step: Unblock from File Properties
- Right-click on the Excel file, which gives the error.
- Open Properties.
- In the ‘General’ tab, you will notice an ‘Unblock’ check box if the file is restricted because it came from another computer.
- Unblock the file and apply the changes. Open the Excel file now.
Technically, the error has nothing to do with the disk space or low RAM. It is a security setting that prevents opening the Excel file because it mainly came from another computer (by email in Outlook). Doing the above two steps should fix the issue on your Windows 10/11 computer for Excel versions like Excel 2013/2016/2019/Office 365.
10 Comments
Yep, that was the problem. I unchecked the options under Protected View and Excel now works correctly. Thank you for that solution.
I followed your procedure from an “existing Excel file” and it allowed me to open any existing files with no issues.
However, I am still unable to open a “new Excel file” and keep getting the same error message while trying; any suggestions what to try next?
I am running Excel 2016 on a 64 bit Windows 10 environment.
I am facing the same problem. Did you get any solution to it?
Having the exact same problem as gerry
This guide is useful in fixing this minor
This is good
No Didn’t work.
Great good solution. thanks a lot
Did anyone found a solution for this? I still have same issue after un-tick the options.
same thing–followed direction but i cant create a NEW file–surely someone has the answer????????????????