SharePoint Document Issues

How to Disable AutoSave for Files in a SharePoint Library

Steve K Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to disable the AutoSave feature for an entire SharePoint library to prevent files from showing updated modified dates when they are only viewed or synchronized.

How to Prevent AutoSave for Files in a SharePoint Library

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening, viewing, or synchronizing documents within a SharePoint library without intending to make edits.
Observed behavior: SharePoint automatically saves files when opened or synchronized, updating their 'Modified' dates, and does not provide a direct option to disable AutoSave at the library level in the web client.

Before you start

Please note that SharePoint does not offer a native toggle to turn off AutoSave for an entire library in the web client. Ensure you have administrator or library owner permissions before attempting the check-out workaround.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Required Check-Out for the Library (Workaround)

By forcing users to check out documents before editing, you prevent SharePoint from automatically saving changes and updating the modified date when a file is simply opened.

Since AutoSave cannot be natively disabled for an entire library in the web client, enabling the 'Require Check Out' feature is the most effective library-level workaround. This ensures that files remain completely read-only until a user intentionally checks them out to make edits.

Access Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint site, open the target document library, click the Settings gear icon in the top right, and select 'Library settings'.

Open Versioning Settings

In the settings menu, click on 'More library settings', then locate and click on 'Versioning settings' under the General Settings category.

Enable Require Check Out

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the 'Require Check Out' section. Select 'Yes' under the prompt 'Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited?'.

Save Changes

Click the 'OK' button to apply the changes. Users will now need to manually check out files, preventing unintended AutoSaves.

Enable Required Check-Out for the Library (Workaround)

Co-authoring Limitation: Keep in mind that requiring check-out disables simultaneous co-authoring, as only the user who has checked out the document can edit it at that time.

Solution 2

Turn Off AutoSave in Office Desktop Applications

While the web client lacks an AutoSave toggle, users can manually turn off AutoSave when opening SharePoint files in desktop applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

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Try WPS Office for Complete Control Over Your Documents

If SharePoint's forced AutoSave feature frequently disrupts your workflow or causes unwanted metadata updates, consider using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible offline alternative that gives you full control over when and how your files are saved, without unexpected sync modifications.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open your downloaded SharePoint document directly from your local drive.
3. Edit with Full Control: Make your necessary changes and save manually only when you are ready, ensuring your file's modified date is strictly under your control.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my SharePoint files show updated Modified dates even if I didn't change anything?

This happens because the AutoSave feature in SharePoint and Office on the web automatically saves background metadata or minor sync adjustments when a file is opened, which inadvertently updates the Modified date.

Can I disable AutoSave for just one specific file in SharePoint online?

In the SharePoint web client, AutoSave cannot be disabled for individual files. However, if you open the file in the Microsoft Office desktop application, you can manually toggle off the AutoSave button for that specific session.

Will enabling 'Require Check Out' affect multiple users editing at once?

Yes. When a document is required to be checked out, only the person who checks it out can edit it. This effectively disables real-time co-authoring but guarantees that no accidental AutoSave modifications occur from other viewers.

Document & File Issues