Office for Mac Issues

How to Disable Cloud Storage and Save Locally in Microsoft 365 for Mac

Amos Gikunda Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to save Microsoft 365 documents locally on their Mac instead of using OneDrive or other default cloud storage solutions.

How to Disable Cloud Storage in Microsoft 365 for Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Transitioning from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365 and preferring local offline file management over cloud synchronization.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 defaults to saving documents in OneDrive or cloud storage instead of the local Mac hard drive.

Before you start

Ensure you have designated a specific local folder on your Mac, such as Documents or Desktop, to keep your offline files organized before changing your default save locations.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Save Location to Your Local Mac Drive

Manually select a local folder on your Mac when saving a document to bypass OneDrive and establish a local saving habit.

By default, Microsoft 365 encourages saving to OneDrive to enable features like AutoSave. However, you can easily change the destination to a local folder during the saving process.

Open the Save Dialog

In any Office application like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, click on 'File' in the top menu bar and select 'Save' or 'Save As'.

Select 'On My Mac'

If the save window displays an online location such as OneDrive, click the 'On My Mac' button located at the bottom left of the dialog box to switch to your local directories.

Choose Local Folder and Save

Navigate to your preferred local folder, name your document, and click 'Save'. The application will now save the file to your hard drive instead of the cloud.

Change the Save Location to Your Local Mac Drive

Default Save Location: Once you save to a local folder, Microsoft 365 typically remembers this preference for the next time you save a new document in that specific application.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Local File Management on Mac

If you prefer working with local files without being constantly prompted to use cloud storage, WPS Office is a lightweight and powerful alternative. It respects your local storage preferences out of the box while providing full compatibility with all Microsoft Office file formats.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and complete the quick installation.
2. Open Existing Files: Open your Microsoft 365 documents directly in WPS Office with zero formatting loss.
3. Save Locally Instantly: Edit your documents and press Cmd+S to save them straight to your Mac's hard drive without cloud prompts.

Free and lightweight office suite optimized for Mac users.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Defaults to local saving, giving you complete control over your files without mandatory cloud sync.Familiar user interface requiring zero learning curve for former Microsoft Office users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely uninstall OneDrive from my Mac if I only use Microsoft 365 locally?

Yes, Microsoft 365 applications function independently of the OneDrive desktop app. You can drag the OneDrive application to the Trash to uninstall it and continue saving your files locally.

Why does Microsoft Word keep defaulting back to OneDrive?

If you are signed into your Microsoft account within the app, Office heavily prioritizes OneDrive. To minimize this, ensure you always click 'On My Mac' during your first 'Save As' action, or sign out of your Microsoft account within the app if you don't need any cloud features.

Are my locally saved documents backed up automatically?

No. When you bypass cloud storage to save locally on your Mac, your files are not automatically uploaded to a remote server. It is recommended to use Apple's Time Machine or manually back up your files to an external drive.

How do I turn off AutoSave in Microsoft 365 for Mac?

The real-time AutoSave feature in Microsoft 365 only works when files are saved in OneDrive or SharePoint. By saving your file locally 'On My Mac', the AutoSave toggle in the top-left corner is automatically disabled, and the app will rely on the traditional AutoRecover feature instead.

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