Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove Quick Access Locations from Word or Excel Save Dialog

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to hide or remove unwanted Quick Access locations, such as Teams and SharePoint, from the Save, Save As, and Open dialogs.

Product: Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Saving or opening files in Word or Excel after a recent Microsoft 365 interface update.
Observed behavior: The Save, Save As, and Open dialogs display a Quick Access section cluttered with Teams and SharePoint locations, rather than just the user's preferred OneDrive or local folders.

Before you start

Note that the Quick Access section in the Save interface is completely separate from the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) located at the top of your Office application window.

Solution 1Recommended

Bypass the Backstage View Using the Classic Save Dialog

Since Microsoft does not currently provide a native option to hide the Quick Access section in the modern Save interface, bypassing the backstage view entirely is the best workaround.

Microsoft 365 does not offer a supported setting to disable or remove individual locations from the modern Save/Open interface. However, you can force the application to use the classic Windows Save As dialog, which avoids the cluttered cloud locations entirely.

Open Application Options

Launch Word or Excel, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Save Settings

In the Options dialog box, click on 'Save' in the left pane to access the document saving preferences.

Disable Backstage View for Saving

Check the box next to 'Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts'.

Use the Save As Shortcut

Click 'OK' to apply the changes. From now on, simply press 'F12' on your keyboard to instantly open the classic Windows Save As dialog, completely bypassing the modern Quick Access screen.

Default to Local Saving: While in the Save options, you can also check 'Save to Computer by default' to ensure your files go to your preferred local drive rather than OneDrive or SharePoint.

Solution 2

Submit Feature Feedback to Microsoft

Because the inability to manage these Quick Access items is a known limitation in the current Microsoft 365 update, submitting feedback is the official channel to request a fix.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Cleaner, Distraction-Free Interface

Frustrated by forced cloud locations and cluttered save dialogs in Microsoft 365? WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with a clean, traditional interface that gives you full control over where you save your files without unnecessary online integrations.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
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3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with perfect formatting preservation.

Clean, traditional Save and Open dialogs without forced SharePoint or Teams clutterFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight software that loads quickly and uses minimal system resourcesFree to use with a familiar user interface that requires no learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove individual SharePoint sites from the Save dialog Quick Access?

Currently, Microsoft 365 does not offer a supported setting to remove, hide, or manage specific Teams or SharePoint locations from the modern Save/Open dialog Quick Access list.

Is the Save dialog Quick Access the same as the Quick Access Toolbar?

No. The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is the customizable row of command icons located at the very top of your Office application window. The Quick Access section in question is a distinct area inside the File (Backstage) menu used for cloud storage locations.

How can I stop Word or Excel from defaulting to cloud locations?

Go to File > Options > Save. Check the box labeled 'Save to Computer by default' and set your 'Default local file location' to your preferred folder on your hard drive.

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