Office Settings & Configuration

How to Save Microsoft 365 Excel Files Locally to Your PC

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to save Microsoft 365 Excel files directly to their local computer storage rather than the default OneDrive cloud storage.

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to store Excel spreadsheets locally for offline access, backup purposes, or personal privacy preferences.
Observed behavior: The web version of Microsoft 365 Excel saves files to OneDrive by default, requiring the use of the desktop application to save files locally.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft 365 subscription plan includes access to desktop applications, as basic web-only plans do not support local software installation.

Solution 1Recommended

Install Desktop Excel and Save Files to This PC

Download the desktop version of Microsoft Office from your account dashboard to enable local file saving capabilities.

The Microsoft 365 web application is designed to sync exclusively with OneDrive. To save files directly to your local hard drive, you must use the desktop version of Excel.

Access your Microsoft Account

Install desktop applications

Click the installation prompt to download and install the desktop Office suite onto your computer.

Save to local drive

Open the Excel desktop application, click on 'File' in the top ribbon, select 'Save As', and choose 'This PC' to save your spreadsheet directly to your local hard drive.

Default Save Location: You can change Excel's default behavior by going to File > Options > Save and checking the box for 'Save to Computer by default'.

Solution 2

Request a Refund for Web-Only Subscriptions

If you accidentally purchased a subscription that only includes web apps, you can request a refund and upgrade to a plan that includes desktop apps.

Save Files Locally with Ease

Use WPS Office to Save Spreadsheets Directly to Your PC

WPS Office provides a powerful desktop application that easily defaults to saving files locally on your computer, eliminating cloud-syncing hassles while remaining fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats.

1. Download and install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install the desktop application.
2. Create or open a spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets to create a new workbook or open an existing Microsoft Excel file.
3. Save to your computer: Click on 'Menu' in the top left, select 'Save As', choose 'Local Path' or 'Computer', and save the file directly to your desired local folder.

Native desktop application for direct local saving without cloud mandatesFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) file formatsLightweight installation that runs smoothly on most computersFree to use with a familiar user interface for a seamless transition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save files locally using the Microsoft 365 web version?

No, the web version of Excel saves files automatically to OneDrive. You must download the file manually or use the desktop application to save directly to your local hard drive.

Why don't I see the option to install desktop apps in my Microsoft account?

Your current subscription might be a web-only plan, such as Microsoft 365 Basic. The desktop applications require a standard Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business subscription tier.

How do I force Excel to always save to my computer by default?

In the desktop Excel application, go to File > Options > Save, and check the box that says 'Save to Computer by default'. You can also specify your preferred default local file location in the same menu.

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