Office Settings & Configuration

How to Turn Off AutoSave by Default for OneDrive Files in Word

Anum Mushtaq Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Microsoft Word from automatically enabling AutoSave whenever they open documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint.

How to Turn Off AutoSave by Default for OneDrive Files

Product: Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and editing files that are saved in cloud storage services like OneDrive or SharePoint.
Observed behavior: AutoSave is automatically enabled by default, saving document changes to the cloud immediately without waiting for a manual save action.

Before you start

Ensure you have manually saved any ongoing work before adjusting the AutoSave settings, as you will need to restart Microsoft Word for the new preferences to take effect.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Default AutoSave in Word Options

Modify the built-in Microsoft Word save settings to stop the application from automatically turning on AutoSave for cloud-hosted files.

By default, Microsoft 365 applications enable AutoSave to facilitate real-time collaboration and prevent data loss. However, if you prefer to finalize your edits before saving them to the cloud, you can turn this default behavior off directly from the Options menu.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the ribbon, then select 'Options' located at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Save Settings

In the Word Options dialog box that appears, click on the 'Save' tab in the left-hand navigation pane.

Uncheck the AutoSave Option

Look for the section containing save preferences and clear the checkbox labeled 'AutoSave OneDrive and SharePoint Online files by default on Word'.

Apply Changes and Restart

Click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window to apply your changes. Close and restart Microsoft Word. Moving forward, files opened from OneDrive or SharePoint will have AutoSave turned off by default.

Disable Default AutoSave in Word Options

Manual Control Retained: Even with this default setting disabled, you can still manually toggle AutoSave back on for individual files using the switch in the top-left corner of the Word window.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off AutoSave delete my files on OneDrive?

No, disabling AutoSave only stops Word from continuously saving your changes in real-time. Your original files remain completely safe on OneDrive; you will simply need to press Ctrl+S to save your edits manually.

Does this setting affect Excel and PowerPoint as well?

No, changing this setting in Microsoft Word only applies to Word documents. To disable default AutoSave in Excel or PowerPoint, you must open those specific applications and adjust the exact same setting within their respective Options menus.

Can I turn AutoSave back on for just one specific document?

Yes. Even if you turn off the default behavior in the settings, you can manually flip the AutoSave toggle switch located in the quick access toolbar (top-left corner) for any individual document you are actively working on.

Why does Microsoft 365 turn AutoSave on by default?

Microsoft enables AutoSave automatically for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint to facilitate real-time co-authoring with colleagues and to provide a safeguard against accidental data loss if the application closes unexpectedly.

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