Word 2013: Extremely slow saving and pasting plain text in long documents

Hello,

In case that everyone still got this slow-save issue in Microsoft Office 2013. Allow me to set your expectation, that meeting this issue has a few things to consider:

1. Background applications, such as Protection Software and/or Antivirus.
2. Size of the document being saved.
3. Storage read speed (Hard drive/USB drive Performance Specific)
4. Overall system performance.

All of the solutions that were shared by other community members are really helpful. In addition to those solutions, please perform this method:

Note: The method to fix the issue will have Registry modification. Before you modify the Registry, make sure to back it up and understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. Please refer to this link: How to back up and restore the registry in Windows.

Using Regedit, go to this registry key address:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Excel\Security\FileValidation

Or

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Word\Security\FileValidation

Double click the REG_DWORD: EnableOnLoad, set its value to 0 (zero) and restart the PC.

If you do not have the ~\Office\15.0\Excel (or Word)\Security\FileValidation, you can create it:

Most of the other user's same cases, this Registry method worked. To some, it improved the save time consumption.

Since we need to Consider the Overall System Performance, please perform this method as well:

1. In Searchtab of the **Start menu,**type "Adjust the appearance and performance of windows" and press Enter
2. Go to Advanced tab and click Change... button in the Virtual memory section
3. At the top, uncheck the box right before **"Automatically manage paging file size for all drives"**option.
4. Select drive C: (or the drive where Windows 10 is installed).
5. Select Custom size: by ticking its radio button, and change the Initial size (MB) and Maximum size (MB) to the Recommended value that you will find just below; on the Total paging file size for all drivers section.

This method will help improve the system performance.

Remember: Changing the Paging file size into larger than which was recommended by Windows is not going to be helpful.

Lastly, depending on which Protection Software you have, please temporarily tweak its scan policy. For Document scanning, make sure to check that it is not scanning the entire documents that are saved (or being saved), for it will be a little harsh in the system. Contact your Antivirus Software support line in order to do this.

Best regards.

Post edited; Thanks to [The real jaydax]

For me too its very bad.. only 3 MB file of 20 pages take **** lot of time to save or do some formatting :(

Exactly the same problem and getting worse!  I have two files one 71 pages and one 91 pages.  I pull them up, edit and save every day.   They started out taking a noticeable few seconds longer than expected to save and now are taking up to 1-2 MINUTES.  My  workaround is to spend the time making coffee or tidying up my office while it is stuggling to save the file.  This is definitely a WORD 2013 bug.

Three years late, but it might tell you something. I have a 9.2 MB docx (940 pages, one b/w illustration) which takes about 40 seconds to save. The computer is about 3 years old and the disk has plenty of room. Saving it to a SSD takes about half the time. Most of the time is taken by Word doing unspeakable things to the doc before writing it because copying the file to the same disk is much faster. (Unspeakable = unknown:)

Wow.  This worked for me.  Apparently "background saves" does the opposite of what I thought it did.  Disabling it allows for fast saves (seemingly in the background), while enabling it makes saves slow everything down.