Trying to connect message when Saving in Excel 365

We implemented this workaround. It seemed to resolve the issue temporarily. The web client service is still disabled, but the "connecting to server..." issues still appears.

Hopefully this can be fixed soon. Users constantly asking if I have fixed this on our network blaming their connection to our server, which is not.

TLDR

• Issue was present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20194).
• Issue is still present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20210).

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BEHAVIOR

We have been fighting with the "Trying to connect to" issue for a few weeks.

End users are quite frustrated.

Can navigate to a file share and open an Excel document fine.

Can confirm it occurs when initially trying to Save As or Browse to a network share through Excel.

If I wait and let it figure itself out and connect, which takes anywhere from 15-60 seconds (roughly), I can do another Save As right away without issue (no pop up). But if I let it sit for awhile (exact time unknown) or open the file again later in the day - it will go through the "Trying to connect to" process all over again.

We have DFS + Redirected Desktop and Documents folders.

Concerned about the long-term effects of disabling WebClient service but will give it a test today.

For those that have implemented this workaround - have you run into any issues?

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VERSIONS

Issue was present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20194).

Updated to 15427.20210 on a few machines yesterday.

Seemed better at first but the "Trying to connect to" message cropped up again today.

Might be my imagination but the "Trying to connect to" message seems to clear quicker on 2207.

Issue is still present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20210).

---

TLDR

• Issue was present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20194).
• Issue is still present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20210).

BEHAVIOR

We have been fighting with the "Trying to connect to" issue for a few weeks.

End users are quite frustrated.

Can navigate to a file share and open an Excel document fine.

Can confirm it occurs when initially trying to Save As or Browse to a network share through Excel.

If I wait and let it figure itself out and connect, which takes anywhere from 15-60 seconds (roughly), I can do another Save As right away without issue (no pop up). But if I let it sit for awhile (exact time unknown) or open the file again later in the day - it will go through the "Trying to connect to" process all over again.

We have DFS + Redirected Desktop and Documents folders.

Concerned about the long-term effects of disabling WebClient service but will give it a test today.

For those that have implemented this workaround - have you run into any issues?

VERSIONS

Issue was present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20194).

Updated to 15427.20210 on a few machines yesterday.

Seemed better at first but the "Trying to connect to" message cropped up again today.

Might be my imagination but the "Trying to connect to" message seems to clear quicker on 2207.

Issue is still present for us on 2207 (Build 15427.20210).

The issue is present in the latest Enterprise Monthly Channel, Version 2206 (Build 15330.20298).

Any update for the same?? Right now we are working on downgrading the MS Office, but this is a hectic job when implies to the whole organization.

Why isn't this issue included in the Office or Excel fixes or workarounds page or support knowledge base articles?