Cannot save Excel files to documents anymore, only to desktop

Antoinette Grundling 0 Reputation points
2026-09-07T12:53:10.2933333+00:00

I cannot save new Excel files to documents anymore. A ghost file is created with 0 kb. Can only save it to Desktop. It happened before and Copilot let me crate a documents_new folder and upload all files to there.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows
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  1. Antoinette Grundling 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-10T19:24:00.01+00:00

    Hi, I attached 2 screenshots from File Explorer. I have deleted all the other places where "Documents" appear except the Documents in OneDrive. Excel lost the place where files must be saved in OneDrive.

    Regards

    Anto

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  2. Manoel Barros 21,735 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-08T16:42:07.88+00:00

    Where exactly does the path users\myname\documents appear? Please send me a screenshot.

    You created the new folder Documentos_new, but did you make any changes to the OneDrive settings—under "Manage Backup"—or in the "Properties > Location" tab for the Documents folder?

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  3. Antoinette Grundling 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-07T17:18:23.7+00:00

    The backup function shows the wrong folder users\myname\documents. It must be users\myname\onedrive\documents. I had the same problem with excel before. I tried to solve it with copilot by creating a documents_new folder. Excel saved to my normal folders at the new place users\myname\onedrive\documents_new. After a few weeks I tried to use the normal users\myname\onedrive\documents again and after a few days also backed it up again to Onedrive. All went well until excel shows the same problem again.

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  4. Manoel Barros 21,735 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-07T16:26:34.87+00:00

    Hi!

    Can you create a new folder or file in Documents using File Explorer (Right-click > New > File or Folder)?

    Are your user folders synced with OneDrive? Right-click the cloud icon on the taskbar (near the sound icon) > Gear icon > Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup > Send me a screenshot.

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