Windows 10: Save As "Previous Locations" box blank in Word and Excel

I asked this in the Word Forum as that is where I discovered the problem, but it was suggested it's a Windows problem. I have no idea what happened, but when I am saving a document using 'save as', the default location shows up in the bar, but when I click the 'previous location' arrow, the box is blank. This even though I had saved to locations other than the default file location I chose in Options recently. I then have to click down through the folders to the left. Even after manually selecting a destination the previous location box will be empty the next time I open Word. The experience is the same in Excel


How do I restore it to show previous locations?

:)

 

Excel will not open at all and Word is saving documents as blank. Also getting error message

Your saved files, either Word or Excel are saved in your Documents folder and are safe.

Go to Apps and Features and look down the list of installed programs. Locate Microsoft Office and select the entry. Select modify and then repair. This should reinstall office after it is completed check the programs again.

 

Default location to save documenets

Hi Frank,

Sorry for the delayed response.

From your recent description, it seems like the issue is confined to Word documents. If true, then follow the steps below and check if it helps.

• Launch Word application.
• Go to File Menu and select Options.
• In the pop-up dialog box, towards the left pane, select Save.
• Under Default location file, browse the location you want to save.
• Check if the issue persists.

Hope this helps.

 

Cannot save an excel file to any location on C:

It sounds like you have Ransomware Protection turned on in Windows Security. You can check to see if it has recently blocked your Excel. See Option One in this tutorial, at Step 5 click 'Recently blocked apps'. If Excel appears there, add it to the list of allowed apps.

Add or Remove Allowed Apps for Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10