Saving files locally only?

I would like to save all my word, excel, etc files locally and not to the onedrive/cloud.

I have set the default saving location on the local versions of word and Excel, but when I am using 365 it only shows the onedrive as a default location, there doesn't seem to be any other choices?

Part of my question is how can I make sure that when I create a new document from the Outlook window that I use the local version of Word and not the web version? When can I set that preference?

Hope I am being clear, basically I want to save all my files locally no matter what version of Word or Excel I am using, thanks very much.

-Henry

silsurf said:

I would like to save all my word, excel, etc files locally and not to the onedrive/cloud.

I have set the default saving location on the local versions of word and Excel, but when I am using 365 it only shows the onedrive as a default location, there doesn't seem to be any other choices?

Part of my question is how can I make sure that when I create a new document from the Outlook window that I use the local version of Word and not the web version? When can I set that preference?

Hope I am being clear, basically I want to save all my files locally no matter what version of Word or Excel I am using, thanks very much.

-Henry

Hi Henry,

I like to help you solve your problem. However, I want to clarify a couple of things so I can understand your situation a little better. What I believe you are saying is: when using Microsoft Office Word/Excel online, the file always saved in OneDrive, and you want the file instead saved to your computer. Am I correct in this assumption?

Guardian Angel

Yes, that is correct.
I have changed the preferences of my local Word and Excel to save locally, but when I use Outlook 365 and create a new doc, it automatically goes to the browser version of the application and the default seems to be saving to OneDrive.

There are really two answers, one would be how do I force Windows to always use the local version of Word or Excel

or

How do I force the browser version of Word and Excel to always save locally and not to OneDrive?

Thanks

This article might be helpful -

How to save files locally in Office 365, and work your way around saving to OneDrive >> OnMSFT.com

OK, thank you for clarifying that for me, Henry. There is a way to save a Word/Excel file online to your computer.

1. Click on File on the upper left-hand corner.
2. Click on Save As.
3. Click on Download a Copy.

This option would allow you to save the file locally onto your computer. However, the word/excel file will still automatically save to your OneDrive, but you can discard it once the file is onto your computer. I hope this helps. Please let me know if this works for you.

Guardian Angel

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to alter a setting so that I never have to do a "save as" I would hope that Microsoft left some way to manage your preferences of where you save your documents?

Regarding the article on how to save files locally, what seems to happen to me is if I am working with the web/based version of Word, there is no preference for saving documents, only if I am using the local version of Word. But the catch-22 is when I open outlook and select new document, it automatically opens one in the web/browser version of Word? So, I assume ther eis some way to force Outlook to always open the local version of Word? I just dont know how?

-Henry

Hi Henry,

Unfortunately, I am not able to find any settings that allow you to open a new document and automatically open/save it in a Microsoft Word/Excel desktop application. I have been researching, as well as testing stuff on my end for four hours to see if it is possible, but it seems outlook 365, along with other Microsoft Office 365 online apps, is deeply integrated to its online counterparts. If a person wants to save a file to their computer or create a document online and open it in their desktop application, the process would have to be manual.

The process to create a document online and open it in Microsoft Word/Excel desktop application:

1. Click on File in the upper left-hand corner
2. Click Info
3. Click Open in Desktop App

Guardian Angel

Thanks very much, sorry that Microsoft is locking in that attribute, seems a bit controlling if you ask me.

silsurf said:

Thanks very much, sorry that Microsoft is locking in that attribute, seems a bit controlling if you ask me.

Henry, you are very welcome. I am glad to help. I agree with you about Microsoft being controlling, with no competition to compete against Microsoft Office (online and in desktop application), it's the only office suite that is widely used by everyone.