Office 365 (Excel) making backup copies of spreadheets, how to stop?

Catnip · 12 Dec 2023

I have been pulling out my hair for about an hour now, searching this forum and Google for a way to prevent Excel from making a backup copy on my hard disk of every spreadsheet I edit. I delete the backup copies, but every time I open a spreadsheet, there it is again.

I know it is possible to turn off this lovely, yet annoying feature. I just can't remember how.

Could someone point this nitwit in the right direction, please?

TIA

(Oh, I refuse to use OneDrive, so that feature is off)

Try3 · 12 Dec 2023

In Excel,
SaveAs,
[choose a location in order to get to the next step],

Office 365 (Excel) making backup copies of spreadheets, how to stop?-excel-saveas-tools-general-options-always-create-backup.png

[next to the Save button itself] Tools,
General options,
Clear the Always create backup checkbox,
OK.

All the best,
Denis

Catnip · 12 Dec 2023

Thank you so much, Denis! You have saved my hair! lol

Try3 · 12 Dec 2023

Glad to help.
I only remembered where it was because I've always regarded it as the most illogically located option in MSOffice.
It's a hangover from MSOffice97 if not earlier.

Merry Wotsit,
Denis