Libre office writer won’t let me save files. Using ver. 7.0.3.1 When entering a file to save it a window pops up saying “file not found” It’s reacting like i’m searching for file when i’m trying to save file. Always worked before.
Saving as ODF Text Document (*.odt). Should I use previous version? I’m using Windows 10 20H2.
Why Libre office writer won’t let me save files?
The question seems wrong and probably should read “Why Windows 10 won’t let me save files?”
No operating system mentioned. I’m guessing it is something to do with Operating System or anti-virus.
Mac
You probably need to give LibreOffice full disk access from System Preferences > Security & Privacy. See this site on how to do it if you aren’t sure: Explained: What is Full Disk Access & Full Permissions on macOS Mojave .
Windows
If you don’t have a third party anti-virus then you have Windows Defender. You can either allow LO or turn off Controlled Folder Access
Allow LibreOffice access to controlled folder
The below numbered list is from Use the Windows Defender Security app to allow specific apps
- Open the Windows Security by
selecting the shield icon in the
task bar or searching the start menu
for Defender. - Select the Virus & threat
protection tile (or the shield
icon on the left menu bar) and then
select Ransomware protection. - Under the Controlled folder
access section, select Allow an
app through Controlled folder
access - Select Add an allowed app and
follow the prompts to add apps. You
need to allow access to
soffice.bin
Turn Off Defender Controlled Folder Access
Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection.
Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings.
Under Controlled folder access, select Manage Controlled folder access.
Switch the Controlled folder access setting from On to Off.
3rd Party Anti-virus
If you do have a third party anti-virus go into settings and then look for something like anti-ransomware or folder protection. Have a look at the blocked apps list, if you see soffice.bin in there change it to Allowed (you might have to read AV help if not obvious). Otherwise go to the Allowed Apps setting and allow soffice.bin, this might not be easy so you might have to add the different LibreOffice executables (Calc, Writer, etc.) to the Allowed list. Note that 3rd party anti-virus might make files Read Only so you can create a new file but you can’t save it subsequently. Sometimes, you might need to reboot after allowing a program access.
Cheers, Al
I upgraded my test machine to Win 10 20H2, it was already running 7.0.3.1. No problems here.
A couple of possibilities immediately spring to mind:
- Your PC is waiting to install a new version of Net Framework, or waiting to restart.
- Your User Profile is corrupt. If you start LibreOffice in Safe Mode, does the problem still exist? Click
Help > Restart in safe mode. LO will restart without referencing your user profile. If you can save OK in Safe Mode then you will need to archive your user profile, then reset to factory. You can do this from Safe Mode or you can close LO, navigate to C:\Users<user name>\AppData\Roaming\libreoffice\4\user (or possibly C:\Users<user name>\AppData\Roaming\libreoffice\5\user) and rename the folder user to say user[YYYYMMDD]. Restart LO and it will welcome you as a new user having built a new user folder. Copy back the contents of Autocorrect, Autotext, backup, Templates and wordbook. AL
Coming back to Windows Defender, does the message window for “file not found” look like the one in this link to tenforums? Follow the settings above to add soffice.bin to Allowed Apps.
I assumed your re-edit of your question meant that you had looked at my answer and it hadn’t worked. Note that you can add the individual executables, writer.exe ,etc. to the Allowed list
Thank you Earnest Al,I didn’t have a chance to preform the task you mention until today 11/25/2020.
I added soffice.bin to Allowed Apps and I am able to save files now. Thanks so much and have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanks again virtualz