In the desktop version of Word for Microsoft 365, open your OneDrive or SharePoint document and switch AutoSave off near the top of the Word window. That changes this file’s behavior. To start new cloud files with AutoSave off by default in Word on Windows, use a separate setting under File > Options > Save.
Turn off AutoSave for one Word document
- Open the document in desktop Word. AutoSave is normally available for files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint Online.
- Find the AutoSave switch near the top of the window and set it to Off before making changes you do not want saved immediately.
- When you do want to keep your edits, select Save or press Ctrl+S on Windows. You can also turn AutoSave back on. Word remembers the switch setting for that individual file when you reopen it.
If you want to experiment without changing the original, use File > Save a Copy before editing. This is often safer than relying on the AutoSave switch after edits have already been saved.
Turn it off by default in Word on Windows
- Go to File > Options > Save.
- Clear AutoSave OneDrive and SharePoint Online files by default on Word, then select OK.
- Restart Word for the default change to take effect. You can still turn AutoSave on for an individual file with its switch.
This setting applies to Word on that device; it does not change Excel and PowerPoint. Turning AutoSave off for one document also does not turn it off for every other document.
Turn it off by default on a Mac
- In desktop Word for Microsoft 365 on your Mac, open Word > Preferences > Save.
- Clear Turn on AutoSave by default.
- Open a new OneDrive or SharePoint document and check its AutoSave switch. You can still turn AutoSave back on for an individual file.
The default setting and the switch for the current file solve different problems. If you only want to pause automatic saving for one experiment, change the file’s switch before editing. If you want an untouched original, use Save a Copy and edit the copy instead; this avoids depending on whether a previous change was already saved.
Verify the behavior before you work
- Look at the file location and confirm whether the document is in OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Check that the AutoSave switch reads Off before making your changes.
- Make a small test edit, save manually, then reopen the file and verify the edit persisted.
When several people edit the same cloud file, tell collaborators if you will work with AutoSave off. They may not see your changes until you save, and frequent manual saves reduce the chance of conflicting edits.
What changes when AutoSave is off?
Your edits are no longer continuously saved to the cloud. Save manually and often. Other people working on the same file may not see your edits in real time, and delayed saves can increase the chance of merge conflicts. AutoRecover is a different feature that can still help after a crash, but it is not a substitute for saving your work.
If the AutoSave switch is unavailable, check whether the file is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint Online and whether you are using a supported Microsoft 365 desktop app. A document saved only to a local folder generally does not use cloud AutoSave. If you already lost edits, see our unsaved Word document recovery guide; if AutoSave saved an unwanted edit to a cloud file, consult our version history guide before restoring an earlier version.
To resume continuous saving for an eligible cloud file, follow our guide to turning AutoSave on in Word. Check that the switch reads On and that the file is in the intended OneDrive or SharePoint location.
Sources: Microsoft: What is AutoSave? and Microsoft: What happens if I turn off AutoSave?.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com