Home → Troubleshooting → All Products: Other Issues → "Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents ..."
Applies to: Excel 2016, with @RISK open
When I have @RISK open, and try to open a file using File » Open in Excel's menu, I get this error:
Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space.
· To make more memory available, close workbooks or programs you no longer need.
· To free disk space, delete files you no longer need from the disk you are saving to.
The same thing happens if I double-click an Excel file in Windows' File Explorer while @RISK is open in Excel.
The actual problem has nothing to do with disk space. Excel is trying to display a security warning about the file you want to open, but for some reason it is unable to. Security warnings typically come for files you downloaded from the Internet, but not always. To work around this problem, you need to answer the security prompt before Microsoft Excel tries to display it. There are two methods to do this:
- Method 1 [by file]: Before trying to open the file in Excel, find it in Windows' File Explorer. Right-click the file and select Properties. At the bottom of the General tab, click the Unblock button. Once you unblock a file, Windows should remember and Excel should not ask you again. This option is available for some file types, but not others. If you don't have an Unblock button, use Method 2.
Method 2 [by folder]: This option is better if you usually store your downloaded Excel files in one folder. In Excel, click File » Options » Trust Center » Trust Center Settings » Trusted Locations. Click Add new location. Browse to the folder where you store your Excel files, select Subfolders of this location are also trusted, and click OK.
Have you ever tried to open a Microsoft Excel document received in Outlook and encountered the error message below?
“Microsoft Excel cannot open or save any more documents because there is not enough available memory or disk space.
To make more memory available, close workbooks or programs you no longer need.
To free disk space, delete files you no longer need from the disk you are saving to.”
Screen Capture:
![Excel Microsoft excel cannot open or more document' because there i:' not enough available merr" or 05k • to more memory close workbooks or you no longer need. • ro tree disk space. delete no longer need from the disk you are 'hing to. ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-27.png?resize=698%2C145&ssl=1]
When you receive this error like I have, you probably tried a few of these fixes below but were left without a solution:
- You most likely opened Task Manager to view your current system resources only to find plenty of memory available, plenty of CPU available, and plenty of disk space available. And when I say plenty, I mean at least 60% of these resources are available.
- You may have done a Repair under the Windows 10/Settings/Apps area on the Office 365 installation. The repair may take 15 minutes or longer for the system to complete. However, this does not correct the issue.
- The actions above are normal research and corrective actions to take, but in this case we are no closer to a solution.
I have encountered into this issue a few times and finally figured out a solution. To start, the error message does not align to the actual issue. The issue is really a security related prompt with a relatively easy fix. I say relatively easy fix because as the instructions below will indicate, it is a security related check box that needs disabled. However, you must understand the implications of this action.
Below are steps to correct this issue followed by a section about understanding the security related concerns of following them.
Solution Steps:
The solution is to uncheck a security setting from within Microsoft Excel that is enabled by default to protect your system from malicious files received through Outlook.
Note: Remember to re-enable this setting once you have successfully opened your file.
- In Microsoft Excel, click on File ![Home X cut Paste Insert Format Painter Clipboard ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-23.png?resize=169%2C141&ssl=1]
2. In the left index area of Excel, at the bottom of the screen is an option called Options. Click on it.
![Open Gö 工 。 ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-24.png?resize=134%2C168&ssl=1]
3. In the Excel Options screen that appears, click Trust Options on the lower left of the screen.
![Excel Options General Formulas Proofing Language Ease of Access Advanced Customize Ribbon Quick Access Toolbar Add-ins Trust Center Experiment Help keep your documents safe and your computer secure and healthy. Security & more Visit Office.com to learn more about protecting your privacy and security. Microsoft Trust Center Microsoft Excel T rust Center The Trust Center contains security and privacy settings. These settings help keep your computer secure. We recommend that you do not change these settings. Irust Center Settings... ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-28.png?resize=777%2C383&ssl=1]
4. Then click Trust Center Settings…
![Microsoft Excel T rust Center The Trust Center contains security and privacy settings. These settings help keep your computer secure. We recommend that you do not change these settings. Irust Center Settings... ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-26.png?resize=659%2C80&ssl=1]
5. In the Trust Center settings, click Protected View on the left.
![Trust Center Trusted Publishers Trusted Locations Trusted Documents Trusted Add-in Catalogs Add- ins ActiveX Settings Macro Settings Protected View Message Bar External Content File Block Settings Privacy Options Form- based Sign- in P rotected View Protected View opens potentially dangerous files, without any security prompts, in a restricted mode to help minimize harm to your computer. By disabling Protected View you could be exposing your computer to possible security threats. Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments@ Security settings for opening Text-Based files [.csv, .dif and sylk] from an untrusted source
- Always open untrusted lext-8ased files [.csv, .dif and .sylk] in protected view Security settings for opening Database files [.dbf] from an untrusted source
- Always open untrusted Qatabase files [.dbf] in protected view ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-30.png?resize=777%2C373&ssl=1]
6. By default, all three areas are selected. To correct the issue, de-select the option “Enable Protected View for Outlook Attachments.”
![P rotected View Protected View opens potentially dangerous files, without any security prompts, in a restricted mode to help minimize harm to your computer. By disabling Protected View you could be exposing your computer to possible security threats. Enable Protected View for files originating from the Internet Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments@ ][////i0.wp.com/i0.wp.com/kmartins.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/image-29.png?resize=640%2C165&ssl=1]
7. Select OK several times to save the settings.
8. Attempt to open the document again and you will now be prompted to verify you want to open this document and that you trust the sender. The document should now open correctly.
9. Important: Once your file is opened, make sure you then re-enable this setting as it is key to help protect your system!
Understanding Important Security Concerns
It is important to understand that this setting is in place by default to protect you as the user from opening a file that may be malicious. Even if you know who the sender of the file is, there is no way to tell if that person’s email or system has been infected. Prior to opening this file please consider taking the following steps to protect yourself.