6 Solutions to Fix Excel Sharing Violation Error [2023]

The ‘sharing violation’ error is commonly encountered by Excel 2007 & 2010 users while trying to save their workbooks. But recently, other Excel version users are also found reporting the sharing violation error in the Windows 7, 8.1 & Windows 10 operating system. Thus, if you are one such user, you must check this post. This article describes complete info regarding what this error is, why this error occurs, and how to fix Excel sharing violation error in no time.

Quick Solutions	Step-By-Step Solutions Guide
#1: Download & Apply Hotfix Package	Download the Microsoft official hotfix…Complete Steps
#2: Permit Excel File to Get Indexed	Press the Win + E keys to open the File Explorer…Complete Steps
#3: Enable the Sharing Wizard	Press Win + E keys to open the File Explorer >> Choose a “View” tab…Complete Steps
#4: Rename your File	In Microsoft Excel, you have to go to File menu >> Save As…Complete Steps
#5: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Program	You can uninstall the antivirus program…Complete Steps
#6: Save Your File in Another Location	Open the Excel document >> go to File menu >> Save As…Complete Steps

What Is Sharing Violation Error?

A sharing violation in Microsoft Excel refers to opening a file that is used by another program.

When sharing violation error appears on the screen then any modifications done by the user to his/her worksheet cannot be saved. Hence, end up with the weird error “Your changes could not be saved to ‘FileName’ because of a sharing violation. Try saving to a different file.”

Here is the real interface of this error message:

Now, let’s proceed to know why this error actually takes place.

What Causes Sharing Violation In Excel?

Well, there are many different reasons responsible for cannot save Excel files because of sharing violations. Here check out some of the common ones:

• Excel file is not allowed to get indexed – The error appears when the Excel file is located inside the folder that is not permitted to let the inside files get indexed.  And in this case, the error is resolved by modifying the particular folder Advanced Attributes settings
• The Sharing Wizard is Turned Off – In Excel and other MS Office programs need the Sharing Wizard option enabled to work appropriately.
• The Third-party Antivirus controls the Excel file – It is found due to the third-party antivirus program installed on the users’ system causes the Excel sharing violation error. The antivirus program keeps the file busy when Excel tries to write over it.

Despite this, the most common cause responsible for the sharing Excel files sharing violation error is when you frequently save the Excel workbook at very short intervals.

Now, follow the below given possible troubleshooting steps to fix Excel cannot save file error.

How to Fix Excel Sharing Violation Error in Windows?

Solution 1: Download & Apply Hotfix Package

Microsoft has released the Hotfix Package to fix the MS Excel Sharing Violation error.  You need to download and install it and check if the error is resolved or not.

Follow the steps to do so:

1. Download the Microsoft official hotfix
2. And close entire running Microsoft Office suites including Excel, Outlook, Word, Access, and Powerpoint.
3. And double click the downloaded file and follow the on-screen process to install it.
4. Lastly, restart the Windows OS

Well, the hotfix described in the article fixes one particular issue caused by the Office Shell Extension msoshext.dll file.

Also, there may be other components that are causing the same kind of error. And if downloading the hotfix package won’t work for you then follow the other possible solutions that work for many users to fix the error.

Solution 2: Permit Excel File to Get Indexed

Many users fixed the sharing violation problem by modifying the folder Advanced Attributes Settings, to allow the files inside to get indexed. So, it is worth to try modifying the folder Advanced Attributes Settings, to fix the error.

Follow the steps to do so:

• Close the Excel & ensure there’re no instances of the Microsoft Office running in background.
• Then, press the Win + E keys to open the File Explorer.
• Go to the folder which contains your Excel document with violation error.
• Next, right-tap on that folder & choose Properties option.

• Click Advanced option.

• Under the window of Advanced Attributes, go to the Archive & Index attributes.
• Choose the “Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties” checkbox >> click OK.

• At this time, click This will save all the changes >> click OK to exit from the window.
• Now, open the Excel & check if the error is solved when you’re attempting to save your file.

After saving the changes, start Excel again and check if you still encounter cannot save Excel file because of sharing violation error. If still facing the error then follow the next solution.

Also Read: How To Fix Excel Circular Reference Error?

Solution 3: Enable the Sharing Wizard

Check if the sharing wizard is disabled then enable it through Folder Options screen.  This worked for many users to fix Excel sharing violation errors while saving the workbook.

Follow the steps to do so:

• Press Win + E keys to open the File Explorer.
• Choose a “View” tab which you can see at the top menu bar.
• Then find & click on “Options” icon.
• Now, choose “Change folder & search options” in order to launch Folder Options Window.

• Navigate Viewtab >> check the “Use Sharing Wizard (Recommended)” checkbox.
• Next, click This will save all the changes >> click OK to exit from the window

• Reboot your PC & check for the issue.

Solution 4: Rename your File to Fix Excel Sharing Violation

Many users have conveyed that renaming the file has helped them in removing your changes could not be saved because of a sharing violation error. So, you should do the same thing to get rid of this error.

Here is how you can do so:

• In Microsoft Excel, you have to go to File menu.

• Choose Save As option.
• Now, give another name in a textbox to save it >> click “Save”. This will complete your saving process.

Solution 5: Disable Third-Party Antivirus Program

According to the users, the antivirus program hogs the Excel file when Excel tries to write over it while saving. The issue is seen commonly with the Comodo AVG, Avast, McAfee, and also the Premium version of Malwarebytes, it might happen with other antivirus programs also.

So, if you are running a third-party antivirus program then completely disable it and check if the Excel sharing violation error while saving is fixed.

Moreover, if this solution works for you then it is clear your antivirus program is the culprit. And in this case, you can uninstall the antivirus program and switch to Windows Defender as the problem is not associated with it.

Solution 6: Save Your File in Another Location

Another yet option that can help you to troubleshoot sharing violation Excel error message is to save your file in another folder/location on the PC.

follow the below steps to do so:

• Open the Excel document >> go to File menu.

• Then, click on the option “Save As”.
• Now, click on the More Options…in order to choose another location for saving this file.

• Choose different folder>> click on Save option to complete the file-saving process.

Also Read: How to Fix “Excel Not Printing Gridlines”?

Automatic Solution: Excel File Recovery Tool

Well, if none of the above-given fixes works for you, and you are unable to save the Excel file then in this situation it is worth running the professionally recommended Excel Repair & Recovery Tool.

This is the best Excel repair software that allows for repairing corrupted, damaged, inaccessible Excel files and some sort of errors in Excel. Not only this it also recovers the lost, deleted, and corrupted Excel file data without doing any modification to the original format.

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* Free version of the product only previews recoverable data.

You can recover chart, chart sheet, table, cell comment, image, cell comment, formula, and sort & filter and all data components from corrupt Excel files. It is easy to use and supports all Excel versions.

Steps to Utilize Excel Recovery Tool:

Related FAQs:

Why Is a Shared Excel Workbook Locked for Editing?

There could be several reasons why your shared Excel workbook is locked for editing. However, the major reason behind this is- The file is shared & another user is currently editing it.

How Do You Remove a Shared Violation?

In order to remove a shared violation, follow the below tricks:

• Enable the Sharing Wizard
• Rename your File
• Disable Third-Party Antivirus Program
• Download & Apply Hotfix Package
• Permit Excel File to Get Indexed
• Save Your File in Another Location

Conclusion:

So, this is all about the sharing violation error in Excel. Well, I tried my best to put together the entire working solutions to fix the error and save the Excel file easily.

Make sure to follow the given solutions one by one in the given sequence carefully. The solutions given are easy and worked for many users.

Hope the article worked for you as well to fix Excel sharing violation error faced while saving the Excel workbook.

Good Luck!!!