Save and close large files

It sounds like OneDrive is not finishing the sync process before the file is closed. This is especially noticeable with larger Office files. A few things you can try:

First, make sure the OneDrive client is fully updated. Microsoft has pushed fixes in recent builds for sync timing issues.

Second, instead of relying on save-then-close happening instantly, add a short delay. For manual work, that means saving, waiting a few seconds, and then closing. For VBA automation, you can use Application.Wait or a similar pause after Save before running Close.

Third, check if Files On-Demand is enabled. Sometimes disabling it for the specific folder where you keep large Office documents helps, since the files are kept fully local and reduce sync lag.

If the problem keeps happening, it may be worth opening a support case with Microsoft since this looks more like a limitation in how OneDrive handles back-to-back save and close requests rather than something wrong with your setup.

Based on what you described (Windows 11, OneDrive for Business, large Excel/Word files, VBA macros).

What’s happening is basically a race condition between:

• Office telling OneDrive "file is saved, sync it"
• You (or VBA) telling Office "close the file immediately"

When the save and close come back-to-back, OneDrive/Office Upload Center sometimes doesn’t have time to update the cached copy before the file handle closes. That’s why you see “server version has been edited” or “please re-save” errors, especially on larger files.

Manual habit (what you’ve already discovered)

• Do Ctrl+S (Save), wait a couple of seconds until the OneDrive icon shows a small green check, then close.
• Annoying, but works.

VBA workaround (best option for automation)

Here’s a drop-in VBA procedure you can add to any Excel file (or your Personal Macro Workbook), and then call it instead of ThisWorkbook.Close or ActiveWorkbook.Close.

' ================================
' Safe Save-and-Close for OneDrive
' ================================
' Call SafeClose ThisWorkbook
' or SafeClose Workbooks("MyFile.xlsx")
' instead of .Close

Public Sub SafeClose(wb As Workbook, Optional DelaySeconds As Double = 2)
    On Error GoTo ErrHandler
    
    ' 1. Save explicitly
    wb.Save
    
    ' 2. Give OneDrive/Office Upload Cache time to catch up
    If DelaySeconds > 0 Then
        Application.Wait (Now + TimeSerial(0, 0, DelaySeconds))
    End If
    
    ' 3. Close without asking again (already saved above)
    wb.Close SaveChanges:=False
    Exit Sub
    
ErrHandler:
    MsgBox "Error closing workbook '" & wb.Name & "': " & Err.Description, vbExclamation
End Sub

Anywhere you would normally write:

ThisWorkbook.Close SaveChanges:=True

This way, the explicit Save happens, OneDrive has ~2 seconds to register it, and then the workbook closes without prompting.
You can adjust the delay if needed (2–5 seconds for large files).

Disable "Use Office applications to sync Office files"

• In OneDrive settings → Office tab → uncheck "Use Office applications to sync Office files I open".
• This makes OneDrive do the syncing instead of relying on the Office Upload Cache.
• Many users report it fixes weird save/close sync issues (but you lose some coauthoring features).

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.

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