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Summary: Out of memory error occurs when a system is running low on storage or there’s corruption in the “Normal file”. Users can try to fix the save failed due to out of memory or disk space in Word error by the following methods:
- Run Quick Repair on your Microsoft 365 Suite.
- Delete all the files present in the“Temp folder”.
- Try to disable add-ins and then restart Microsoft Word.
- Rename the Normal template (Microsoft Word’s default template) to Normal.old.
Out of Memory error is one of the most common errors in Microsoft Word. It usually occurs when your computer runs out of RAM or hard disk space. The users won’t be able to save the Word file due to this error and they may lose some important data. We’ve mentioned some easy ways to fix the save failed due to out of memory or disk space in word error. First, let’s understand why this error occurs.
Reasons for out of memory Error in MS Word
The Out of Memory & failed to save error is a common issue that can happen on your PC or laptop. It may happen when you try to open Microsoft Word, and the program does not respond. If you get this problem often, then it’s time to fix it. The main reasons behind this error are:
- Low storage space: This error occurs if the system drive or the Temp folder is full. Even if your system’s RAM has enough space, your files might not get saved due to full Temp folder.
- Corrupt temp folder: Microsoft Word uses the Temp folder to store the temporary files while users are editing them.
- Too many open MS Office files open at once: Word has trouble saving or editing the files when too many MS Office files are open at the same time. Especially if they’re large files, it consumes a lot of RAM and makes it difficult for Word to function.
- Corrupt Normal file: Microsoft Word uses the Normal.dotm as the default template for all its files. If it becomes corrupt, Word can give rise to unexpected memory and save errors.
- Add-ins issues: Sometimes third-party add-ins can cause interference with Word’s functionality that might lead to crashes, increased memory usage and file saving issues.
- Corrupted Word file: Corruption in a Word file can prevent Microsoft Word from saving your progress. The file can get corrupted due to various reasons like sudden shutdowns, Word crashes, or improper file sharing.
Ways to fix the out of memory Error in Word
Microsoft Word gives an error message stating that there is not enough memory to open or save your file. Here how to fix Microsoft word failed to save out of memory error:
- Increase the RAM: If you are facing this issue, again and again, your system is running on lower RAM. Microsoft products need sufficient processing storage to run smoothly. More than 200 million people are using MS Office applications daily including MS Word. One of the easiest ways to fix this issue is by increasing the amount of RAM on your computer. This will increase its performance and will give it more space for running programs like Microsoft Word or other applications that require more memory than usual. If you have less than 4GB of RAM, then you should consider upgrading it.
- Delete Temporary Files: If your system is running low on storage, you should delete some files from the Temp folder. Follow the steps to do so:
- Press Win + R on keyboard to launch the Run dialogue box.
- Input %temp% and hit Enter to open the Temp folder.
- Select all the files and press Delete on your keyboard to empty the folder.
- Update Drivers: A system runs smoothly when it is up to date. If you are having the out of memory error, check the drivers for an update. If there is an update available, update them.
- Run Quick Repair for Microsoft Office: If this issue is caused by glitches in Microsoft Word, it can be easily fixed by repairing the Microsoft Office. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Win + Q and search for Add or remove programs.
- Find Microsoft 365 application in the list.
- Select Change from the drop-down list.
- Click on Quick Repair > Repair to start the process.
- Wait for the repair process to get completed.
- Check The Drive Size: The primary reason for this error is low storage. Make sure that you have enough space on your hard drive for temporary files and other unnecessary data. If you haven’t cleaned up your computer recently, or if you have just downloaded a lot of new programs, then your computer may be running out of space.
- Update Your System: It is an easy process for all. Click on the Start button and then click on the Settings option. Choose the Update & Security option from the left pane and then click on the Check for Updates button present at the bottom right corner of the window screen:
- Use A Recovery Tool: Sometimes, the MS word file is broken due to not getting a sizeable space to save its data or Word file is not opening or is in accessible due to corruption or damage of file showing that a file error has occurred in MS Word. In such cases, you should use a professional MS Word Repair software to recover the file.
Conclusion
The Out of Memory or Disk Space error in Microsoft is one of the most annoying errors that you can encounter, especially when it pops-up while working on an important file. It is usually caused by insufficient storage space or corrupt Normal template files. This is a common across all versions of MS Word. It can mainly occur while trying to open or work with a large file in the Word program. We’ve covered the underlying causes and the effective ways to resolve this issue.
Though, manual methods might not work well to fix Microsoft Word file save failed due to out of memory or disk space error if the Word file itself is corrupted. Taking the help of a trusted Word Repair software can be useful in this case. Kernel Word Repair helps to repair and recover severely corrupted Word files, without altering the original data. This tool can also be helpful for fixing other Word errors like Word file wont open error easily.
Frequently asked questions
A. If you face this error even when you have enough space, then the underlying cause could be something entirely different. This error occurs even when there’s corruption in the Normal template or the Word document.
A. Yes, there’s a chance Word is failing to save the document because of an unstable network connection, incorrect configuration, or sync issues with OneDrive or SharePoint.
A. No, they’re not the same thing. If your Word displays Out of Memory error, then you don’t have enough RAM for functioning. On the other hand, if you face the Out of Disk Space error, then it means that the Temp folder is full.
A. If you still can’t save file in Word even after trying all the manual methods, maybe the Word file is severely corrupted. In such scenarios, it’s better to repair corrupt Word file with a trusted Word Repair tool to avoid further damage.
