Can't save: "The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder."

[jwilkinsonmd]

I've seen this issue all over the internet when I've searched for an answer. And it looks like it has been around for years. The only solution I've seen is to close the window pane in Windows. But what about for Mac users?

I just bought a new macbook pro. I had a 2011 macbook pro previously, with Acrobat Pro X. I backed up my computer in time machine, started up the new computer, and restored the old computer's data to the new one. Everything is the same and works fine except that I cannot save PDFs when I edit them. The only workaround I've found is to open a new folder, which  I can "save as" to the new location, but then I can't save future edits there unless I send them to yet another new folder.

The error message is: "The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder."

This is driving me crazy. Someone please help.

[Ibrahim263192667ghe]

Thanks! That worked like a charm.

[gabrivrz]

This was the only solution that worked for me. Thank you!

[L0GAN_]

Disable the preview pane in file explorer and it worked for me.

Adobe seem to register the file as being open when you click on it without opening it and it shows the preview.

Just disable preview pane or select a different file and that should help.

[yoyo5EDE]

Another Solution is to open your Antivirus program and check the allowed and blocked apps and make sure to place the illustrator.exe file in the allowed apps so that the Antivirus program doesn't automatically stop it from making changes to your files

[Kürşad22409029926q]

I did what was said here, but none of them worked. I saved the last file as untitled-1 without giving any name. And so I was able to save it. then my file name I changed it in my folder. I wanted to share it in case there is a solution.

[stayzlynn003]

Did you try disabling the preview file option in File Explorer? That was the only thing that allowed me to save my document. Once I turned that option off, I was able to save it.

Good luck.

[yiaxiong1234!]

A lot of people commented that turning off preview pane in file explorer fixes the problem and I confirmed that it works, especially for shared folders or network drive locations, but what if preview pane was required by a user?  I  realize a user can simply toggle preview on and off but if a person's role is to edit PDF documents all day, this would not be efficient.  There must be a real fix and not just a workaround.  

[Christine256187541a89]

I agree.  Mine worked for a bit, but then there was an update and now it is back to saving with an "a" after everything and then deleting the original invoice, then deleting the "a" after the original name.  Frustrating.  

[goofy14you2]

I have this issue with at Macbook Pro.  I have looked everywhere for an answer.  I just switched from a windows computer to Macbook so I am just learning and trying to get everything set up.  So please help me figure out what to do.   I need this for school.  I can not seem to save PDF files.  I tried on my external hard drive that I used with my windows computer and I tried saving it to icloud.  I know it has to be a setting that I am missing.  Any help will be so appreciated.

Thank you so much.

[Ali26160848pjiw]

Thanks for your help , really worked with me 

[Page27741056ubdu]

This helped. It will also help to uncheck the file while it's open. 

[Eric28196647w46p]

Hi, I need to enable preview pane and modify a lot of pdf file from map drive directly. I received the same error all time.

The error message is: "The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder."

Someone please help. Thanks

[LoriPax]

Mac user here (Ventura 13.3.1). This has been happening to me fairly regularly lately, and it's maddening. I've tried resetting all permissions to read & write and paused all my backups (CrashPlan & Time Machine), but still no love. Once you get this message, all of your changes are toast. Fortunately, I can export the comments and then reimport them into the reopened file, and from that point, I can save. Just dropping that here so it might save someone some grief down the road. I've made it a habit to just export comments every so many changes when I'm working on a proof so that I don't lose more time. Adobe needs to fix this bug, whatever it is.