Skip to main content

Kutools for Office — One Suite. Five Tools. Get More Done.

How to automatically save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time?

Author Siluvia Last modified

In some cases, such as leaving an Excel file on a shared disk, when the file is still opening by a user, others are unable to edit the workbook. So how to auto close the file after a certain idle time in order to ease other’s work? This article will help you with VBA method.

Auto save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time with VBA code


Auto save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time with VBA code

To auto save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time, please do as follows.

1. Open the workbook you need to make it auto saved and closed after a certain idle time. Then press the Alt + F11 keys together to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. In the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please double click the ThisWorkbook in the right pane to open the Code window. Then copy and paste below VBA code into the Code window. See screenshot:

VBA code 1: Auto save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time

Dim xTime As String
Dim xWB As Workbook

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
'Updated by Extendoffice 2019/1/20
    On Error Resume Next
    xTime = Application.InputBox("Please specify the idle time:", "KuTool For Excel", "00:00:20", , , , , 2)
    Set xWB = ActiveWorkbook
    If xTime = "" Then Exit Sub
    Reset
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_SheetActivate(ByVal Sh As Object)
    On Error Resume Next
    If xTime = "" Then Exit Sub
    Reset
End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_SheetChange(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range)
    On Error Resume Next
    If xTime = "" Then Exit Sub
    Reset
End Sub

Sub Reset()
    Static xCloseTime
    If xCloseTime <> 0 Then
        ActiveWorkbook.Application.OnTime xCloseTime, "SaveWork1", , False
    End If
    xCloseTime = Now + TimeValue(xTime)
    ActiveWorkbook.Application.OnTime xCloseTime, "SaveWork1", , True
End Sub

copy and paste the code into ThisWorkbook module

3. Then go on clicking Insert > module, and copy and paste below code into the Module window. See screenshot:

VBA code 2: Auto save and close an Excel file after a certain idle time

Sub SaveWork1()
'Updated by Extendoffice 2019/1/20
    Application.DisplayAlerts = False
    ActiveWorkbook.Save
    ActiveWorkbook.Close
    
    Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End Sub

4. Press the Alt + Q keys simultaneously to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

5. Click File > Save As > Browse. See screenshot:

Click File > Save As > Browse

6. In the Save As dialog box, please select a folder to save the file, name it as you need in the File name box, select Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook from the Save as type drop-down list, and finally click the Save button. See screenshot:

select Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook from the Save as type drop-down list

From now on, every time when opening this workbook, a Kutools for Excel dialog box will pop up. Please enter the time you will save and close the workbook based on, and then click the OK button.

And the workbook will be saved and closed automatically after that specified idle time. See screenshot:

the workbook will be saved and closed automatically after that specified idle time

a screenshot of kutools for excel ai

Unlock Excel Magic with Kutools AI

  • Smart Execution: Perform cell operations, analyze data, and create charts—all driven by simple commands.
  • Custom Formulas: Generate tailored formulas to streamline your workflows.
  • VBA Coding: Write and implement VBA code effortlessly.
  • Formula Interpretation: Understand complex formulas with ease.
  • Text Translation: Break language barriers within your spreadsheets.
Enhance your Excel capabilities with AI-powered tools. Download Now and experience efficiency like never before!

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup    Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar    Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells    Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time.  Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...


Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier

  • Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
  • Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
  • Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!

All Kutools add-ins. One installer

Kutools for Office suite bundles add-ins for Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint plus Office Tab Pro, which is ideal for teams working across Office apps.

Excel Word Outlook Tabs PowerPoint
  • All-in-one suite — Excel, Word, Outlook & PowerPoint add-ins + Office Tab Pro
  • One installer, one license — set up in minutes (MSI-ready)
  • Works better together — streamlined productivity across Office apps
  • 30-day full-featured trial — no registration, no credit card
  • Best value — save vs buying individual add-in