How do I save turbotax 2019 on Mac? Keeping getting message saying file is locked. Unable to unlock file.

[DawnC]

Are you trying to save your tax return?  Or are you needing to install the program on a Mac?  

[Sonder8]

We are trying to save and also the SW won't let me e-file as it is unable to save the latest rev of my tax filing. Using MAC OS. Yet file does show read/write access when viewing in my Finder browser.

[macuser_22]

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@Sonder8 wrote:

We are trying to save and also the SW won't let me e-file as it is unable to save the latest rev of my tax filing. Using MAC OS. Yet file does show read/write access when viewing in my Finder browser.

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You might be trying to save to a Folder that has the wrong permissions.  Try saving it to your own desktop.

The .tax2019 file must have R/W permissions for you.  If not then that is a Mac issue with your user or folders.  You can use the Get Info to change the permissions.

[Pitbull1002]

I have having the same issue, and have already checked permissions, read & write, enabled, even tried to rename and save in a different location, running the latest OS version on MAC

[macuser_22]

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@Pitbull1002 wrote:

I have having the same issue, and have already checked permissions, read & write, enabled, even tried to rename and save in a different location, running the latest OS version on MAC

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Saving a file s a Mac function and not TurboTax.    Try saving to your Desktop.

[BillB3]

I have looked at the permissions on all files that have anything to do with my taxes and they all say I have read and write permissions.  They are not locked.  At one point it even told me that I didn't have permission to access my desktop.  I don't have this problem with any other software ever.  This a 1st even with Turbo Tax. This only began with this version of Turbo Tax.  I've been using  this software for a very long time.  Never this issue.  Is there a compatibility issue with Turbo Tax and MacOS Catalina 10.15.2? 

[macuser_22]

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@BillB3 wrote:

I have looked at the permissions on all files that have anything to do with my taxes and they all say I have read and write permissions.  They are not locked.  At one point it even told me that I didn't have permission to access my desktop.  I don't have this problem with any other software ever.  This a 1st even with Turbo Tax. This only began with this version of Turbo Tax.  I've been using  this software for a very long time.  Never this issue.  Is there a compatibility issue with Turbo Tax and MacOS Catalina 10.15.2? 

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Usually that is the Mac that is at fault and restarting usually fixes it.  Beyond that I don't know.  I cannot test it myself because I refuse to upgrade to a new OS until it has been out for at least a year, just because of compatibility issues.  From what I read, Catalina has many compatibility issues with many other applications.

(I might install it on an external HD just to test but since that takes several hours without the computer, I have been putting it off.)

[cjtegel]

How do I save turbotax 2019 on Mac? Keeping getting message saying file is locked. Unable to unlock file.

[Stokestack]

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@macuser_22 wrote:

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Saving a file s a Mac function and not TurboTax.    Try saving to your Desktop.

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OK, that explanation doesn't fly when every other application can write to the same volume without a problem.

It also doesn't fly when TurboTax itself created the very file it's now complaining about. Here's a sampler of just a few of the many threads on the issue:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/can-t-save-document/00/1068534
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/error-message-that-says-my-return-cannot-be-s[pro...
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/how-do-i-save-turbotax-2019-on-mac-keeping-gettin...
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-having-problem-saving-document-says-that-i-don...
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4712960

POSSIBLE SOLUTION: It appears that TurboTax fails to request "full disk access." You have to go into System Preferences / Security & Privacy and give TurboTax full disk access. I don't know why it's allowed to initially create the file but then never update it, but that's probably an Apple issue.

[thaocpa80]

The document could not be autosaved. The file is locked.  Doe anyone know to fix this issue?

[MichelleLO]

@thaocpa80 Please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support for assistance with troubleshooting the issue you are experiencing.

[fmuermann]

I had the same issue. I was saving to flash drive, and then a folder within a folder within a folder - three folders deep. I moved the file out of the folders and onto the root file on the flash drive . It now lets me save it

[PEK76]

Thank you. I too have had this same problem and your suggestion "to go into System Preferences / Security & Privacy and give TurboTax full disk access" worked great. I am now able to Save, Print and e-file my taxes.

[hbody]

I have similar problem with Turbotax 2020, using macOS Big Sur. Help!