TurboTax Desktop may be saying you don't have permission to save files due to Windows "Controlled Folder Access," macOS privacy restrictions, or lack of administrator rights. It usually means security settings are blocking the app from writing to your device.
Try these troubleshooting steps:
- Check your firewall and antivirus settings. Make sure they aren't blocking any feature of the software. Please see this help article for more information.
- Clear cache and cookies
- For Windows (Controlled Folder Access): Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings. Turn off Controlled folder access or select "Allow an app through controlled folder access" to permit TurboTax.
- For macOS (Full Disk Access): Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Privacy > Full Disk Access. Ensure the TurboTax icon is checked.
- General Fixes:
- Run as Administrator: Right-click the TurboTax icon and select "Run as administrator".
- Change Save Location: Try saving the file to your Desktop or Documents folder instead of a restricted system folder or external drive.
- Save As: Select "Save As" instead of "Save" to create a new version of the file, bypassing potential file lock issues.
If you have tried all of the troubleshooting steps and are still not able to save your file, see this help article for instructions on how to contact TurboTax customer support depending on which product you are using.
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