I am new to windows, using a new PC, I am the only user, almost every time single time I open the fie I am working on I get this error message. The save as is not an option, the closing the window pane is not working, finding the .lck file did not find anything. Non of the solutions suggested in previous post has worked.
Is there a fix for this for 2026?
Thanks
Where is the file you’re opening saved?
In the Documents Folder, which I am the owner of, there are no other users, I am the only person using this computer
Are you certain that it’s the local Documents folder and not linked to One Drive?
Did you install SketchUp 2026 correctly? That means right clicking on the installer and selecting Run as administrator.
I don’t know if it’s linked to One Drive or how to check if it is, I did not know I had to install SketchUp that way, I just installed it by double clicking the installer. Thanks Dave!
Right click on the documents folder and choose Properties. Look at the entire path to the folder. It should be short like this: C:\Users\username\Documents.
Using Run as administrator makes Windows grant permissions to SketchUp to write needed files. It may be that there’s a permissions issue in your case. At this point close SketchUp and LayOut, do a cold reboot (power completely off) of your computer. When it has restarted find the installer, right click on it, choose Run as administrator and then, when prompted, choose Repair. Also make sure you have the latest installer. There was a recent maintenance relase. If you didn’t already get it, you might as well do that now, too.
No matter, repairing the installation won’t hurt anything.
The documents folder was saved to One Drive now I can’t move the location because I get an error message saying the access is denied because there is a folder with the same location that can’t be redirected, I can’t troubleshoot anymore, I spent the last two hours dealing with this, I am home so I am just going to move the project to my mac to keep working. I have a deadline tomorrow and I am very late.
As always I am super grateful for all your help. I’ll reach out during the week to get this resolved so I can work on the PC without any issues.
Thanks Dave!!
One drive is like a malware instead of a useful tool, you think you’re saving to the desktop but it saves to one drive, I recommend you to uninstall it and use other cloud storage services, your license includes unlimited storage to Trimble connect it can automatically save your file to your Trimble account when you save it in your local drive.
Have you got a screenshot of the actual message?
That’s not a normal message and it points towards you having something wrong with your PC if I’m honest.
Maybe time to refresh the machine
If it is the one I’m thinking of, I’ve seen it a few times, usually when I / someone double clicks a few more times on a file, opening it more than once.
(I just tried it)
@AlexN you might be clicking a bit too much on your icons, launching several sketchup instances, and in the end, several instances of your file.
I think it might be yeah, @AlexN could you confirm ?
Thank you all. It seems it is the file being saved to OneDrive without my knowledge, I’ll get this fixed asap.
I know this is off topic for SketchUp, but I couldn’t disagree more.
I’ve used OneDrive for as long as I can remember and I’ve always found it excellent. Like any tool, you have to take the time to understand it, but once you have a sensible filing system it becomes incredibly useful.
The biggest feature is that your files are available wherever you are, at your desk, on site, or anywhere you have your phone with you. For important files, you can make them available offline, so you don’t even need the internet.
Everyone has their favourites, but OneDrive has been an invaluable part of my workflow for years and I wouldn’t want to be without it.
so, the problem is not onedrive, it’s windows 11 and one drive.
when you save a file, windows creates an empty shell the size of the file. and then it fills it with data.
Because windows 11 has been developed by donkeys, they gave onedrive the authorisation to STOP the data transfer, lock the empty shell for a couple of cycles and look inside to see if it is data that needs to be backed up online.
and that makes holes in your files.
now, if you only work with small files, chances are the save process is too quick for onedrive to halt it.
but on a thick file, the save process is longer, and it gives more opportunities to stop it.
tl;dr
Windows 11 is a mess and having onedrive enabled even installed could cause your file to break. even if you don’t actively back up data on one drive, if it’s turned on, it will still check your files.
Now, it’s a choice. you find it excellent, you’ve built your workflow around it, then good for you.
Most people I meet and train on a daily basis don’t even realise onedrive is activated. at least until they call me for tech support because they have a dead file.
I save all of my important files to a folder on C:/ where OneDrive never looks. Then I use Microsofts SyncFiles app to back that folder up to OneDrive every night.
crazy to be getting thumbs down on this. If you get a new laptop and don’t diligently set up your folder structures outside of your Documents folder, you’ll be trapped in Onedrive hell where all your documents keep getting sucked into it, and trying to move a document out of the Onedrive folder will delete it from your computer but keep it in the Onedrive ether.
It’s ok not everyone must have the same opinion.
I say it’s malware because it behaves like malware, and has caused the lost of data of a lot of people including me and other employees. All the windows machines in my business are using either AtlasOS or ReviOS that give you the chance to not install one drive and all the AI and telemetry included with the windows installer, it is possible to do it also through Rufus but its you must know well what files to delete, AtlasOS and ReviOS make it easy and a bit more bearable the use of windows.
If some day Revit importer and scan essentials are added to MacOS I will get rid of all the windows machines and replace them by Mac machines, I’ll probably keep my desktop, install a Linux distribution probably steamOS and use it just for gaming with my sons, they have a MacBook for the school tasks.
Remove folder from OneDrive
Click on the little OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar & then on the gear cog icon on the top of the pop up pallete to go into settings.
Click on the Sync and Backup text and click Manage Backup. Select to not backup whatever folder you wish.
OR
Move/Copy the sketchup files into a new folder C:\SKUP or whatever that is outwith the OneDrive envelope.
I find that OneDrive can lock up files randomly when it is sync’ing with the Cloud, but it’s a minor hang up.
