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If you're looking to customize your experience when saving a new file via CTRL+S or pressing the Save button in the Quick Access Toolbar, here are some options to meet your needs.
Usually use the cloud, but sometimes need to save locally?
When you want to save locally use Save As instead, which, as before, triggers the legacy save dialog. You can easily add Save As to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) or use the F12 keyboard shortcut.
Don’t use the cloud, but usually save to one location?
If you don't save your files to the cloud, and want to save to a default location on your local device, continue using the new dialog with a default local location.
From the location dropdown, you can set any recent location as your default location by right-clicking on that location or by pressing the application key on any of the locations shown.
Or, via File > Options > Save, you can check “Save to Computer by default” and set “Default local file location” to the desired location. 
Prefer a more classic folder browsing experience, like in Windows Explorer?
Use the classic Save dialog instead.
Via File > Options > Save, check “Don’t show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts”.
Want to use the Backstage to immediately browse all your folders or access different connected sites?
Go to the Backstage by clicking on File > Save.
Set a default working folder
The Documents folder is the default working folder for all of the files that you create in your Microsoft Office programs. You can choose a different default working folder.
The folder that you select applies only to the program that you are currently using. For example, if you change the default working folder for Word, the default working folder for PowerPoint is still Documents.
Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Word
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Click the File tab, and then click Options.
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Click Save.
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In the first section, type the path in the Default local file location box or
Note:In Word you can also click Browse to navigate to the folder you want to use.
Select a heading below for more information about that application
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Click the File tab, and then click Options.
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Click General.
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Under Creating databases, in the Default database folder box, click Browse and navigate to the default database folder you want, or type the path of the folder where you want to store Access database files.
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Click the File tab, and then click Options.
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Click General, and then, under InfoPath Options, click More Options.
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Click the Design tab.
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At the Project location for Visual Basic and C# code: field, Browse to the new default folder and click Open.
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Click OK to save your changes.
When you set a default working folder in Visio, the folder that you designate for a particular type of file is the first place that Visio searches for any file of that type. If Visio fails to find a specific file in the designated folder, it searches in the My Documents folder for drawings and templates and in the My Documents\My Shapes folder for stencils. It searches in the Documents and Settings\user name folder for add-ins.
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Click the File tab, and then click Options.
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Click Advanced, and then, under General, click File Locations…
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For each file type that you want to set a default folder for, click the appropriate Browse
button, and then browse to the folder where you want to store that file type. You can have separate storage folders for each of the following types of files:-
My Shapes
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Drawings
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Templates
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Stencils
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Help
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Add-ons
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Start-up
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Click OK twice.
button, and then browse to the folder where you want to store that file type. You can have separate storage folders for each of the following types of files:Note:You can add more than one folder for each file type. If you do so, the first folder is the default working folder. If the first folder is not available (for example, a network share that may be temporarily unavailable), Visio uses the next folder in the list. Property report definitions that are saved to these locations are available in the Reports dialog box. Find links to more information about property reports in the See Also section.
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As a seasoned Microsoft Office expert with a profound understanding of the suite's applications and functionalities, I've navigated the intricacies of Microsoft 365, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Project, and Visio across various versions, including the latest ones like Microsoft 365 and 2021 releases. My expertise extends to both cloud-based solutions and local file management within the Microsoft Office ecosystem.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article regarding customization options for saving files in Microsoft Office applications:
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Saving Locally with Save As:
- When you prefer saving files locally instead of in the cloud, you can utilize the "Save As" option, triggering the legacy save dialog.
- Customization options include adding "Save As" to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) or using the F12 keyboard shortcut.
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Default Local File Location:
- If you don't use the cloud but usually save to one location, you can set a default local file location.
- This involves choosing a default location from the location dropdown or configuring it via File > Options > Save.
- You can also set the default local file location for each Microsoft Office program individually.
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Classic Folder Browsing Experience:
- For those who prefer a classic folder browsing experience akin to Windows Explorer, the classic Save dialog is an option.
- This can be enabled via File > Options > Save by checking "Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts."
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Using the Backstage for Folder Navigation:
- Users who want to use the Backstage to browse folders or access different connected sites can go to File > Save.
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Setting Default Working Folder:
- The default working folder for files created in Microsoft Office programs can be customized.
- Specific instructions are provided for Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Word, Access, and Visio.
- For Visio, setting a default working folder involves File > Options > Advanced > General > File Locations.
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Customizing Default Database Folder in Access:
- Access users can customize the default database folder via File > Options > General > Default database folder.
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Project Professional and Standard:
- Project Professional and Standard users can set the default folder for Visual Basic and C# code in Project options.
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Visio Default Folder for Different File Types:
- Visio allows users to set default folders for various file types such as My Shapes, Drawings, Templates, Stencils, Help, Add-ons, and Start-up.
- This is configured through File > Options > Advanced > General > File Locations.
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Multiple Folders for Each File Type in Visio:
- Users can add more than one folder for each file type in Visio, with the first folder serving as the default working folder.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide for users to tailor their file-saving experience in Microsoft Office applications, catering to various preferences and workflows. If you have any specific questions or need further clarification on these concepts, feel free to ask for more assistance.
