Forum Discussion
Issue where SharePoint users see an old unsynchronised Word file
The issue is that users open a Word document from a shared library into the desktop app, only to find that:
- There's no Autosave feature enabled in the top-right.
- The document version label we add on the frontsheet shows a very old minor version.
I believe also that the file is read-only, and the only option they see is to save a local copy and upload it back to the library; which is not good practice since it's an old version.
They report that the issue is resolved after exiting OneDrive, and deleting a Local cache folder. Has anyone experienced this issue and know what to try?
1 Reply
Yes, this is a known SharePoint/OneDrive sync issue. It usually happens when the local Office cache or OneDrive sync client gets out of alignment with the cloud version, causing Word to open an outdated copy in read‑only mode with Autosave disabled. Clearing the cache often resolves it, but there are other fixes worth trying.
Clear Office cache
- Close all Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office\16.0
- Delete or rename the OfficeFileCache folder.
- Restart Word/Excel and reopen the file.
Reset OneDrive sync
- Exit OneDrive completely.
- Delete the local sync folder or clear the cache.
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive - Restart OneDrive and resync the library.
If you’re publishing guidance for users:
- Tell them Autosave only works when the file is synced correctly via OneDrive.
- If they see read‑only or old versions, the quickest fix is to exit OneDrive, clear cache, and reopen.
