Forum Discussion
Microsoft Word file names changing to .~WRD[4 Digits] and then deleting themselves
I have multiple word documents saved on an external hard drive. After upgrading to Microsoft Word for Mac Version 16.55 (21111400) and upgrading my mac to Mac OS Catalina Version 10.15.7, I started...
I have dealt with this for a VERY long time and I have not tried contacting Microsoft about the problem as of yet because I'm not sure if there even is a fix for this, especially being that we're talking about working in a Windows (Microsoft) product on a Mac (Apple product).
I save incessantly and nowadays I'm always looking at the top of my screen to check and see if the ~WRD shows up on my doc. Admittedly, there are times when it doesn't do it, but it seems to do it more often than not. And yes, Mr. Doug Robbins, I DO save to an external drive, but I honestly don't believe that's the entirety of the issue. However, because I'm constantly monitoring how it saves the doc, I have found a minute/temporary workaround that guarantees I haven't lost anything as of yet.
When I save a doc and ~WRD appears on a doc, without closing the doc, I ALWAYS go back and re-save the doc over the file name I was originally working in. That way, it preserves the doc and I don't lose anything. But just be mindful that you have to make sure you are aware and paying attention to the name that appears at the top of your screen in the middle (Mac Users) so that you are working in the doc you want to be in. Constant monitoring of this and making sure you're saving to the right doc and the right place will guarantee (at least in my experience) that you don't lose anything.
I would assume this to be a temporary workaround until Microsoft fixes what is to us an issue...
I save incessantly and nowadays I'm always looking at the top of my screen to check and see if the ~WRD shows up on my doc. Admittedly, there are times when it doesn't do it, but it seems to do it more often than not. And yes, Mr. Doug Robbins, I DO save to an external drive, but I honestly don't believe that's the entirety of the issue. However, because I'm constantly monitoring how it saves the doc, I have found a minute/temporary workaround that guarantees I haven't lost anything as of yet.
When I save a doc and ~WRD appears on a doc, without closing the doc, I ALWAYS go back and re-save the doc over the file name I was originally working in. That way, it preserves the doc and I don't lose anything. But just be mindful that you have to make sure you are aware and paying attention to the name that appears at the top of your screen in the middle (Mac Users) so that you are working in the doc you want to be in. Constant monitoring of this and making sure you're saving to the right doc and the right place will guarantee (at least in my experience) that you don't lose anything.
I would assume this to be a temporary workaround until Microsoft fixes what is to us an issue...
Thanks for the response! I've been doing kind of the same thing as you describe, but sometimes I just forget. In this particular case, just as I closed the window I noticed the name had changed, but it was too late.
I do all the recommended saving and backups, but what fails here is the program's OWN method of saving, so there are no usable backups! It's idiotic and I've considered dropping Word and Office apps for this reason alone.