Fix Word Today List Showing Old Documents with Year 3618 Date

When users ask, "why does my "Today" part of my "Documents when I select "Open" have documents I haven't accessed in years and says the date modified was in the year 3618??", the root cause almost always points to cloud synchronization conflicts in Windows

Understanding the Sync Cache Bug

Microsoft 365 relies heavily on OneDrive to track file history across devices. When the temporary cache files in OneDrive become corrupted or fail to communicate properly with Microsoft servers, the metadata (specifically the "Date Modified" attribute) can default to absurd future dates like 3618. Because the system sorts the "Today" list chronologically, these corrupted future dates place old, unaccessed documents at the very top of your "Open" menu

Reset OneDrive Configuration

This Word Today List Showing Old Documents with Year 3618 Date procedure uses the controls available in File > Open; complete each action before moving to the next.

1. Press the Windows Key + R simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box
2. In the Run window text field, paste the exact command: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
3. Click OK . The cloud icon in your desktop system tray will disappear and should re-appear after a minute or two
4. If the icon does not reappear automatically, open the Run window again and enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe
5. Open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > Open , and verify that the corrupted documents are cleared from your recent list

Alternative Solution - Unlink and Re-link Your Account

• Click on the cloud icon in your Windows taskbar system tray.
• Click the Help & Settings (gear icon) and select Settings .
• Navigate to the Account tab in the left-hand menu.
• Click the Unlink this PC link.
• Follow the prompt to sign out. Restart your PC, launch the application again, and sign back in to re-sync your file history accurately without the corrupted dates.

How to Verify the Word Result

Validate the change before closing the app: Open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > Open , and verify that the corrupted documents are cleared from your recent list A different result usually means the wrong file, account, or Text input field with the reset command typed was used.

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For local work related to Word Today List Showing Old Documents with Year 3618 Date, WPS Office is a free Microsoft Office-compatible alternative. It cannot repair a proprietary Word service, add-in, account, or Windows/macOS installation state, so use the verified Microsoft procedure above for the original fault.

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Word FAQs About Word Today List Showing Old Documents with Year 3618 Date

Will resetting my sync settings delete my Word documents?

No, running the reset command only clears the temporary cache and software configuration. Your actual documents stored locally on your hard drive or in the cloud remain completely safe and untouched.

Why specifically does the date show up as the year 3618?

This specific year usually results from a system epoch time calculation error. When the cache file becomes corrupted and fails to parse the real timestamp from the server, Windows assigns an overflow default value, which translates to the year 3618 in the user interface.

Can I manually delete the corrupted files from the "Today" list?

You can right-click the file in the "Open" menu and select "Remove from list." However, this is only a temporary visual fix. If the underlying cache issue isn't resolved, the bug will likely repopulate the list with other old files.

How does WPS Office prevent this recent documents glitch?

WPS Office utilizes a highly optimized, lightweight local history tracker. While it fully supports modern cloud integration, its core document management respects strict local system timestamps, preventing server-side sync errors from altering your document's metadata.