'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Unreadable Second File Appearing After Saving in Word
Question details
A secondary, unreadable file with unusual characters is generated and remains in the folder after saving a document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Saving a document in Microsoft Office.
- Observed behavior
- An extra file containing weird characters (usually a temporary or recovery file) appears upon saving and fails to delete itself automatically, becoming an unreadable orphaned file.
Ensure you have hidden files set to visible in your system settings to properly identify temporary files. Verify that your document is completely closed before attempting to delete any lingering unreadable files manually.
Save a Copy to a New Local Folder and Restart
Saving the file to a completely different location helps rule out folder permissions, corrupted directories, or synchronization issues causing the temporary file to stick.
Temporary files are normally deleted by the application once you close the document. When they remain, it is often due to a read-write permission error or a cloud sync conflict in that specific folder.
Launch Microsoft Word and open the document that is causing the extra file to appear.
Click on 'File' > 'Save As'. Choose a completely new local folder on your computer (for example, create a new folder on your Desktop) and save the document there.
Close Microsoft Word completely. Restart your computer to clear any lingering background processes.
Open the newly saved document, make a small edit, and save it again. Check the folder to see if the unreadable extra file still appears.
Update Microsoft Office Application
Updating your Office application can resolve underlying software bugs related to temporary file management and cleanup.
Contact Official Microsoft Support
If updating and changing the file location do not work, your Office installation might be corrupted and require official technical assistance.
Experience Hassle-Free Document Saving with WPS Office
Tired of dealing with phantom files, sync errors, or complex troubleshooting in Microsoft Office? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative. Enjoy a familiar interface that ensures your documents save smoothly without leaving messy, unreadable junk files behind.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button.
- 2. Install quickly: Run the lightweight installer to set up WPS Office on your computer in minutes.
- 3. Open existing files: Open your existing .docx or .xlsx files seamlessly without worrying about format loss or glitchy temporary files.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this extra file with a tilde (~) and weird characters?
This is typically a temporary owner file or an AutoRecover file created by Microsoft Word to prevent data loss. It is designed to be hidden and usually deletes itself automatically when you close the document.
Can I safely delete the unreadable second file manually?
Yes, you can safely delete it as long as the original document is completely closed and saved. If Word is still open, attempting to delete it might cause an application error.
Why doesn't the temporary file delete itself automatically anymore?
This can happen due to application crashes, network sync issues (like OneDrive or Dropbox locking the file), or restrictive folder permissions that prevent the software from executing its standard cleanup routine.
Will this unreadable temporary file corrupt my original document?
The temporary file itself will not corrupt your document. However, if its appearance is caused by a hard drive error or a severe synchronization issue, it is highly recommended to back up your original file to a different location.
