OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix Word Files Becoming Tilde (~$) Files in OneDrive

Nimra Malik Sep 29, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user observes that Word documents saved in OneDrive appear with a tilde (~$) prefix and needs to know why this happens and how to find the original files.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing synchronized Word documents in a local or online OneDrive folder.
Observed behavior: Word documents appear as ~$ files instead of normal .docx files. These are temporary lock files, and the user may mistakenly treat them as the actual document while struggling to find the original.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure that all instances of Microsoft Word are completely closed on your computer, as these temporary files are naturally generated when a document is actively open.

Solution 1Recommended

Close Word and Locate the Original Document

A file starting with ~$ is just a temporary lock file created while a document is in use. Closing Word usually removes it and leaves your actual document intact.

Microsoft Word creates a temporary lock file (owner file) in the same folder whenever you open a document. This prevents multiple users from making conflicting edits. It does not replace your actual document.

Close Microsoft Word

Save your current progress and completely close the Microsoft Word application.

Check the OneDrive Folder

Navigate to the specific OneDrive folder where you saw the ~$ file.

Find the .docx File

Look for a .docx file with the exact same name but without the ~$ prefix. This is your completed document.

Refresh the View

Press F5 or right-click and select 'Refresh' in your file explorer to confirm that the temporary ~$ file has automatically disappeared.

Close Word and Locate the Original Document

Important Context: Never treat the temporary ~$ file as your completed document. It is only a few kilobytes in size and contains no actual text or data.

Solution 2

Verify OneDrive Sync Status and Restore Missing Files

If the original .docx file is missing after closing Word, OneDrive synchronization might be paused, or the file may have been moved or deleted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to delete the ~$ temporary Word file in OneDrive?

Yes, but only if Microsoft Word is completely closed. If the document is currently open, deleting the lock file can cause saving errors or document corruption. Usually, Word deletes this file automatically when you exit the program.

Why does OneDrive keep syncing ~$ files?

OneDrive automatically detects new files in its folders. When you open a document and Word generates a temporary lock file, OneDrive treats it as a new file and attempts to sync it. Once you close Word, the file is deleted locally, and OneDrive removes it from the cloud.

Can I recover my work from a ~$ file if my computer crashed?

No, the ~$ file is merely a lock file containing basic owner and tracking information, not your actual document data. To recover lost work after a crash, you should rely on Word's AutoRecover feature or OneDrive's Version History.

Document & File Issues