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Fix Word for Mac Renaming External Drive Files to Temporary Names
Question details
Users experience an issue where Word documents opened from an external SSD are renamed to temporary file names starting with .~WRD.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Sequoia
- Scenario
- Opening and saving Word documents stored on an external SSD after updating the operating system.
- Observed behavior
- Documents appear under temporary names beginning with .~WRD instead of their original file names.
Ensure your external SSD is securely connected to your Mac and properly mounted before adjusting system privacy settings.
Grant Full Disk Access to Microsoft Word
Providing Full Disk Access ensures Word has the necessary permissions to read, write, and properly save files on external drives in macOS Sequoia.
In newer macOS versions, enhanced security features can restrict applications from saving files to external drives properly, resulting in visible temporary files.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Settings'.
Scroll down the left sidebar and click on 'Privacy & Security', then select 'Full Disk Access' from the options on the right.
Locate Microsoft Word in the list of applications and toggle the switch next to it to the 'On' position. You may need to authenticate with your Mac password or Touch ID.
Completely quit Microsoft Word if it is currently open, then relaunch the application to apply the new permissions.
Try WPS Office for Mac to Seamlessly Edit Documents
If you continue experiencing file saving and renaming issues with Microsoft Word on macOS Sequoia, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free alternative for opening, editing, and saving Word documents on any drive.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official website to download WPS Office for Mac and complete the standard installation process.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx files directly from your external SSD without worrying about file renaming issues.
- 3. Edit and Save Seamlessly: Use the familiar interface to edit your work and safely save it back to your external drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word create files starting with .~WRD on my Mac?
These are temporary 'owner' or auto-recovery files created by Microsoft Word during the editing process to prevent data loss. Usually, they are hidden and deleted automatically, but permission issues in macOS can cause them to remain visible and replace the actual file.
Does Full Disk Access compromise my Mac's security?
Granting Full Disk Access to a trusted application like Microsoft Word is safe. It simply allows the app to access files across your entire system, including external drives, which is necessary for normal file saving operations in modern macOS environments.
What if Word doesn't appear in the Full Disk Access list?
If Microsoft Word is missing from the list, click the '+' button at the bottom of the Full Disk Access window, authenticate with your Mac password, and manually select Microsoft Word from your Applications folder.
