Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Word Creating ~WRD Temporary Files on Mac External Drives

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users observe that Word for Mac creates visible temporary files prefixed with '~WRD' when saving documents to external drives, whereas local storage and other apps like Excel function normally.

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Saving Microsoft Word documents to external storage drives.
Observed behavior: Visible temporary files starting with '~WRD' are generated on the external drive and sometimes fail to hide or delete automatically.

Before you start

Ensure all your Word documents are saved and completely close the Microsoft Word application before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the Microsoft Word Container on Mac

Deleting the Microsoft Word container folder forces the application to recreate its default settings, which often resolves temporary file visibility issues on external drives.

macOS isolates app data in secure container folders. Corrupted cache or configuration files within this container can cause Word to improperly handle temporary files on external volumes.

Quit Microsoft Word completely

Right-click the Word icon in your Mac Dock and select 'Quit', ensuring no Word windows remain open.

Open the 'Go to Folder' menu

Click on the Finder icon in your Dock. Then, press 'Command + Shift + G' on your keyboard to bring up the 'Go to Folder' dialogue box.

Navigate to the Library

Type '~/Library' into the search field and press the Return key to access your user Library folder.

Locate the Containers folder

Find and double-click the 'Containers' folder to open it.

Delete the Microsoft Word folder

Scroll through the list to find the folder named 'Microsoft Word' (or 'com.microsoft.Word'). Drag this folder to the Trash. Empty the Trash and restart your Mac.

Settings Reset: Word will automatically recreate a fresh, error-free container folder the next time you launch the application.

Solution 2

Understand and Ignore ~WRD Work Files

If resetting the container does not hide the files on your specific external drive format, you can safely ignore them as they are a normal part of Word's operation.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Save Documents Seamlessly on Mac

If you are tired of Microsoft Word creating messy temporary files on your external drives, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly experience on macOS without cluttering your external storage spaces.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the installation package designed for macOS.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open your existing documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your Word documents from your external drive without worrying about messy ~WRD temporary files.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Free and lightweight, saving valuable local and external storage space.Clean document management without visible messy temporary files on external drives.Seamless transition with a familiar, intuitive user interface for Mac users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What are ~WRD files on my Mac external drive?

~WRD files are temporary work files generated by Microsoft Word while you are actively editing a document. They temporarily store data and auto-recovery information to prevent data loss if the app crashes.

Can I safely delete ~WRD files manually?

You should not manually delete, open, or modify ~WRD files while the corresponding Word document is open. They will automatically be deleted by the system once you safely close the document.

Why are ~WRD files visible on my external drive but hidden on my Mac?

macOS local storage automatically hides these system-level temporary files. However, some external drives (especially those formatted for Windows compatibility like exFAT or FAT32) may not support Mac's hidden file attributes, making the files visible.

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