Office for Mac Issues

How to Remove a Word for Mac File Stuck on Upload Pending

Nimra Malik Sep 25, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to remove a Word for Mac document from the Recent Files list that is stuck with an 'Upload Pending' status and an exclamation mark.

How to Remove a Word for Mac File Stuck on Upload Pending

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac, OneDrive
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Attempting to clear a file from the Recent Files list after it failed to upload to OneDrive and became stuck.
Observed behavior: A recent file displays an exclamation mark, remains labeled 'Upload Pending', and cannot be removed from the recent list even after saving a copy.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have manually saved a local copy of your document's contents elsewhere to prevent any accidental data loss while discarding changes or resetting your cloud connection.

Solution 1Recommended

Discard Changes and Save a Copy

Use the built-in prompt to discard pending draft changes that are failing to sync, then save a fresh local copy of your document.

This method addresses the immediate sync conflict by clearing the stuck draft. Be sure you have copied your latest text before discarding changes.

Open the affected document

Open the Word for Mac file that is currently displaying the 'Upload Pending' status from your Recent Files list.

Locate the sync prompt

Look for the notification prompt at the top of the document window indicating that there are unsaved or pending changes.

Discard the pending changes

Click on 'Discard Changes' in the prompt. Carefully compare the draft with your current version before confirming to avoid losing important work.

Save a fresh copy

Navigate to 'File' > 'Save a Copy' to create a completely new, uncorrupted version of your document on your Mac's local storage.

Data Loss Warning: Discarding changes will revert the document to its last successfully synced state. Always manually copy and paste unsynced text into a new document before clicking Discard Changes.

Solution 2

Reset the OneDrive Sync Client

If discarding changes does not resolve the issue, resetting the OneDrive app can clear stalled upload queues on macOS.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience

If you frequently encounter cloud sync hangs or stuck uploads in Microsoft Word for Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, fast, and free alternative for Mac users with reliable local and cloud saving features.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the WPS Office version specifically optimized for macOS.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded installation package and follow the standard on-screen prompts to install the application.
3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx files to continue working without formatting issues.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsLightweight application that runs smoothly on macOSReliable cloud storage integration without sync hangsFree to download and use for core office tasks

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word for Mac file say Upload Pending?

This typically occurs when your connection to OneDrive is interrupted, or a local version conflict prevents Microsoft Word from syncing your recent document changes to the cloud.

Will I lose my work if I click Discard Changes?

Yes, any edits made after the last successful cloud sync will be lost. You should always manually copy your latest text and paste it elsewhere before selecting Discard Changes.

How do I manually remove a file from the Recent Files list in Word?

You can clear an item by opening Word for Mac, going to the 'Recent' tab, right-clicking the specific file you want to remove, and selecting 'Remove from Recent'.

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