Recent reports from Microsoft Word users have revealed a troubling issue where the software appears to be deleting files upon saving—a critical problem for anyone engaged in important work. This unexpected behavior has raised eyebrows, especially considering Microsoft’s established reputation in the software industry. As of October 3, 2024, Microsoft has officially acknowledged the bug, but a definitive explanation or permanent solution has yet to be provided. However, a temporary workaround is available for those who need to continue using Microsoft Word in the interim.
Update: Fortunately, Microsoft has rolled out a fix for this issue to all Microsoft Word users via Microsoft 365. If you are still experiencing the bug, it’s recommended to close all Microsoft Office applications and reopen Word to ensure that the fix is applied properly.
How the Deletion Bug Works
The problematic behavior affects Microsoft 365 version 2409 and is triggered specifically by files saved with file extensions in all capital letters. Additionally, if a file name includes the “#” character, it can lead to unintended deletions. The issue manifests when users attempt to close Word after editing a file that hasn’t been saved manually. When prompted to save the unsaved document, if users confirm the save action, Word mistakenly deletes the file instead of saving it.
In essence, the problem arises only if the document hasn’t been saved prior to closure and occurs when users respond to the “unsaved file” warning by choosing to save.
Workarounds for Deleted Files
The silver lining is that files deleted through this bug are not permanently lost; they are simply moved to the Recycle Bin, allowing users to recover their documents easily. To safeguard against potential file deletions, users should manually save their documents before closing Microsoft Word.
Additionally, another precautionary measure can be taken by navigating to the File menu, selecting Options, and then clicking on the Save tab to enable the option labeled “Don’t show the Backstage when opening or saving files with keyboard shortcuts.” This setting can provide an extra layer of safety while using Word.
While Microsoft continues to investigate the root cause of this issue, the company is actively working on a comprehensive fix to prevent similar incidents in the future.
