'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' What is the simplest way to resolve this please!

Anonymous

When I open Word I get this message every time: 'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' Word then crashes very often without autosaving.

I've found many people asking this question but I utterly do not understand the answers people have given them! Is there a simple way to resolve this - I know literally nothing about computers! Please help with the easiest solution possible.

Many thanks!

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Answer accepted by question author

Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K MVP Volunteer Moderator

When I open Word I get this message every time: 'Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.' Word then crashes very often without autosaving.

I've found many people asking this question but I utterly do not understand the answers people have given them! Is there a simple way to resolve this - I know literally nothing about computers! Please help with the easiest solution possible.

Many thanks!

The error message "Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable". Can be caused by incorrect registry values in the key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders.

Click Start and in the start search field, type

Regedit

and press enter.

In the registry editor, browse to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\User Shell Folders

On the right hand pane, check the value data for Cache.

It has to be %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files.

If it is different, double click on Cache and type:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

under value data and click ok. Close the registry and restart the computer and check if it works.

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80 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-02-12T21:10:44+00:00

OK, Doug, I've tried both remedies I've read by you and Microsoft Support (Article ID 2285187 Temp File in Reg. Editor and Repair/Remove Office). Neither has worked.

And I too was trying to upload a resume, cover letter, ref,. I had created in word, saved many moons ago. While in a prospective employer's site, I hit the BROWSE button, (without Word 2010 running) went through directory, file list and just clicked on the word doc I wanted. And I'm still getting these error messages:

Very frustrated. And I'm one of those people who wants to correct and resolve, not just bypass the issue. HELP!!!! Thanks, Katie
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Anonymous

2012-12-06T19:15:44+00:00

My daughter had this problem with Word. A complaint about temp file when opening a file, and Word would outright refuse to save files, claiming there was no permission to do so.

I repaired Office (Home and Student Edition, 2010) as suggested above and after that the problem was gone.
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Anonymous

2012-11-30T22:26:03+00:00

Hello Doug

I am having the same problem with Office 2010 running on a Win7 pro 64 bit Dell laptop.

I have checked the registry and it is correct, I have made sure that the user that is logged in has full permissions to the Temporary Internet Files folder, I have done both a repair and a reinstall of MS Office and still the error comes up when starting either word or outlook.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks

Gary Carlisle

IT Support Specialist
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