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

Anonymous
2012-01-11T10:55:22+00:00

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!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2012-01-11T20:35:19+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-23T21:42:24+00:00

    Don't click on Micro Office and student directly. Right click for you options. Then click "change" and then select "repair". This won't solve your problem, however. I get the same problem. It seems to happen everytime I clear my cache, even though I have selected to save stored information-like passwords, etc. If you wait long enough the word document will eventually open up.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-13T12:12:58+00:00

    I'm using Word 2010 / Windows 7.  I'm having this same problem too.  When I open a new Word document, I get the error message:  Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.'

    What does this message mean and how do I fix it so I would not get that message?

    Thank you for your help.

    -Laura

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-29T23:07:32+00:00

    What version of Office do you have installed?

    The "repair" option IS available for all versions of Office.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-29T11:09:27+00:00

    I'm having the same problem, even with opening eMail attachments.  The "repair" option is not available in the Control panel for the 2010 version, it's available for 2007 but requires the disk, which of course no one gets disks any longer.

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