Unable to delete Word file in an Android Device

Let me explain what is going on. 

When you open a password protected Word or Excel file on Android Word or Excel, 

It opens the file and then dumps an unprotected version of that file deep into Android's file system. 

Later, when you delete the original on your phone, the file still shows up in your Android Word or Excel 'recents' list and you can just tap it and open it.  It is quite disturbing.  It has a long file path usually users>>data>>0 ...  

The only way to delete this copy is to go to Androids app screen, select Word or Excel > More Info > Storage > CLEAR DATA.  

This will clear that folder with these files and reset your app.  You do not have access to that folder to delete these files individually, this is the only way.  Unfortunately, once you open another password protected file, it will again end up in this deep sub-folder and always be in your recent list ready to be opened sans password.  

This is horrible oversight on behalf of MS and I must say, as a user of both Android and iOS, this problem does not exist on either the Word version for iOS, and definitely does not happen with any files created, opened, handled by Pages or Numbers, which is Apple's version of Word and Excel.  The devil is in the details and this is why I rarely like to trust MS or Android with sensitive info.  

* NOTE: The "remove fom list" option does not delete the file from the device.  It will remain in that folder just no longer in the list . 

I was having the same problem with Word documents that downloaded to my Android tablet from emails when I opened the attachment.  My friend who is an IT geek suggested connecting my tablet to my desktop computer to do a search on my tablet to find the folder location of these docs.  The search resulted in nothing found.  So, I did a Google search and found this conversation.  I tried EdwinSleepDoc's suggestion and it worked!  I strongly advise backing up any docs  you want to keep to another device before following this suggestion.

This is not a "valid" suggestion, as discussed in this thread.

The only right way is for Microsoft to fix this oversight on their side.

Office applications must NOT store these temporary files anywhere, especially if they are a copy of protected ones.

As I always recommend - if you are an active Office 365 subscriber, then raise this issue with the support again and again.

This is not a "valid" suggestion, as discussed in this thread.

The only right way is for Microsoft to fix this oversight on their side.

Office applications must NOT store these temporary files anywhere, especially if they are a copy of protected ones.

As I always recommend - if you are an active Office 365 subscriber, then raise this issue with the support again and again.

Who knows how long Microsoft will take to fix this "oversight".  In the meantime, following EdwinSleepDoc's suggestion solved my problem.  Yes, it did clear everything and require me to sign in again.  It was much easier, though, than having to restore everything when you reset a phone or tablet or purchase a new one.

I have same problem PDFs saved in word from email sent to me on my Android phone will not let me delete I have tried everything any ideas ? I really can't understand why I can't delete the PDF the options there to delete the PDF. I choose delete and then it just tells me you do not have permission to delete. Help please.