Unable to delete Word file in an Android Device

There is a way but it deletes all word data, sort of like a factory reset.

Go to settings/apps/word. Find delete data and click ok. Done.

Simple answer - it's Microsoft's fault that they fail to acknowledge.

These files (the ones that you open as attachments or directly from your browser, or anything like that) are stored in Office's own data folder as temporary documents. And they fail to remove them the right way.

There are only three ways to fix this:

1. The RIGHT way - Microsoft fixes this.
2. Wrong way - clear Office data. This will delete delete all your setup preferences for this applications as well.
3. Wrong way - root phone and delete with file manager.

I have EXACT same problem.

I recently installed Microsoft Word app on Pixel XL phone running latest Android 8.0.0.

Wanted to have personal/confidential Word doc from my PC on my phone.

(Word doc was one I created on my PC with Word)

Doc file on PC was zipped (by me) (into .zip file) with encryption password.

Attached phone to PC via USB-USBC cable -- copied zipped file to phone to "Download" directory on phone.

Used Android app "RAR" (RARLAB) utility to unzip file (I provided password to unzip) (yes, it worked great).

After unzipping, attempted to open doc file in "Download" directory -- asked me if I wanted to use "Word" app to open file.

I selected Yes, use Word app.

Word opened doc file -- but apparently it first COPIED file to Word app temp storage before opening.

After being somewhat happy I was able to read file OK, found out I could not edit it.

Then found out I could not DELETE it either.  

WHAT!??!   So I now have my own personal/confidential file now unzipped on my phone which I cannot DELETE???

Are you kidding me???   No -- once again, Microsoft causes me horrendous headaches.

OK, after I reboot phone and bring up Word app again, under "RECENT" files my doc files shows up listed at this location:

">> data >> user >> 0 >> com.microsoft.office.word >> a...-fd5a553d62d1 >> myunencriptedconfidentialfile.doc"

File can be opened in Word app but "READ ONLY". 

Moreover, attempt to "DELETE" file brings up this prompt:

Are you sure you want to permanently delete myunencryptedconfidentialfile.doc?   No  Yes

I select YES.   Get reply "Not Allowed.  You don't have permission to delete this file."   WHAT??!!!

Frankly, I can't believe you've ignored this issue from all the other users posting so far.  This is a serious issue as far as I'm concerned.

I now have a very sensitive unencrypted file on my phone which I cannot delete. 

I deleted original zipped document which was on my phone user "Download" directory, as well as the original unzipped unencryped document that was also on my "Download" directory.   Those are GONE. 

But Word App still has copy of the unzipped unencrypted file in what is apparently a Word app temporary folder on the root directory under "com.microsoft.office.word" -- and I can't DELETE it.

My next step will be to completely UNINSTALL WORD app and HOPE that also deletes temporary storage location with my unencrypted file -- but please ADVISE first if that is true.   I have NOT "rooted" my phone and do NOT want to.  

I'm having the very same issue.   

I posted this below before finding this thread.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice\_word-mso\_amobile-mso\_mobapps/word-app-for-android-security-issue-the-word-app/a4a96246-ecdc-4698-90f7-c4fbbfe6f1be?tm=1547059904563.

There is no reason for the Word App to prevent the user from deleting ALL copies of word doc.   The Word App should not be creating these copies either.   In the past I believe that Word only stored a link to the original file, at least that is how it appears to work on a PC.

Thank Goodness I didn't Use OneDrive or the OneDrive App.   I'd then have to wonder if copies of my "recent" docs, even the sensitive ones, are residing on OneDrive in the Cloud unencrypted.

So if someone steals my phone and roots it, they have my files that I can't delete myself?  Unless I root my phone.  WTF?

Your answer to this question is one of the most frustrating answers I think I have ever encountered in any MS forum/support group. Where is the permission determined/chosen? I don't KNOWINGLY save any thing to the cloud or dropbox or to OneDrive. So how do I delete all these docs that I either never wanted to save in the first place or I am done with & want to delete them. This going in circles is just an incredible waste of time. I am almost to the point of deleting word & just using google docs. How do I delete all these docs that pops up to tell me that I who pay for this phone don't have permission to delete docs on it?

Sue makes a great point.  Absolutely spot on.    It's my phone.  I even created the document, albeit on my PC, not my phone.   But since I put my file on my phone, why can't I delete it?