Does macOS Catalina have an issue with saving Word files to External Hard Drive?

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Level 1

38 points

Does macOS Catalina have an issue with saving Word files to External Hard Drive?

I have multiple word documents saved on an external hard drive. After upgrading to Microsoft Word for Mac Version 16.55 (21111400) and upgrading my mac to Mac OS Catalina Version 10.15.7, I started noticing issues when trying to save Word documents on my external hard drive. When I try to hit Command+Save (and sometimes before I even try to save, the file name changes to .~WRD followed by 4 random digits. Then I get an error message stating "Additional permissions are required to access the following files: /Volumes/G-DRIVE mobile USB-C/.Te...ing Saved by Word 170)/.~WRD3512." When I hit the "Select" button, I am them taken to a menu that says "Please select the file .~WRD3512." But no file appears and I cant select "Grant Access." So I click cancel.

When I try to select File > Save, I get the message:

This document’s file has been changed by another application since you opened or saved it.

The changes made by the other application will be lost if you save. Save anyway?

If I select save, I get taken back to the Grant File Access page described above. So I cant save the document. Then, when I try to close out the document, it gives me the prompt:

Do you want to save the changes made to the document “.~WRD3512 [Compatibility Mode]”?

Your changes will be lost if you don't save them.

In the case of the lost document, since I couldn't save, I had to click "Don't Save." Then, I saw that neither the original document was in the folder nor was the renamed document. So my document completely disappeared. Since it was on an external hard drive, Time Machine didn't back it up and I have no idea where it is. Im absolutely mortified and stressed as this was a very long and important document. I simply cannot understand or believe how this happened.

Not only have I lost an important document but I cant save any of my other documents to the External Hard Drive. This all started after upgrading to Catalina (which forced me to upgrade Microsoft Office). Prior to doing this, I had no issues saving. This is precisely why I try to avoid upgrading Operating systems at all costs.

Has anyone had a similar problem to this? Do you know how I can recover the file? Does anyone know why this happened / what is happening?

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Posted on Dec 11, 2021 5:14 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

74,316 points

Jan 6, 2022 6:34 AM in response to cbg2115

Go to System Preferences->Security & Privacy->Privacy and add Word to the list of applications having "Full Disk Access".

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Answer 2

TheLittles

Level 10

204,563 points

Dec 12, 2021 6:42 PM in response to cbg2115

cbg2115 Said:

"Does macOS Catalina have an issue with saving Word files to External Hard Drive?: [...] I get an error message stating "Additional permissions are required to access the following files [...]But no file appears and I cant select "Grant Access." So I click cancel.[...]"

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Install then Reinstall:

This may be a corrupt install. So...

Uninstall: Office (Using an uninstaller)
Restart: your Mac
Instal:l Office
Restart: your Mac

So, Contact Microsoft:

They are the developer of the software. Ask them which uninstaller to use. Once uninstalled, restart your Mac.

Start Here: Microsoft Contact Us Virtual Agent - Microsoft Support. Perform a chat session with Microsoft using a computer, as it would be more user-friendly doing so

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Answer 3

judysings

Community Specialist

Dec 12, 2021 5:35 PM in response to cbg2115

Thanks for reaching out, cbg2115.

It sounds like you're having some trouble with missing Word documents. We can help.

Our recommendation is to check out Microsoft's support guide, How to recover unsaved Word documents to see if the file can be recovered.

Hope that helps.

Take care.

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Answer 4

cbg2115 Author

Level 1

38 points

Dec 12, 2021 6:04 PM in response to judysings

The guide you gave me is for Windows computers. Im using a Mac. But I did try try the steps and there's nothing that was auto recovered or that is in the temporary folder. The reason why I think it might be the operating system is because I've found various threads stating the same thing started happening one they upgraded to Catalina

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Answer 5

Jan 6, 2022 4:25 AM in response to cbg2115

I have this problem as well. Allow me to demonstrate using a series of screen shots;

I'm sure that Apple and Microsoft (and possibly Google) will point fingers at each other.

Is there anyway that Apple and Microsoft can collaborate on a solution without the time-wasting finger pointing?

Best,

PJ

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Answer 6

cbg2115 Author

Level 1

38 points

Dec 12, 2021 6:45 PM in response to TheLittles

I already contacted Microsoft and uninstalled and reinstalled office. I was communicating with one of their reps for over 3 hours. They were of no help

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Answer 7

Jan 6, 2022 9:55 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

That did the trick. Much simpler than all of the above suggestions. Thank you.

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Answer 8

TheLittles

Level 10

204,563 points

Dec 12, 2021 7:07 PM in response to cbg2115

cbg2115 Said:

"I already contacted Microsoft and uninstalled and reinstalled office. I was communicating with one of their reps for over 3 hours. They were of no help"

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How Arrogant:

Typical arrogance on Microsoft's part, being that are not favorers of Apple. So, what to do...

Two Thoughts:

A. Boot in Safe Mode.

When you boot in Safe Mode, login items do not open at log in, certain preferences are set aside, and damaged system files (i.e. caches) are fixed. To boot up in Safe Mode [Hold Down: the shift key upon boot]. So, on both Macs, boot into Safe Mode for 30 seconds, and then restart normally. For instructions, go here: How to Use Safe Mode on your Mac - Apple Support

B. Reset the SMC and NVRAM:

(On Intel Macs Only): Sometimes changes are made to the system and then settings (i.e. for keyboard) become manipulated, technically. So, reset both on your Mac.

C. Use An External Keyboard:

It Doesn't have to be Apple brand. You might need this adapter: USB-C to USB A Adapter - Apple. So, try the keyboard, seeing if you get the same error.

D. Single-Out this User:

Try creating a new administrator user, seeing if you still get this error. If not, then it is an error with the current user. So, what you would do is transfer everything over to this new user, and then trash this current user.

As a Last Restort:

E. Reinstall the macOS:

The drivers went missing somehow. So, reinstall the macOS. Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support. Important: Be certain to create a backup of your Mac prior to all of this. That way, you can have something to restore from the Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall.

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Does macOS Catalina have an issue with saving Word files to External Hard Drive?

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