Microsoft Word's saving glitch risks document deletion

Word, as part of the Microsoft 365 package, has a problem. In some cases, it deletes documents instead of saving them. The issue affects version 2409 (build 18025.20104) and only occurs in certain situations. The key is the file name in Word, and the pop-up window asks to save the file.

Users of Word within the Microsoft 365 package may encounter an error in version 2409. It appears that for documents with names containing the # symbol or with file extensions saved in uppercase letters (DOCX or RTF), the file will be deleted instead of being saved on the disk when the user attempts to save a local copy.

Microsoft has described this issue in a short statement and has offered a possible workaround for the Word error. To avoid this problem, Word users have several methods to save files differently until the issue is resolved.

The problem occurs only when Word prompts to save the file (after the user clicks the X button to close the program). To bypass this, users can manually save the document beforehand. Another option is to adjust the Backstage view settings and then use keyboard shortcuts to save the document.

However, even without employing error workarounds, a file "accidentally" deleted by Word is not immediately permanently deleted; it is simply moved to the recycle bin. Therefore, you can review the recycle bin and restore the document if this situation occurs. Microsoft has stated that the team is already investigating the issue. The statement has been available for several days, which may raise concerns about how the Word issue will be resolved. Until then, it is advisable to be cautious when saving documents.