Word "Work File" Error Message

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When I start Word in Office 2013, I get the following dialog box: “Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable”. Once I click OK, it gives me a blank document as usual. Before someone says “It’s a bug from updating Office for August”, it started happening before I updated. I was on Office 2013 (C2R), version 15.0.5153.1001 (July updates). I backed up as usual with Macrium Reflect. Prior to the backup, whenever I opened Word, I didn’t get the dialog box. After the backup, I opened Word to enable & perform updates & got the box for the 1st time. I updated to version 15.0.5163.1000 (August updates) & I still get the dialog box.

I looked at all the options for Word & didn’t see anything about a “work file” or a “temp environment”. Could this be due to a Registry entry that got clobbered somehow by the backup process? The dialog box error is a nuisance, but I wasn’t getting it before.

Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again...

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Looks like you’re missing a folder for File Explorer previews of Word docs (probably due to an update bug):

“Word could not create the work file” error message when you save a document in Microsoft Word

This article was updated during the last week; see also the two comments with corrections.

I believe the correct answer may be to create a folder named “Content.Word” in folder %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\InetCache
(same as %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache)

But there’ a corresponding registry entry which also needs to be added or re-created for some:

Fix “Word could not create the work file” error in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

I would create the folder first and only tackle the registry correction if the error persists.

If one or both of these don’t help, is your Office 32-bit or 64-bit (at File, Account, About Word)?

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Turned out the AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word folder already exists. I created a restore point before running regedit. I navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. When I double-clicked on the Cache entry, I found it targeted a specific & different user than Word was doing. I changed the Cache entry to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache. Problem solved!

Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
Wild Bill Rides Again...

2 users thanked author for this post.

b, PKCano

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How would I apply this fix to all users on the local machine, or even throughout my domain?

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On a domain you use group policy to apply settings. To obtain those settings you need to use an ADM/X file via the Group Policy Editor.

On a local machine you need to run a command to change the registry. The easiest is probably to put a command in the Windows default startup menu.
What windows version do you have on the local machine, including home/pro etc?

cheers, Paul

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