For example, ‘Bills.docx’ would be ‘~$lls.docx’.) Step 11) Locate the owner file (This is in the same folder with same name but the first two letters are replaced with ‘~$’. Step 10) Find the document file you were trying to open Step 8) Select ‘winword.exe’ and then press ‘end task’ Step 7) Scroll until you find ‘winword.exe’ Step 5) Choose ‘More Details’ at the bottom of the box Step 4) Choose the ‘Task Manager’ selection Step 3) Open the Windows Security Dialog Box by clicking ‘Ctrl, Alt, Delete’ Step 2) Quit all programmes so that you have none open Step 1) Save all your work/files on word that you currently have open Step by Step guide to deleting temporary owner fileįollow the steps below to try resolve this issue: These owner files normally remove themselves automatically when word is closed however sometimes a problem can occur where these files do not remove themselves, for example if word crashes these folders sometimes get left behind. An owner file is temporary and holds the logon name of the person who opens the document. Microsoft word automatically creates a temporary owner file when you open a document which had already been saved.

Solution 2: Deleting temporary owner file To solve this, just ask anyone on the network whether they have that file open and if they are not using it to close it so that you can do what you need to do. If your document that you are trying to open is on a shared network the problem could be someone else already having the file open. This is the simplest solution out of all the ones here. Solution 1: Checking if other users have the document open Reason 3: If over a shared network, another user could have it open.

Reason 2: A second version of Word is already running with the document open.

Reason 1: The owner file was not deleted because Word was previously quit improperly - for example, Word crashed.

Sometimes a word document is locked for editing.

Microsoft word will not open