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why can't I keep typing in my word document? I keep getting a "reload" error message and it deleted anything new I try to add to my paper

Anonymous
2025-05-25T18:51:12+00:00

Every time I add something to my document it will say at the top "give access" and then 30 seconds later it gives a "reload" error message and I am unable to type, when I go out and come back in all my progress is gone. I have two paragraphs completed and then it started with the "reload" error message. I tried to go out and come back in multiple times, I had four or five paragraphs written at least four times and it does it again and I come back in and the first two paragraphs are the only thing there. This is very frustrating me document assignments are due today. I asked my professors for extensions but this is the first week of summer classes I do not want to be "that student: who asks for extension the first week, even if this is out of my hands. I do not have time through the week to do these things as I work and have children to tend to. Can IT please help fix this issue?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | MacOS

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-25T19:19:16+00:00

    Dear Nikki Stafford,  

    I can only imagine how stressful this must be with deadlines approaching - but don't worry, we'll get this fixed together quickly so you can get back to your assignments smoothly. Your work matters, and we'll make sure nothing gets in the way of that. 

    Step-by-Step Solution for Mac (Education Account) 

    1. Immediate Workaround to Save Your Work 

    • Stop typing in the current document – open a new blank Word file and copy-paste your existing text there. 

    • Save locally first: Press Cmd + S and choose "On My Mac" (not OneDrive). Name it clearly like "Backup_Assignment1".  

    2. Fix the "Reload" Error 

    A. Check OneDrive Connection  

    1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac’s menu bar (top right).
    2. Select Preferences > Account and ensure your school email is listed and "Connected."
    3. If it says, "Sign in," use your school credentials (e.g., @university.edu).

    B. Reset Word’s Link to OneDrive  

    1. Open Word > Preferences (Word menu) > File Locations.
    2. Change "Default local file location" to a folder on your Mac (e.g., Documents).
    3. Restart Word.

    C. Update Office  

    1. Open Word > go to Help > Check for Updates.
    2. Install any pending updates (critical for education accounts).

    3. Recover Lost Work 

    • Check Version History:  

    1. Open the problematic file in Word.
    2. Go to File > Browse Version History (if saved to OneDrive).
    3. Restore an earlier version with more paragraphs.

    • Temp File Check: 

    Search your Mac for .asd or .tmp files (Word auto-recover files):  

    1. In Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G and type ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery.
    2. Look for files with your assignment’s name and open them in Word.

    Prevent Future Issues 

    • Always save locally first (Cmd + S to your Mac) before uploading to OneDrive. 

    • Use Word’s AutoSave toggle (top-left) – turn off while drafting, turn on only when ready to sync.  

    If Time-Critical 

    1. Use Google Docs or Pages temporarily:  
      1. Export your two saved paragraphs as .txt and paste them there.
    2. Contact Your School’s IT Help Desk:  
      1. They can check for tenant-wide OneDrive issues affecting education accounts.
      2. Urgent line: [Your University IT Support Phone/URL].

    Why This Happened 

    This usually occurs when:  

    • OneDrive hits storage limits (check at onedrive.live.com).
    • Your school’s SharePoint permissions need refreshing (IT admins can fix this).
    • An outdated Word version conflicts with macOS.

    Hang in there – we’ll get you back on track.  

    Best regards, 

    Dustin - TP - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-26T21:19:30+00:00

    Hi Nikki Stafford,

    I hope the information I shared earlier was somewhat helpful in addressing your issue. If you have any further questions or updates, please don’t hesitate to share—I’m always happy to assist further if needed.  

    If you feel the response was helpful, you’re welcome to mark it as an answer so others in the community can benefit from it as well. That would be greatly appreciated!  

    Thank you very much, and I wish you a great day!  

    Best regards,   

    Dustin - TP - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-26T18:11:47+00:00

    Thank you Dustin. I will get on all this right away!

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