Unable to delete Word file in an Android Device

Question

I am trying to delete a file but Word (android GalaxyNote5) is saying I do not have permission to delete 

**The post was moved to the appropriate forum category by the moderator.**

***Subject edited for clarity by the moderator.***

Answer 1

There is a Permissions tab in Android....but this thread had documented that in Android on many different devices the Permission tab does nothing to gain access to the delete files request.   

That's the nature of the thread.

On my Google Pixel phone for example.....my MSFT Word App is filled up with hundreds of duplicate files and old files that are not needed, but the delete function continues after several years of people posting here.  Even with Permissions granted, while trying to delete files in the Word or Excel App the device still replies "You do not have permission to delete this file"

This is a known flaw with MSFT Office Apps and Android solutions...the files just keep piling up!

Would be nice if someone fixed this.....issue has been going on for years!

Answer 2

Danielove just mentioned the "way" to resolve the problem once - by deleting all the application's data (the one that you cant see normally). Yes, this does not resolve the problem in general, as the next files keep on piling up, so you will have to repeat the same thing some time in the future.

Either this, or you need a rooted phone.

Answer 3

Deleting all the data is not a fix as posted here many times...deleting all the data means you also lose files that you didn't want to lose.

Rebooting the phone doesn't solve the problem either The files just keep piling up!

Would be nice if a Microsoft Moderator here would kick in with an answer?

Answer 4

My guess is you misunderstood a little bit.

The files that Word (or another MS Office application) says you are unable to delete due to lacking permissions are some temporary files. When you open an email attachment, it's copy is saved internally in Word's special hidden folder. And this copy is the one that you open from Word, and this is exactly the file it  tries to delete and due to some unknown bug it cant.

The "delete all data" feature for an application flushes this hidden folder. It means only those copies of your files are deleted. Nothing else. All your email attachments are still in email, other files that are actually in some other folders are still there as well. However, for example, if you opened some old email attachment and later on deleted that email, even though you are still able to open that hidden copy, you won't be able to if you "delete data".

Answer 5

Ok, I'll try it again.

Remind me please, how do I navigate to "Delete All Data" tab for my Word and Excel Apps?

There is no Setting tab within the Android app its self.

Thank you,

Gary