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What are ~$ .docx files?

Anonymous
2015-11-18T11:33:02+00:00

Hello, 

I have noticed a number of files that get created in the format of ~$example.docx

Please can someone advise me what these are? I thought if they were temp files that they would be closed when the original file is saved and closed but this is not the case and on some occasion they are saving/creating in a location different to the original document. 

Many thanks,

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-11-18T11:44:15+00:00

    These are document/template lock files. Every time a document is opened or a template accessed a (normally hidden) lock file is created in the same folder as the document/template. They should be removed whenever the document is closed, but they can remain if Word closes abnormally. See http://www.gmayor.com/what\_to\_do\_when\_word\_crashes.htm

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  2. Suzanne S Barnhill 275.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-11-18T13:55:09+00:00

    For further information on these and other temporary files, see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/211632.

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