Every time I open Word 2016 I get the error Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable

Every time I open an existing document in Word 2016 on Windows 10 I get this error:

Word could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.

I can edit the document fine, and save it, but I have an error message popped up in the background and it makes an annoying ding every time I open a document.

If I open Word and create a new document I can save it fine, but the next time I open it, the error appears.

Articles found in searches often suggest to use regedit to check the Cache environment variable is correct - mine is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache which according to these articles is correct).

I have also noticed that the location above is set to read-only in Windows, which doesn't seem right, but I don't know if this is normal or the cause of my problem.

Has anyone resolved this error recently?

3 Answers

In my case this error message popped up from the Word Preview just by selecting the file in Windows Explorer. I suspect this is the same for your case because you write "message popped up in the background". I could fix this by deleting the following Registry Keys:

Word Preview : HKCR\CLSID\{84F66100-FF7C-4fb4-B0C0-02CD7FB668FE}
PowerPoint Preview : HKCR\CLSID\{65235197-874B-4A07-BDC5-E65EA825B718}
Excel Preview : HKCR\CLSID\{00020827-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

According to Microsoft this happens when the 64bit Office is installed first, then uninstalled and then the 32bit Office is installed. But I doubt that I ever installed the 64bit Office.

See also:

• Close all MS Word windows.
• Open Explorer.
• Enable "View" - "Show hidden files".
• Navigate C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache.
• Create Content.Word sub-folder. If it exists, delete and re-create it.

for more information, see "Word could not create the work file" error message when you save a document in Microsoft Word

Some users, like myself, have seen this problem disappear when disabling the preview pane on file explorer... Some says that this preview pane incompatibility can come from office 32bits on windows 64bits.