"The document is locked for editing by another user" error message when you try to open a document in Word (313472)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q313472

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Word document, you receive an error message similar to the following
The document file name is locked for editing by another user. To open a read-only copy of his document, click...
where file name is the name of the document that you tried to open.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if Word determines that the owner file for the document already exists. This may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:
  • Word previously quit improperly and, therefore, did not delete the owner file.

    -or-
  • A second instance of Word is running in the background with the document already open.

    -or-
  • The document is shared over a network, and another user has it open.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, first confirm that another user on the network does not have the document open. If the document is in use, open the document as read-only. If it is not in use, quit all instances of Word, and then remove the owner file. To do so, follow these steps.

NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.
  1. Quit all instances of Word. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. Save all your work, and then quit all programs.
    2. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to open the Windows Security dialog box.
    3. Click Task Manager, and then click the Processes tab.
    4. Click Winword.exe, and then click End Process.
    5. In the Task Manager Warning dialog box, click Yes.

      If you receive a message that states that the program is not responding, click End Now.
    6. Repeat steps d and e for each occurrence of Winword.exe.
    7. On the File menu, click Exit Task Manager.
  2. Start Windows Explorer, and then browse to the folder that contains the document file that you tried to open when you received the error message.
  3. Delete the owner file.

    The owner file is located in the same folder as the document that you tried to open. The owner file name uses the following convention: It begins with a tilde (~), followed by a dollar sign ($), followed by the remainder of the document file name. The file name extension is .doc. For example, the owner file for Document.doc is named ~$cument.doc.
  4. Start Word. If Word asks you whether you want to load the changes that were made to the Global or Normal template, click No.
  5. Open your document.

MORE INFORMATION

Word creates an owner file when you open a previously saved Word document. An owner file is temporary and holds the logon name of the person who opens the document.

REFERENCES

For additional information about Word temporary files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

211632 WD: How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kbopenfile kberrmsg kbprb KB313472
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.