How to Open Word File Locked Saying It’s Open by Another User

You try to open a Word document and see a message that says the file is locked for editing by another user. This happens when Word does not fully release the lock on the file, often after a crash or unexpected shutdown. The lock file, which has a .~lock. prefix, can remain on your computer or network drive even after the original editor has closed the document. This article explains why this lock occurs and gives you four reliable methods to open the file without losing your work.

Why Word Shows the File Locked by Another User

When you open a Word document, Word creates a hidden lock file in the same folder. This lock file has a name like .~lock.filename.docx# and contains information about the user who opened the document. The lock prevents two people from editing the same file at the same time and causing conflicts.

The lock is supposed to be deleted automatically when you close the document normally. However, if Word crashes, your computer loses power, or the network connection drops, the lock file stays behind. Word then sees the lock file on the next attempt to open the document and assumes the original user still has it open.

Where the Lock File Lives

The lock file is always in the same folder as the document you are trying to open. On a local drive, this is the Documents folder or wherever you saved the file. On a network share or SharePoint location, the lock file appears in the same network folder. The lock file is hidden by default in File Explorer.

Methods to Open a Word File Locked by Another User

Use these methods in the order listed. Each method gives you access to the file without data loss. Start with the simplest approach and move to the next only if the previous one fails.

Method 1: Delete the Lock File Manually

1. Close Word completely
   Click File > Exit to close all open Word windows. Do not leave any Word process running in the background.
2. Show hidden files in File Explorer
   Open File Explorer. On the View tab, check the box for Hidden items. This makes the .~lock. file visible.
3. Navigate to the document folder
   Go to the folder that contains your locked document. Look for a file that starts with .~lock. followed by the document name and ends with #. For example, .~lock.Report.docx#.
4. Delete the lock file
   Right-click the .~lock. file and choose Delete. If the file is on a network drive, you may need permission from the network administrator to delete it.
5. Open the document normally
   Double-click the original document. It should open without the locked message.

Method 2: Open the Document as Read-Only and Save a Copy

1. Click File > Open
   In Word, go to File > Open and browse to the locked document.
2. Select the document and click the arrow on the Open button
   Click the small arrow next to the Open button. A dropdown menu appears.
3. Choose Open Read-Only
   Select Open Read-Only from the list. The document opens in read-only mode. You can view and print the content but cannot edit the original.
4. Save a new copy of the document
   Press F12 or click File > Save As. Save the document with a new name in the same folder or a different location. You now have a fully editable copy.

Method 3: Open a Copy of the Locked File

1. Click File > Open
   In Word, go to File > Open and browse to the locked document.
2. Click the arrow on the Open button
   Click the small arrow next to the Open button.
3. Choose Open a Copy
   Select Open a Copy from the dropdown. Word creates a new copy of the document in the same folder with a name like Copy of filename.docx. This copy is not locked and can be edited immediately.

Method 4: Restart Word and Your Computer

1. Close all Word windows
   Click File > Exit to close Word. Check the taskbar to ensure no Word windows remain open.
2. Open Task Manager and end Word processes
   Press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to open Task Manager. On the Processes tab, look for any Microsoft Word entries. Right-click each and choose End task.
3. Restart your computer
   Click Start > Power > Restart. A full restart clears any orphaned lock files that Windows is holding open.
4. Open the document again
   After the restart, open the document normally. The lock message should be gone.

If Word Still Shows the Lock Message

The lock file is on a network drive and I cannot delete it

If the document is on a network share or SharePoint, you may not have permission to delete the lock file. Contact your network administrator and ask them to remove the .~lock. file. While waiting, use the Open Read-Only or Open a Copy method to access the content.

The lock message shows my own username

This means the lock file belongs to your current Word session. Close Word completely, end all Word processes in Task Manager, and restart your computer. If the problem persists, delete the lock file manually as described in Method 1.

The document is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint

For cloud-stored documents, Word uses a different locking mechanism that may not create a visible .~lock. file. In this case, open the document in the browser version of Word. The web version often bypasses the lock. After opening in the browser, you can close it and try opening in the desktop version again.

Local Lock File vs Network Lock File: Key Differences

Item	Local Lock File	Network Lock File
Location	Same folder as the document on your hard drive	Same folder on the network share or SharePoint
Visibility	Hidden by default; enable Hidden items in File Explorer	Hidden by default; may require admin rights to see
Delete permission	You can delete it as the local user	May require network administrator privileges
Cause of persistence	Word crash or improper shutdown	Network disconnection or server-side lock timeout
Best recovery method	Delete the lock file or restart your computer	Open a copy or use the web version of Word

You now have four working methods to open a Word file that is locked by another user. Start by deleting the hidden .~lock. file in the document folder. If that does not work, open the document as read-only or open a copy. For network documents, consider using the web version of Word. As an advanced tip, you can prevent future lock issues by always closing Word with File > Exit rather than just clicking the X button, and by enabling AutoRecover to save your work every few minutes.