Jan 29, 2022

Saving a word doc to Google Drive (on mac) creates many empty folders - how do I make it stop?

I use Google Drive connected to my Mac for cloud storage of all my files so I can easily access them across multiple devices. I have done this for years. After the latest update (from Backup & Sync product to Google Drive product), I noticed that saving a word doc would create many empty folders, with the name of the word doc file plus a string of random characters. At first this would only happen sometimes; restarting my computer would clear the issue for a while. Now, it happens every single time I save a file. Each time I save it creates anywhere from 2-10 empty folders. This is making me feel nuts. After working on a paper for a few hours I have hundreds of empty folders.

I have removed all plugins from word, turned off all auto-save options in Word, updated Word software and OS, and disconnected and reconnected Google Drive. I see others asking this question with no answer.

Mac OS version 10.15.7

Drive shows no errors

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Drive for Desktop,Mac

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Recommended Answer

david.king

Product Expert Alumni

Volunteer since 2011 (not a Google employee)

May 1, 2022

Hi all,

To provide the best support with this, I've shared this with the Google Drive community team for review.

(As I've seen multiple reports of this issue, I'm going to mark this post a recommended answer to this topic. Please don't take that as a sign that this issue is considered resolved. Rather, it's the best way for this forum system to display an important update at the beginning of a thread, and I want to help ensure that those new to the discussion see the latest update).

Last edited May 1, 2022

Product Expert Alumni david.king recommended this

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All Replies (30)

User 16443928467934476585

Feb 1, 2022

Getting the exact same thing - it's doing my head in.

Just started saving to places not in synced folders as don't have the time to sort it out at the moment.

Also whenever I go to open a file from word it says i don't have the authority - but if i open the finder and folder then open file it does it fine. This wasn't an issue before.

User 17651796031358568541

Jun 3, 2022

Hello, same situation is happening now in my organization. Right now, 3 users are having the same issue. I am trying to find out if this came as a result of an iOS or Word update. We need a fix now.

Brayden S.

Jun 4, 2022

Putting my name in here as I am getting pretty frustrated with this issue as well. I have both Mac and Windows computers, however I primarily use my Mac now (and have since March of this year). I'm not sure if this was ever an issue for me with Windows, but I did not do anywhere near as much with Drive Backup & Sync in Windows than I do with my Mac. I have noticed that this has been a chronic issue ever since I began using my Macbook earlier this year.

It's quite frustrating and disappointing that this has been what seems like a known glitch since January and we still have no resolution or at the very least response from Google.

Last edited Jun 4, 2022

Rafael Carmiol

Jul 4, 2022

Same issue here and it's very annoying.

User 9028552478641848922

Jul 19, 2022

Would appreciate a fix on this, please.

User 9990139216631153336

Jul 26, 2022

I am experiencing the same issue with a Mac. Our group has noticed that converting between Online word through google drive<->Microsoft word can corrupt files, and therefore we access documents by writing the drive to our computer and editing files through the Microsoft Word application. If I access my Google Drive through the web, I can now move the files that are seen as "in use" by my operating system to the trash. I recently found this solution, so I'm not sure of the unintended consequences. However, it seems benign so far. Hope this helps everyone. Would rather have this bug fixed than worry that my file still needs to access these temp folders.

Last edited Jul 26, 2022

Dana Baedke

Jul 28, 2022

Me too. Just started using a new Mac Studio - this was never an issue on my MacBook Pro. SO FRUSTRATING.

User 12780446828871228222

Jul 29, 2022

Any news on this topic? It's extremely frustrating. It started happening all of a sudden

User 9990139216631153336

Aug 1, 2022

I'm using a MacBook pro, so the issue is likely a global Mac to Google issue rather than the Mac Studio. Deleting through the web portal of Google Drive still hasn't had any ill effects on my end.

User 16913084286538542053

Aug 6, 2022

Continues to be a problem for me, too. I'm posting here to keep this thread alive.

User 7183780626427195409

Aug 10, 2022

Idem, I have I have the same issue.

Last edited Aug 10, 2022

User 16038516926590725398

Aug 23, 2022

I have the same issue too. Please help.

User 17584884598987361129

Aug 27, 2022

Try to remove the check from "See if someone else is editing a shared Microsoft Office file" setting. Seems to work for me