Microsoft Word's AutoSave feature is a lifesaver, especially with OneDrive integration to save all changes in real-time to cloud storage and make your document available on every platform. You don't have to worry about Word crashes Or you encounter an unexpected error. But if Microsoft Word gets stuck at a pending download error, you need to fix it before you lose your unsaved changes. Here's how. A pending download indicates that Word has stopped saving new changes to OneDrive (Or your favorite cloud storage.) Before you lose your latest changes and invite others to your incomplete Word document, use the tips below and fix the pending download error on Microsoft Word.
1. Check your internet connection
Microsoft Word requires a constant internet connection to sync the latest changes to the cloud. If your computer has an intermittent internet connection, your Word document will continue to show a pending download status.
Step 1: Open Windows Settings menu.
Step 2: Locate Network and the Internet from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Make sure it says "connected" Under your Wi-Fi name.
Check your Wi-Fi properties and make sure your Wi-Fi network frequency is 5 GHz. You may encounter errors if you're using the 2.4 GHz frequency. You can connect to the 5 GHz frequency, or better yet, use an Ethernet cable for a flawless internet connection.
Once the internet is enabled on your computer or laptop, Word will automatically start saving the document and remove the “download pending” status.
2. Check the status of the first drive.
If there is a problem with the OneDrive servers, you will continue to encounter an error while saving the Word file. You can visit Downdetector Search OneDrive to confirm the issue. You'll notice high-failure graphs when others report the same issue.
You can wait for Microsoft to fix the OneDrive issues on their end, or temporarily save the document to Google Drive, Dropbox, or your PC. If you keep the file offline, you won't be able to collaborate in real time.
Step 1: Open Word document Located where you are experiencing a pending download error.
Step 2: Locate a file in the upper left corner.
Step 3: Click save a copy.
Step 4: Locate browse.
Step 5: Locate Google Drive If you have it on your computer, the folder Local file manager And press Save button.
Note: See our guide on setting up Google Drive on your computer.
Word will move from OneDrive to another folder and sync the latest changes.
3. Check the WORD file name.
Have you tried renaming a Word document in OneDrive or on your PC with an invalid character? Word won't allow you to open or make changes until you remove special characters like *, \, <, >, #, etc. from the file name. You can either rename the document from the file manager or click on the Word file name at the top and remove the special characters.
4. Check the file location
When you open a Word document on a computer and use your mobile, OneDrive web, or another laptop to change the original file location, you will encounter an upload pending error on your primary computer.
Word attempts to use the original location to sync the latest changes. However, because the document has already been moved to another folder, the program can't find it and causes an error. You need to close the current Word file, open it from a new location, and begin making changes.
5. Check the storage on the drive.
All Microsoft 365 plans come with 1 TB of OneDrive storage, which should be enough for most users. If you're accustomed to storing large photos and video files on OneDrive, you may run out of storage space. Because Word can't save files to OneDrive, it displays a pending upload error.
You can visit OneDrive on the web Check your remaining storage space in the lower left corner. You can purchase additional OneDrive storage space, switch to another cloud service provider, or save your Word file offline on your computer.
6. Repair Microsoft Office
If Microsoft Word is still giving you problems, you can use the default Windows Repair Tool and fix Office problems.
Step 1: Open Windows 11 Settings menu (use Windows + I keys).
Step 2: Locate Applications On the left side and open List of installed applications.
Step 3: Scroll down to Microsoft 365 and select Three point list Adjacent to it. Specify Release.
Step 4: Locate radio button Next to Quick Fix, click on Repair button.
Once the repair process is complete, open Word and you will no longer encounter the pending download error.
7. Update Microsoft Word
Microsoft frequently releases updates with new features and bug fixes. You can manually update the app to the latest version and fix bugs.
Step 1: Open any document and select File list in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Locate Account from the left sidebar.
Step 3: Locate Update options And click Update now.
Step 4: will Become Install pending updates and restart the application.
Fix Microsoft Word errors in no time
You can always switch to the web version of Word to create new documents, but nothing beats the native Word experience on Windows. However, errors like pending downloads leave a bad taste. Follow the tips above and you'll be able to fix the error in no time.
