How to Fix Upload Pending Error on Microsoft Word

Want to know how you can fix the upload pending error on Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is one of the most essential tools on any home or office computer, allowing users to create and manage documents. It is part of the Microsoft Office Suite and has been around for decades. 

Being the popular choice to many people, we’d expect that Microsoft Word is flawless. Sadly, this is not the case.  

While uploading documents to cloud storage services like OneDrive, users might run into an upload pending error. This prevents them from saving their work, which could affect their productivity. 

You don’t want hours of labor to go down the drain just because Microsoft Word refuses to upload your file to the cloud. 

Although this problem is not common in Microsoft Word, the issue usually occurs due to a slow internet connection. However, it can also be due to outdated software, third-party applications, and improper configurations. 

In this guide, we will show you how to fix the upload pending error on Microsoft Word. 

Let’s get started!

1. Save Your Work Locally. 

To avoid further issues, the first thing you should do if Word won’t upload your file on the cloud is to save it locally. This way, you can save yourself the trouble of rewriting the things you’ve done. 

Simply navigate to File > Save As and choose a folder or location where you want to save your Microsoft Word file. 

2. Restart Your Computer. 

Once you’ve secured your file, the first thing you can do is restart your computer. This should reload your system resources and eliminate any problems that might be causing connectivity issues. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu. 
2. After that, access the Power Options tab. 
3. Lastly, choose Restart and wait for your system to reboot. 

Go back to your document afterward and try uploading it to the cloud. 

3. Check Your Network Connection. 

A slow internet connection could also be the culprit for the upload pending error on Microsoft Word. Since you are uploading files and documents to the cloud, you’ll need stable internet to avoid problems. 

To check if your network is the problem, perform a test using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download speed. 

If the test indicates an issue with your network, reboot your modem or router to re-establish the connection with your ISP’s servers. Unplug your router from the outlet and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before reconnecting it. 

Once done, re-run the test to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your service provider and ask them to fix their service. 

4. Save the File With a Different Name. 

If you are just editing a file from the cloud, you might want to save it as a new document with a different name. This way, you’d take full ownership of the document, which should avoid conflicts with other users on the cloud service. 

5. Run Microsoft Word as Admin. 

You can also try running Microsoft Word as an administrator if you still can’t upload your documents. Your system might be blocking Microsoft Word from accessing the internet, explaining why you see the upload pending error message. 

To fix this, see the steps below to run Word as an admin: 

1. On your desktop, locate Microsoft Word and right-click on it. 
2. Next, choose the Properties option. 
3. After that, go to the Compatibility tab and enable the ‘Run this Program as an Administrator’ option. 
4. Lastly, click OK to save the changes. 

Relaunch Microsoft Word and check if the upload pending error still occurs. 

6. Update Microsoft Word. 

The version of Microsoft Word you are using might have an issue that causes upload errors. To rule this out, we recommend updating your software to the latest version to patch possible bugs and glitches. 

See the steps below to update Word: 

1. First, go to File > Accounts. 
2. After that, click on Update Options. 
3. Lastly, choose Update Now and follow the prompts. 

Once done, restart Microsoft Word and check if the problem is solved. 

7. Disable Add-Ins. 

While add-ins don’t usually affect file saving, it is still possible for some add-ins to cause issues when you are uploading documents. If you are using Microsoft Word add-ins, try turning them off before saving your files. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. On MS Word, go to the File tab and click on Options. 
2. Now, access the Add-Ins tab. 
3. Finally, turn off all your add-ins or the ones you are not using. 

Try saving your document again to check if the problem is solved. 

That brings us to the end of our guide for fixing the upload pending error on Microsoft Word. If you have questions, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

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