Word "Save As PDF" Silently Fails on Network Drives

If you save Word documents as PDFs to a shared folder or mapped network drive, those PDFs may not be where you think they are. Since Microsoft released update KB3104046 for Microsoft 365 on September 22, 2026 (Version 2609, Build 20430.20092), Word's Save As → PDF option looks like it works but never writes the file to the network location. You don't get an error or a warning, so the file just isn't there when you or a coworker go looking for it.

We've reproduced this on our own computers, and other Microsoft 365 users have reported the same thing online. Microsoft hasn't publicly acknowledged the bug yet.

How to tell if this is affecting you

The problem appears when you do all of the following in Word:

1. Click File > Save As.
2. Choose a network location or mapped network drive (for example, a shared S: or H: drive).
3. Change Save as type to PDF.
4. Click Save.

If the "Open file after publishing" box is checked, the PDF opens in your PDF viewer as usual, which makes it look like everything worked. If that box is unchecked, nothing visible happens at all. Either way, the PDF is not saved to the network folder you chose.

Saving PDFs to a folder on your own computer, such as Documents or Desktop, is not affected.

Where your PDF actually went

Word saves the PDF to a hidden temporary folder on your computer and gives it a randomly generated file name:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.MSO

To find a PDF you've already "saved," paste that path into the address bar of File Explorer and press Enter. Sort by Date modified to bring the newest files to the top, then copy the file to your network folder and rename it. Windows clears this folder automatically from time to time, so if you need a copy, grab it soon or simply re-save the document using one of the workarounds below.

The workaround: two reliable ways to save a PDF

Both of these methods save correctly to network drives, and your finished PDF looks the same as it would with Save As.

Option 1: Export to PDF (recommended)

1. Click File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document, then click Create PDF/XPS.
2. Browse to your network folder or mapped drive, name the file, and click Publish.

This produces the same PDF as Save As, including clickable links.

Option 2: Print to Microsoft Print to PDF

1. Click File > Print.
2. Under Printer, choose Microsoft Print to PDF and click Print.
3. When prompted, browse to your network folder, name the file, and click Save.

Printing to PDF works well for simple documents, but links inside the document won't be clickable in the resulting PDF.

When will this be fixed?

There's no ETA yet. Microsoft hasn't confirmed the issue publicly, and a fix will most likely arrive in a future Microsoft 365 update. We're watching for one and will update this page when the problem is resolved. Until then, use one of the workarounds above whenever you save a PDF to a network location.

If you're a Computer Pros client and aren't sure whether a PDF you saved recently made it to the right place, or you'd like help recovering one, get in touch or call us at 850-224-PROS (7767). We're happy to help.