Word Always Opens Documents In Read-Only Mode / Subscription

Anonymous
2013-05-03T12:48:28+00:00

I'm working with documents stored on my local drive, and whenever I double-click on one to open and edit it, Word starts up and presents it in read-only mode.  If I close Word and then immediately double-click the document again, it opens up without the read-only indicator.

These are documents which are edited every day.  I'm wondering if the fact that they're stored in a folder which is monitored by a file synchronization application has anything to do with this.

Secondly, when I bought Office 365 Home Premium online, it appeared that my only option was the monthly plan, which ostensibly is more expensive than the yearly plan.  I don't see any way to change my account from monthly to yearly.  Am I missing something?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-08-06T06:23:13+00:00

    Rohn007,

    Your statement:

    "That is correct. A file attached to an email cannot be opened for editing. PERIOD."

    is NOT CORRECT.  It will open in Protected View and there will be a yellow bar at the top of the screen that says:

    "PROTECTED VIEW, Be careful -  file from the internet can contain viruses.  Unless you need to edit, it's safer to stay in Protected View"

    and to the right of that text there is an "Enable Editing" button and if that button is used, the document will open in the normal Word window with the Ribbon visible.

    While documents that are in "Protected View" are read-only, NOT ALL read-only documents are in Protected View.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T19:52:51+00:00

    Thanks and I did post something under Office as an original string.

    I have a small office, no full-time IT guy, but I do have someone who loaded all the programs but he is not a 

    What you all are suggesting is to come up with some way to “work around” this read only setting that itself cannot be changed.

    Frankly, I am not a word specialist, but what I do know is when a program has something that cannot be turned off it is going to create issues.

    What I want is Microsoft to let me control its use by allowing me to turn the ^&^&^& thing off.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T18:36:20+00:00

    I absolutely HATE read only and I am upset that I cannot turn it OFF!

    What genius at Microsoft came up with this idea?

    Let me explain.

    As a lawyer we draft documents, send them to people get input and they are sent back. Thus we may open a document 10 times, 20 times.  And someone at Microsoft decided that every time we OPEN the document it can ONLY be opened in "read only" mode.

    So then we copy and create a new but cannot save it as the "read only document is "open" and we have to give it a new name and then close and delete and as we do this make ^&^&^& sure we do not keep the wrong version.

    The fact there is no OFF switch and there is NOTHING I can do about it makes me at time want and/or beg for a competitor who will replace Word as the software engineers seem to be afraid of becoming unemployed unless they can create something different.

    Nobody asked me, hey is this a good idea?

    IT SUCKS!

    I am amazed at all the people out there having problems and do not understand what Microsoft has done here, but it took a good program and made it crap!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-04T22:00:27+00:00

    Microsoft:  Please "STOP IT" with the "Re-install" nonsense.  NO ONE has time to perform re-installs.  Your software is a TOOL, not a LIFE.  We use it to be productive.  Re-installing is NOT productive.  Please learn how to get to the "ROOT CAUSE" of such issues, and FIX THEM AT THE SOURCE!  Last year, I paid for tech help from Microsoft, thinking that I would get ROOT CAUSE fixes from the "experts".  I found even level 2 techs to know less than I do, and I have found that I can do much better, when I have issues, if I search the web and fix it myself.  You are embarrassing yourself with these "re-install" answers.  STOP IT, STOP IT, AND STOP IT.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-05-05T01:24:06+00:00

    Another possible cause for the read only mode is that you have an expired trial that is being invoked the first time.  Go into Programs and Features. Look to see if you have more than one Office installation. If you do, you will have to uninstall one and repair the other.

    Repair or Uninstall Office 2013 /2010 / 2007

    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/repair-or-remove-office-2010-HA010357402.aspx?CTT=1


    http://www.online-tech-tips.com/ms-office-tips/fix-microsoft-word-has-stopped-working/comment-page-1/#comment-83759


    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg998767.aspx#BKMK_OfficeRepair Office 365 (2013) - Repair is same as earlier versions


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