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. Stefan Blom 352.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-08-05T20:01:36+00:00

    Turning off Protected View should do what you want. (Just be careful when you open files from unknown senders.) See my previous reply.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T20:19:26+00:00

    I spent 2 hours on the telephone with Microsoft Support and going up the chain of command, and was told there is no way to turn off read only.

    Will try that but I suspect it is already turned off.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T20:37:54+00:00

    I was right.

    It is already turned off.

    A simple fix is to allow us to do the same for Read Only.

    I came from an older version of Word and frankly, I'm not impressed with the 2016 version.

    Just seems more like a way to generate more money.

    I was very happy with 2010 version.

    I have been reading people posting online for YEARS complaining about Read Only and still no quick and easy fix.

    Does anyone at Microsoft care what their customers think?

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  4. Stefan Blom 352.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-08-05T22:06:51+00:00

    You can post feedback for Microsoft in the Uservoice forum at http://word.uservoice.com.

    However, it is not clear which options you have actually tried. Perhaps you are seeing Read Mode rather than Protected View. In that case, clear the check mark next to "Open e-mail attachments and other uneditable files in reading view" at File | Options | General.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T22:24:21+00:00

    We are trying to help you fix the problem But if you ignore our suggestions there is not much we can do.

    Your Word installations are not working "normally". Normally files do not get set to read only. But there are a couple of situations where they do, "to protect you from yourself" ... We have to identify one of those places from the information you provide us.

    We need you to tell us as much as possible about the problem so that hopefully some point or another will trigger a memory to identify a cause for the problem. But you constantly whining "...just let me control it..." is not going to get you anywhere.

    Did you check the "Protected View" setting that Stefan suggested. Although this would cause a slightly different symptom that you could bypass, it is worth checking.

    While you are in the Trust Center, also take a look in the File Block Settings option. These settings are intended for older file formats, so I doubt they are your problem.

    Also take a look at the "Trusted Locations" option. These are locations that word considers it safe to open files from.

    Does the read only problem happen to files that never leave your computer? Is it only associated with files you have passed around for editing by other people?

    And do the safe mode test too!

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