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
    2018-01-12T11:48:21+00:00

    An online repair may result in a reinstallation of Office, which you may not be permitted to do on your work computer.

    However, if the only problem is that shortcuts are missing, you can recreate them; see https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Can-t-find-Office-applications-in-Windows-10-Windows-8-or-Windows-7-907ce545-6ae8-459b-8d9d-de6764a635d6.

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  2. Stefan Blom 352.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-01-11T23:19:31+00:00

    Which kind of files are affected? If these are e-mail attachments, for example, read-only is to be expected.

    Since attachments are stored as temporary files, you could lose data if editing was allowed directly from an e-mail.

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-08-05T23:25:16+00:00

    Documents attached to an email message will open in Protected Mode unless:

    1. You save the attached document to the local drive and then in the File Explorer, you right click on it and select Properties and then check the "Unblock" box.
    2. In Word, you have gone to File>Options>Trust Center>Trust Center Settings>Protected View and you have unchecked the boxes for the Enabling of Protected View.  Note that, if you do that, you should be sure that you can trust the sender of the documents to not send you a document that may contain a virus or malware.

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  4. Stefan Blom 352.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-08-05T23:18:23+00:00

    The Blue across the top clearly says Read Mode.

    Microsoft Support said that ALL word documents attached to emails ALL open in Read Only mode.

    There is they said no turn off switch.

    Well, the person you talked to got it wrong. The option I mentioned previously prevents documents from opening in Read Mode (which in Word 2013 and 2016 means the view where you can't edit files and where you see File, Tools, and View on the ribbon).

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-08-05T23:09:39+00:00

    The Blue across the top clearly says Read Mode.

    Microsoft Support said that ALL word documents attached to emails ALL open in Read Only mode.

    There is they said no turn off switch.

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