How do I turn off READ ONLY permanently???

Anonymous
2016-10-02T07:44:44+00:00

I'm sick of office locking my files to Read Only.

I have files I use all the time in my one drive folder, I'll open one and word decides it is Read Only and to make a change I need to save it as a new name.

I email a file to my wife to read, she makes changes and emails it back...now its Read Only.

How do disable this frustrating crap interfering with my workflow?  It's making me crazy!!!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-10-02T20:03:46+00:00

    Hi Chris,

    Disable Read-only attribute for files.

    Here's how:

    1. On File Explorer, right-click on OneDrive, and then select Properties.
    2. On the General tab under Attributes, uncheck Read-only, and then click OK.

    1. There will be a prompt asking if you want to apply changes to all folders, subfolders, and files. Click OK.

    Regards.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-03T02:12:57+00:00

    Thanks Patricia.

    I did that.

    I then opened a file (in excel) that I use daily.  Can't save my changes because Microsoft has decided the file is suddenly Read Only.  My only choice is to save with a new name and pin the new file to my Open Menu.

    I want to make the decision on what should be read only, I do not want Microsoft deciding to make a file read only, no matter where the file is stored or where it came from.

    Regards

    Chris

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2016-10-03T04:00:01+00:00

    The file that you are getting back from your wife is probably opening in Protected View, which would be because under File>Options>Trust Center>Trust Center Settings>Protected View, there is a check mark in the box for "Enable Protected View for Outlook attachments".  Having a check mark in the box there for "Enable Protected View for file originating from the Internet" may also be the issue with the files that you are opening from OneDrive.

    Do you have the OneDrive folder set as a Trusted Location under the Trust Center Settings?

    Also, see the article "I keep getting files that I am working on locked for editing. Word only allows me to open them read-only” at:

    http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/LockedFiles.htm

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-10-03T04:13:40+00:00

    Thanks Doug,

    I've been trying to track down the cause of this for a long time.  I made the Trust Centre changes months ago in word and excel.

    I don't use Outlook, I use Thunderbird, so it has no "Trust Centre"

    Here is what Word looks like:

    Regards

    Chris

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-10-03T04:21:21+00:00

    And this is the location of my onedrive folder, this change was also made months ago in an attempt to stop Read Only happening.

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