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
    2017-12-24T01:04:21+00:00

    I have to disagree Stefan,

    There is an error at work here, but there is also the issue that any doc sent by email turns up on the other end as READ ONLY.....and that is Microsoft protecting me when I don't want to be.

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  2. Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-25T20:11:18+00:00

    I have to disagree Stefan,

    There is an error at work here, but there is also the issue that any doc sent by email turns up on the other end as READ ONLY.....and that is Microsoft protecting me when I don't want to be.

    Are you using Outlook for e-mail? Outlook (2010, if I remember correctly) removed the ability to edit e-mail attachments without saving them to the local drive first, and for a very good reason, I believe. The reason was that many people used to edit attachments opened directly from an e-mail and then they lost their changes when they closed the attachment. Of course, you could argue that this would only happen to inexperienced users. Anyway, my point is that if you want this to change, you have to post a suggestion in the Outlook section of the Uservoice forum at https://outlook.uservoice.com/forums/322590-outlook-2016-for-windows. Or you could use some other e-mail program, of course.

    In the message to which you replied, I specifically commented on the permissions issue only: "Note that when you see a message referring to permission issues, it isn't Microsoft trying to protect you from yourself. On the contrary, you have run into an error, of course."

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-26T00:42:25+00:00

    Hi Stefan,

    I'm not using Outlook, I use Thunderbird.  It doesn't matter what email program it is the Doc (or Spreadsheet) still comes over as Read Only.....it's a Microsoft Office thing......frustrating as hell, I constantly send docs to other members of staff, they edit them and send them back...every time Read Only and every time I (and they) need to Save As a different doc name!

    I say again, the answer is a simple user controlled switch box:  "Leave my documents alone, do not make them Read Only"

    Regards

    Chris

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  4. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-26T04:49:47+00:00

    In Word, have you unchecked the boxes under File>Options>Trust Center>Trust Center Settings>Protected View

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-02-26T22:03:45+00:00

    I actually found the solution.

    You simply need to FORWARD the message with the attachment.  Before you send the message you can open up the attachment, Edit it, save it and then send.

    I have been hours looking for this fix!  Hope this works for you!

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