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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

53 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2017-12-06T07:12:15+00:00

    Yes docs that come as an email attachment. And sometimes when word cant communicate with one drive properly.

    I just want to be able to turn off the Protection for Emailed Docs

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-06T07:14:32+00:00

    the same thing happens in windows explorer.  I have a folder with multiple documents in it.  I turn off read only at folder level (and all subfolders) , click apply and then OK.  

    The next time I go into that folder, or open an old document, it is read only again.

    Was this answer helpful?

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-06T07:16:32+00:00

    Word attachments in Outlook always open as read-only in recent versions of Office; this is by design, and I don't think you can turn it off (possibly from within Outlook).

    However, if you are also saying that the attachments open in Protected View, that can be configured from within Word.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2017-12-06T07:26:06+00:00

    I've had the same issue as Maria, but not recently.

    I don't use Outlook, but Emailed Docs are always open in Read Only, it's Big Brother overkill!  I need to be able to turn it off, I'm constantly working on a doc, emailing it out to a co worker and they email it back with changes, every time it has to be saved with a new name....frustrating!

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2017-12-06T07:30:48+00:00

    email attachments AND any word document saved on c drive.  I have looked for a default in word but I cannot find anything.  Regardless, even after right clicking on a doc in windows explorer and unchecking 'read only' and applying and saving, it still reverts to read only next time I open it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments