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. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-23T03:33:11+00:00

    Unless you are working in a corporate environment, full access is exactly what you do have.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-23T13:32:22+00:00

    certain word files have chosen to open with a message 'this file was opened as read-only, do you want this again?' to which I tick box no. The next time I open the file it still gives the same message. No all files are so infected but I want this nonsense cleared from all files (I do not use OneDrive and keep all files in Word; nor I interested in email attachments. I would like a simple non-techie answer. Your other answers offer no balm to this irritation.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-23T19:25:00+00:00

    Yes Stwphen that is exactly what happens.  Yesterday I right clicked on a doc, unchkd readonly, clicked appmy and save.  Then I edited the doc, and saved it. I opened it a couple of hrs later and it was readonly again.

    I am only using home office MS not the commercial suite as suggested in other posts.

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  4. Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-23T20:51:12+00:00

    Really, why can't we have a tick box:

    "I'm an adult, I don't need Microsoft to baby sit me, I can make my own decisions. Give me full access to all the documents and settings on my PC"

    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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  5. Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-23T20:53:08+00:00

    Yes Stwphen that is exactly what happens.  Yesterday I right clicked on a doc, unchkd readonly, clicked appmy and save.  Then I edited the doc, and saved it. I opened it a couple of hrs later and it was readonly again.

    I am only using home office MS not the commercial suite as suggested in other posts.

    Note that my suggestion was to look for the option called "Unblock." If you actually see the read-only option checked in the Properties window, then a permissions error is the most likely underlying cause. That would mean a file system issue, not an issue with Word.

    By the way, who is Stephen?

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