READ-ONLY We opened this workbook read-only from the server WARNING

Dieter Tontsch (GMail) 867 Reputation points
2020-07-29T14:39:10.177+00:00

What might be the reason (or is it by design) that if we open Excel Files from our on-premises SharePoint 2019 we get this waring ribbon saying "READ-ONLY We opened this workbook read-only from the server --> Edit Workbook", while this is not true for a Word or Powerpoint documemnt form the same location.
If I open an Excel from my OneDrive for Business it also does to show this warning.
Both locations are defined as Trusted Locations for all Office Apps via GPO. There is no Vesioning or checkout configured for that SharePoint library in charge, definitely no Require Checkout.

kind regards,
Dieter

Excel Management
Excel Management
Excel: A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Emily Hua-MSFT 27,526 Reputation points
    2020-07-30T06:27:46.527+00:00

    Hi DieterTontsch-4959,

    Do all the Excel workbooks from SharePoint or OneDrive for Business opened in read-only mode, or just some specific workbooks has this issue?

    Besides, do you open the files from Excel desktop application?

    From the side of Office, I would suggest you try the following steps.

    1. When this issue occur with specific workbooks:
      • Make sure these Excel workbooks do not enabled Share Workbook (Legacy).
      • If you have the right to download these workbooks, please download and open them from local computer for a test.
      • Right click the file and choose Properties. If the Read-only attribute is checked, please uncheck it and select OK. Please go to Security tab, ensure you have full control on these file.
      • You may also right click the sheet name > Move or Copy > Create a copy, then check this issue.
    2. When this issue occur with all workbooks:
      • Open Excel app > File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Protected View > clear three boxes of Protected View at right panel.
      • Update Office to the latest.
      • Repair Office in Control Panel.
    3. Please checkout whether the article below is helpful. Why did my file open read-only?

    Any questions, please let me know.

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  2. Dieter Tontsch (GMail) 867 Reputation points
    2020-08-05T09:13:47.877+00:00

    Hello,

    • it happens with all workbooks located wherever on our on-premises SharePoint.
    • we open the workbooks with Excel Desktop app, but not from the app, we choose open with Excel from the Browser
    • If I open the same workbook from OneDrive, synched from my on-prem SharePoint, it does open without this warning
    • it happens to the copy of the workbook too
    • for the downloaded copy the issue does not occur, read-only attribute is not checked.
    • our sharepoint on-prem url is present in Trusted Locations. But it might be wrong? The SharePoint URL in trusted locations ist like https:/spnt.m*****g.de/. The URL for the file sin charge is like https://spnt.m*****g.de/mx/it/documents/myworkbook.xlsx. is .../mx/it/ considered as beeing a subfolder from the GPO piont of view? It should, because if I try to add https://spnt.m*****g.de/mx/it/ it says, this location is already in place.

    15705-image.png

    But I must say, none of th eabove suggested ppoints does solve my issue :(

    kind regards,
    Dieter

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  3. Trí Thanh 1 Reputation point
    2022-02-16T05:00:57.663+00:00

    Can anyone help , I open files from Team with Excel application and get an error , All my files !
    174689-image.png

  4. TMW 0 Reputation points
    2023-11-20T13:56:54.4266667+00:00

    Interested to know if this was ever resolved? We have numerous customers with the same issue.