Fix Microsoft 365 read-only documents on a Mac

Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, may sometimes open documents in read-only mode on a Mac, preventing you from editing or saving changes.

This issue can occur because of outdated or corrupted Microsoft credentials stored in Keychain Access or an issue with the Microsoft 365 license information stored on your Mac.

Follow these steps to resolve the issue.

Fix read-only documents

Step 1: Sign out of Microsoft 365 apps

  1. In any Microsoft 365 app, select the name of the Microsoft 365 app in the menu bar.
  2. Select Sign Out.
  3. Quit out of all Microsoft 365 apps.

Step 2: Remove Microsoft credentials from Keychain Access

  1. Press ⌘ + Spacebar to open Spotlight.
  2. Type Keychain Access, and then press Return.
  3. If you see the Manage Your Passwords in the New Passwords App prompt, select Open Keychain Access.
  4. Enter your Mac login password, if prompted, and then select OK. This is the password that you use to log in to your Mac.
  5. In Keychain Access, use the search field to search for Microsoft.
  6. Locate and remove Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 credential entries associated with your Drexel account.
  7. Close Keychain Access.

Step 3: Sign in to Microsoft 365

  1. Open any Microsoft 365 app.
  2. Sign in with your Drexel account and verify your sign-in with multifactor authentication.
  3. Open a document and verify that you can edit and save it.

If these steps don't work

If documents still open in read-only mode after you complete the steps above, try one of the following troubleshooting options.

Reinstall Microsoft 365

  1. Follow Microsoft's instructions to Uninstall Office for Mac.
  2. Follow Microsoft's instructions to Install Microsoft 365 on a Mac.
  3. Open any Microsoft 365 app.
  4. Sign in with your Drexel account and verify your sign-in with multifactor authentication.
  5. Open a document and verify that you can edit and save it.

Remove Office license files

You can also try removing the Microsoft 365 license files stored on your Mac.

  1. Follow Microsoft's instructions to Remove Office License Files on a Mac.
  2. Open any Microsoft 365 app.
  3. Sign in with your Drexel account and verify your sign-in with multifactor authentication.
  4. Open a document and verify that you can edit and save it.

Help and support

If you continue to experience problems, contact your IT department or the Drexel IT Help Desk.

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