Read-only file, only on Dropbox for Android (!)

Could you try copying and pasting the text in this file in another Word doc and see if the same issue is experienced there?

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Nancy

Welcome back to the Community, @Franco52!

Do you mind sending a screenshot of the “read-only” message you keep receiving on your end?

Other than that, did you happen to clear the Dropbox app’s cache, before reinstalling perhaps?

Let me know, and we’ll check things further.

Thanks Nancy for your answer. I attach the screenshot (Word for Android). Bye

I forgot, I tried to clear the Dropbox app’s cache, no way...">😐

Hi @Franco52,is this file in a shared folder? Is the file open on the computer at the same time when you're trying to edit it via the mobile app?

Are you opening the Word app via the Dropbox app?

Hi Jay, yes, the folder is shared. I do not use at the same time that file. Yes, I use Word for Android. I repeat, in that folder it is the only file with this problem! Thanks.

Just to clarify, when you open the document, are you opening it via the Dropbox app, which then opens in Word?

That's right!

Could you try copying and pasting the text in this file in another Word doc and see if the same issue is experienced there?

Thanks, I used your suggestion and... it works fine!

Bye

P. S. who knows who had that capricious file ...

Hello

I have the same issue. Create a file in a shared folder but cannot edit it via the Dropbox mobile app / Word for mobile (see attached screenshot). Tried your hint of creating another file, but it's again read-only. Via desktop app I can edit. Could you please help? Thanks a lot in advance.

Salomedocx_file_read_only

Hi @saaniluk, aer you part of a Dropbox Business team, or is this a personal account?

Hello Jay

Thank you for your quick reply. It is a personal account.

Walter

Hey @saaniluk, sorry to jump in, but could you clarify the OS version of your device and the versions of the apps you're using?

Have you tried reinstalling both of them since you first noticed this issue by the way?

Hey Walter

Its Android 12, Word 16.0, Dropbox 334.2.2. I installed Word only some days ago. Editing works for some docx files in another shared folder. But in some shared folders it doesn't work. I'm not aware of any difference between the two cases that have different behavior. Both folders are shared with the one same person, it is about the same document type, same user, same device etc.

Do you have edit access to those shared folders, or just read-only access? Are the files docx or doc files?

I have edit access to these folders (it was me who created them) and also I can edit when I access the files via Dropbox desktop app. Only when I access them via Dropbox mobile app, they're shown as read-only.

Megan

Hi @saaniluk, could you try copying and pasting the file in another path and see if the same issue is experienced there?

Other than that, did you happen to clear the Dropbox app’s cache -you can do this by accessing the app's settings-, before reinstalling the app perhaps?

Hello Megan

I did everything you suggested. Still the same. But I found something out. When I create files on my mobile app I can edit them (via desktop app as well as via mobile app). But when I create a file via desktop app, then I can't edit it via mobile app, only via desktop app. Why is that?

Best Regards

Salome

But also now that it works for me to edit from mobile, for my colleague with whom I shared the folder it's still not possible to edit via mobile (but via desktop he can). The behavior appears to be very random. Slowly I start getting the impression there's some bugs inside the software.

BenDBX

Hi Everybody,

The latest Android stable build v336.2.2 has been released, which addresses some issues with MS Office stability. Can you make sure your Android app is up to date and let us know if the update fixes your problem?

I have brought the issue of Office files showing as read-only on Android to our engineers in the past, who believe it is an issue with MS Office rather than our app. If this problem persists, I will have our team take another look at the issue to confirm.

Regards,

Ben