Unable to edit word documents on iPad / Microsoft word

Yes, I am clicking the "open" button.

At first it seemed like it was intermittent files but now it's every word file in the Dropbox folder that is shared between myself and 3 other people. The file attributes are definitely not set to "read only", and I am able to edit them from a PC and an iMac just fine without issue.

When I open the file using the "open button" on my iPad, it opens Microsoft Word app which I am signed into using a 365 subscription. When I tap the screen to move the cursor to where I want to edit, the keyboard simply does not respond. I cannot type, backspace, delete or edit in any way. I also tried to export a copy of the file locally to my iPad and the exact same thing happens.

Thank you Daphne, this is pretty inhibitory to my workflow and your assistance is appreciated

It must be something with either the Dropbox app or the Microsoft word app. I deleted the Dropbox for iPad app and went to the site via the website and I am able to open the files with "word for the web" and modify them without any issues. I had to delete the Dropbox app to open in "word for the web" otherwise when I clicked the link, automatically opened the Dropbox app, which forces me to use the word app.

I'm not sure why everything works fine with the dropbox webpage / word for the web, and not in the app...

Daphne

Thanks for getting back to me here @AdamFerg!

I have seen the issue you're experiencing here on the Community before, which was due to not being signed into the Microsoft app.

However, I understand that you mentioned already being signed into your account via the app.

Since reinstalling the apps, could you please just double check that this is indeed the case, that you're signed into your Microsoft account via the app?

If so, are you seeing a "read only" banner when viewing the file within Word for any of your files (locally or from Dropbox)?

Cleanfire

I am having this exact issue and have worked through the steps outlined here without the issue being solved. Did this ever get resolved?

Hi there @Cleanfire; thanks for joining the discussion here and sorry to hear about this.

Can you please let us know if you're getting any specific error and if so, send us a screenshot so that we can have a look?

While we're at it, can you confirm you're using the most up to date versions of your device's OS and both the Word apps and our mobile app for iPadOS as well?

@Daphne @Walter Confirming that I am indeed logged into my Microsoft 365 account and the "read only" banner is not shown. The only thing that happens is when I go to modify the document, it will not let me change anything.

When I open the document through the dropbox website into Microsoft Word, I can modify the document without any issues - I only have the problem when using the dropbox app.

Further, it would be nice to have the choice to open documents through the app with a different word processor, like Pages. Not sure if that is in the works or can be passed to the development team. I'm sure I can't be the only one with that request given that Microsoft requires a subscription and Pages does not.

Daphne

Would you mind sending a screenshot of what you see when you try and edit the file @AdamFerg? Even perhaps a short screen recording.

Also, you should be able to open the file in other apps, like Pages, by exporting with these steps.

If you try exporting the file to Pages, or another app, do you have the same trouble editing it?

Skemp117

I am having this problem as well. The word document can be opened and edited on my Mac and my PC with no problem. It can be opened on my iPad but not edited. If I click the three dots in the top right, auto save is grayed out and it says Read Only mode. This document is not in read only mode. Nobody else is using it, it’s not open anywhere else. I’ve restarted 1000 times. I am logged in to Microsoft office (I have 2 accounts and I tried both). This must be a problem with the dropbox app.

I’ve abandoned the app and had to use the website for edits. For whatever reason, I’m able to work through it this way, but the app is broken.

Skemp117

Absolutely egregious that this problem persists. There should be no reason this problem has persisted so long. It’s such a basic function, this should not be that difficult.

Rafael L.5

I have this issue too and it’s really frustrating. Please fix it.

Hey @AdamFerg, @Skemp117 & @Rafael L.5 - thanks for your reports and all the additional information you've provided.

May I reach out via email to have a further look into this matter internally?

Rafael L.5

Of course !

Thanks for your cooperation @Rafael L.5

I just sent you an email, so please have a look at your inbox and we'll take it from there.

I'm having the same problem, as of January 1, 2022

Please help! I already disconnected word and DB, uninstalled both and re-installed. Was having no problems on dec 31 2021

Hey @Ronins, sorry to hear about this.

Could you please let me know if you've fully updated your device's OS and the version of both our mobile app installed on your iPad and the MS Word app?

If you did and still have issues with this, please send us a screenshot of any errors you may be getting in order to have a visual too.

Thanks!

Thanks Walter for responding!

Yeah, nothings changed on my end in a while -- except now I suddenly can't edit Dropbox word file using Word - it's asking suddenly for a one drive subscription

I'm

Word 2.56 (21120700)

Dropbox 262.3.2

iPad 9th gen OS 15.2

was working fine all last year. Now when I open a docx file in the Dropbox app, it loads fine, as always, but when I then "open with Microsoft word," it opens the document in the iPad Word app, then asks for a 365 subscription to edit or save. I log in using my non-365 account, as I was doing all last year, and that doesn't work. Still says "to edit and save, sign in with a subscription "

any idea what's going on?

Jay

Hi @Ronins, when did you first start using Word to edit files on the app?

In general, tablets larger than 10 inches require a Microsoft 365 subscription in order to edit files.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-edit-your-microsoft-office-files-via-dropbox/

Hey jay - thanks for your response, but this is not true.

Because of the dropbox-microsoft agreement, all dropbox users can edit word files, regardless of the size of the tablet. I've been editing, without owning a 365 subscription, all throughout 2021