On my MacBook Air M2, running Sequoia Version 15.7.2 (24G325), Excel files always open as Read Only

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Level 1

9 points

On my MacBook Air M2, running Sequoia Version 15.7.2 (24G325), Excel files always open as Read Only

On my MacBook Air M2, running Sequoia Version 15.7.2 (24G325), Excel files always open as Read Only.

This doesn't happen on my 2015 MacBook Pro [that is still running Monterey], or on either of my iMacs, one running Ventura and one Monterey.

It doesn't happen either on my iPad Pro or iPhone 16 Pro, or any of the other iOS devices I have.

It doesn't happen either on Windows machines - both Win 10 and Win 11

It does happen regardless of whether the file contains macros or not.

So it seems to be an issue related to this Mac and/or Sequoia.

This is really frustrating, as I use Excel a lot, and this is my most-used/go to Mac

Background info

I have a current Office 365 subscription.

I store my Office files in OneDrive.

This has always worked fine for me in the past; I can access and edit them with no problem on my other Macs, as well as on Windows machines - both physical and virtual.

I also access them with bo problem on iOS devices. I continue to be able to do that.

However, on this machine [MacBook Air 2023 running Sequoia latest version] Excel files have begun opening as read-only.

I am signed in to my OneDrive account, and have a current and paid-up subscription
There are no versions open on other devices.
The "read-only" checkbox is greyed out in all document properties.

Things I've tried:

I have:

Reset oneDrive
Resinstalled my 365 apps
Restarted the Mac
Reinstalled a fresh copy of the Sequoia OS

all to no avail....

This is driving me nuts; I can't save changes except by doing a 'save as'.

I hope somebody can help! Please!!

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Nov 22, 2025 1:11 AM

Reply

Answer 1

AlWeir

Level 5

4,862 points

Nov 23, 2025 8:15 AM in response to tontoe

The most straightforward causes are often settings applied directly to the file itself.

File Properties: The file system attribute might be set to Read-only.

Fix: Right-click the Excel file, select Properties, and in the General tab, uncheck the Read-only box under Attributes. Click OK.

"Read-only Recommended" Setting: The original creator may have saved the workbook with this option enabled.

Fix: Open the file, go to File > Save As (choose a location), click Tools (next to the Save button), select General Options, and uncheck the Read-only recommended box. Save the file.

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Answer 2

tontoe Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2025 3:42 AM in response to tontoe

I managed to access the "Properties" dialogue from the "File" menu with the file open in the Excel App [first image].

However, the "read-only" checkbox is greyed out? [second image]

For some reason the first image is rotated to landscape mode and I can't seem to change it - sorry

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Answer 3

tontoe Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2025 3:54 AM in response to AlWeir

Thanks again.

I tried the latter part of your suggested fix:

I got to the "read only (recommended)" dialogue via the "save a copy" item on the "file" menu and then clicking "options" in the resulting dialogue which produced a "save options" dialogue. "Read-only" was unchecked.

This seems completely random - sometimes [as now] the file opens fine; other times it is "read only".

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Answer 4

tontoe Author

Level 1

9 points

Nov 29, 2025 3:33 AM in response to AlWeir

Hi there

Thanks for your reply and suggested solution :)

Right clicking the file in Finder doesn't reveal a "properties" option. I tried "get Info" but this doesn't show any of the options listed.

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