I can no longer save current or new Ms word or excel files on dropbox, when I try and do so I get "Can't edit - This file is read-only. To edit it, first save a copy of the file". I get this even on brand new files never saved before, when I select Save a copy it comes up with the same meesage again. It works fine with my laptop just my phone and tablet are having the issue. Tablet Galaxy Tab A8: Android version 13 Dropbox app version: 320.2.10 MS word version: 1.0.1 (16.0.16227.20132) I have signed out and signed in, un-installed and re-installed, updated everything to latest versions, restarted everything.

Same problem. Android Excel. I saved a copy on Dropbox. After saving and opening I get the read-only message yet if I make a change, save, and reopen, the change is there. Further, even though Excel says the file is in Dropbox it's no where to be found in Dropbox. It's in limbo somewhere. Excel says the file "Needs attention" but there's no way to save it in Dropbox so it's not read-only and accessible in Dropbox.

Guys I have had the same issue for the past few months. Uninstalled Dropbox App and same with Excel and Word. The problem is on Android operating system (new). Have 6 Pro Pixel. I am a heavy user of Dropbox Files. Each 2 weeks I edit and save Excel and Word files and send to someone and save a copy to my Dropbox. It has been a recent problem where I cannot do it from my Phone and I am close to COMPLETELY SWITCHING TO GOOGLE DRIVE. TURNING OFF MY EXPENSIVE DROPBOX SUBSCRIPTION AND ALSO SELLING MY INVESTMENT IN DROPBOX. It is massively frustrating and Dropbox should have figured this out by now. The seamless sync is the key to Dropbox strength and if you cannot figure it out then it is time for goodbye. -open new OR existing file in EXCEL or WORD -save the file after edit or create to OneDrive or Google Drive no problem -error message: “Can’t edit. This file is read-only. To edit if, first save a copy of the file.” -even SAVE AS no longer works and you cannot save WORD or EXCEL files to Dropbox -cleared all Cache etc dbx/msft Guys you need to fix this A S A P. Pat

Hi there Trush861, sorry to hear you're having issues with this. Are you the owner of these files or have they been shared with you? Also, can you please let us know if you're logged into your Microsoft account when trying to edit those files in the first place? Have you tried exporting it to MS Word or Excel and working on the file from there perhaps? Let us know more and we'll take it from there.

Hey Brian Cashman , sorry to hear you’re seeing this, as well. Can you send me a screenshot of the message you keep receiving about the file being read-only, so that we can have a visual?

Hey Pat7330890, thanks for posting here! Can you clarify the OS you're using on your Pro Pixel, along with the version of the app that you have installed there? If you have any screenshots of the exact error message you get, that'd be amazing. Keep me posted!

Can no longer save current or new MS word or excel file on dropbox with android devices.

13 Replies

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Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hi there Trush861, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Are you the owner of these files or have they been shared with you?

Also, can you please let us know if you're logged into your Microsoft account when trying to edit those files in the first place?

Have you tried exporting it to MS Word or Excel and working on the file from there perhaps?

Let us know more and we'll take it from there.
Brian Cashman
Explorer | Level 4
3 years ago
Same problem. Android Excel. I saved a copy on Dropbox. After saving and opening I get the read-only message yet if I make a change, save, and reopen, the change is there. Further, even though Excel says the file is in Dropbox it's no where to be found in Dropbox. It's in limbo somewhere. Excel says the file "Needs attention" but there's no way to save it in Dropbox so it's not read-only and accessible in Dropbox.
Nancy
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hey Brian Cashman , sorry to hear you’re seeing this, as well.

Can you send me a screenshot of the message you keep receiving about the file being read-only, so that we can have a visual?
Pat7330890
New member | Level 2
3 years ago
Guys I have had the same issue for the past few months. Uninstalled Dropbox App and same with Excel and Word.

The problem is on Android operating system (new). Have 6 Pro Pixel.

I am a heavy user of Dropbox Files. Each 2 weeks I edit and save Excel and Word files and send to someone and save a copy to my Dropbox. It has been a recent problem where I cannot do it from my Phone and I am close to COMPLETELY SWITCHING TO GOOGLE DRIVE. TURNING OFF MY EXPENSIVE DROPBOX SUBSCRIPTION AND ALSO SELLING MY INVESTMENT IN DROPBOX. It is massively frustrating and Dropbox should have figured this out by now. The seamless sync is the key to Dropbox strength and if you cannot figure it out then it is time for goodbye.

-open new OR existing file in EXCEL or WORD
-save the file after edit or create to OneDrive or Google Drive no problem
-error message: “Can’t edit. This file is read-only. To edit if, first save a copy of the file.”
-even SAVE AS no longer works and you cannot save WORD or EXCEL files to Dropbox
-cleared all Cache etc dbx/msft

Guys you need to fix this A S A P.

Pat
Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hey Pat7330890, thanks for posting here!

Can you clarify the OS you're using on your Pro Pixel, along with the version of the app that you have installed there?

If you have any screenshots of the exact error message you get, that'd be amazing.

Keep me posted!
Vince A.2
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago
Has anyone fixed this issue? I've been having this issue for quite some time now. I can edit a word doc on my PC, save it and can view it anywhere on any PC, phone or laptop.
I can open the same word doc named "storage catalog" from my phone's dropbox app, select office 365 as the default app to view and edit. After editing the document and trying to save, I get this message "Can't edit - This file is read-only. to edit it, First save a copy of the file"
I would save the file under a smiliar name such as storage catalog V2, it will not save the newer version name, the original file name "storage catalog V1" remains unedited despite trying to save it.
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Hey there Vince A.2, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Can you please let us know your device's exact OS version and the version of the apps involved as well?

Thanks!
Vince A.2
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago
Dropbox 338.2.2, microsoft office 365 16.0.16227.20212, Android 13.
Tried editing and saving word documents created with office 365 and Microsoft Word 2010
Walter
Dropbox Community Moderator
3 years ago
Can you maybe try the standalone MS Word and MS Excel apps instead of Office 365 and let me know if the issue persists then Vince A.2?
Vince A.2
Explorer | Level 3
3 years ago
Using standalone MS word on a mobile device won't work because you need to install a paid subscription of office 365 mobile app in order to edit MS word documents on a mobile device.