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JanWig's avatar
JanWig
New member | Level 1
11 months ago
Solved

Can't edit Microsoft files on iPhone (iOS 18)

I can no longer (just since a few days)  edit any files from Microsoft (.xlsx, .docx or .pptx) on my iPhone (14 with iOS18). I can only read them. I do subscribe on Microsoft 365 and I have always been able to open and edit Microsoft files from my phone.

It works fine on PC. Also If I copy the file from Dropbox to OneDrive (on the PC), everything works fine even from the phone when opened from OneDrive.

When clicking on the file in Dropbox asking for example to open in Excel, I get the answer that the file is stored on a Server which is not supported

Please Help

  • Microsoft solved the problem for me. I had to remove the Microsoft365 app (keeping the Word,Excel and PPT apps) then it worked

17 Replies

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    11 months ago

    Hey JanWig, let me jump in here too! 

    I believe my colleague, Jay was talking about OneDrive. Specifically changing any setting that might prevent files from opening directly through Dropbox.

    However, I'd like for us to try one more thing, if you don't mind: if you temporarily remove OneDrive from your iPhone, and try to open the same Excel files through Dropbox, do you get the same results? If you could try this, that'd be ideal, if not let me know. 

    This will help us get a better idea as to what might be causing this error, and if the third-party app is playing a part in this. 

  • JanWig's avatar
    JanWig
    New member | Level 1
    11 months ago

    Hey Megan

    I understand that this would be a good trial for troubleshooting, but that is a quite big "operation", that I hesitate to do, since OneDrive is working flawless and a  major feature in my phone.

    Especially since I have not done any changes, and this just suddenly stopped working. 

    However, I sent an .xlsx file (that can not be edited in my phone) to my wife's older iPAD and stored the file in her Dropbox.

    That iPAD does not have OneDrive but Excel version 2.77 and iOS15.8.3. I can open and edit the xlsx.file. The Dropbox version was just updated (but remember it is an old iOS version).

    I also tried to share to her new iPAD (that has OneDrive), but not Dropbox. It works (she can open and edit from OneDrive) when I share a file directly from my Dropbox to her OneDrive (Microsoft365). 

    I suggest that the problem is a bug on the Dropboxside that messes up the Dropbox Microsoft-file when communicating (being opened) with OneDrive. I do not know how to change setting to avoid using OneDrive when opening a Microsoft file. Maybe you know? As I said above Microsoft said that it always uses OneDrive to open a file, if One Drive is there. I do use the OneDrive cloud.

    Whether this bug is on your end or on Microsoft end I am not the expert to conclude. I suggest, though, that Apple (iOS), as was suggested by your collegue is not really involved, but of course I am a complete amateur.

    Please advice

     

  • Megan's avatar
    Megan
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    11 months ago

    Hey JanWig, thanks for testing this!

    Just to make sure we're on the same page here, and that I've gathered all the necessary info:  Is the example file located to Dropbox? It sounds like you access your Dropbox app on your iPhone, locate a Microsoft file and try to open it using the respective app.

    When that happens you get the error message, right? If not, feel free to correct me. I just need to make sure because you also mentioned that you open the files using OneDrive. Are they located there too?

    If you open Excel, and try to locate a Dropbox file in order to open it, does it work? 

  • JanWig's avatar
    JanWig
    New member | Level 1
    11 months ago

    Dear Megan

    You are right.

    My problem is: On my iPhone I cannot open and edit Microsoft files that are stored in Dropbox . My phone also have the apps OneDrive and Microsoft365

    During trouble shooting I have tried several things (apart from reinstalling Dropbox)

    I copied (using my PC) some Microsoft files  from Dropbox and stored them in: 1. My OneDrive    2. My wife's Dropbox. 

    Results:

    On my phone: 1. The files work fine when I open (clicked) directly from OneDrive (when it is stored in OneDrive) => Nothing wrong with the files. 2. The files work fine when I open them from the Excel app (files stored in Dropbox). 3. I cannot open and edit the files when I open them directly from Dropbox (files stored in Dropbox). This is when I get the error message that the storage location is not supported (see screenshots above)

    On my wife's iPAD (that does not have OneDrive installed, but Microsoft365):  The files work fine when I open (click) directly from Dropbox (files stored in Dropbox).

    Conclusion: The OneDrive app causes the problem. Microsoft told me that if I have OneDrive installed any Microsoft file will be opened via OneDrive regardless where the files are stored. Thus my conclusion is that there is a bug in the communication between Dropbox and OneDrive ( or a setting somewhere that can be adjusted). Let me know your thoughts!

  • Hannah's avatar
    Hannah
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    11 months ago

    Hey JanWig, I hope it's okay for me to jump in here as well.

    I'm afraid that if the files need to open through OneDrive, there's no way to adjust things through Dropbox, in order for you to edit them.

    OneDrive is a third party app that cannot be linked with Dropbox.

    If there's a way for your Microsoft files in Dropbox to open with their respective Office apps and not with OneDrive, this should work, but not with the current situation.

    I hope this clarifies things and if you have any more questions, feel free to let us know.

  • holydrug's avatar
    holydrug
    New member | Level 1
    11 months ago

    Hello, I had same problem.
    Try to edit pptx from app Files, then mode changed from view to edit too.

  • JanWig's avatar
    JanWig
    New member | Level 1
    11 months ago

    Microsoft solved the problem for me. I had to remove the Microsoft365 app (keeping the Word,Excel and PPT apps) then it worked

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