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Forum Discussion
Unable to edit word documents on iPad / Microsoft word
Hello,
I am using Dropbox (v206.5) on my iPad (up to date with IOS 14.01) and for most word documents I am able to open them from Dropbox app and edit them in word with no problem. Periodically, when I open them, the document will open in word, but I am unable to make changes to the document (can't even type or change text). I have checked to make sure that the documents are not "read only" and I when I try to open the documents on another device (my iMac), I am able to open and modify the documents with no problem. I have also check to make sure that the documents are not open on any other device. I have also tried to uninstall and re-install both the Microsoft word app and the Dropbox app on my iPad. Any other ideas on what may be going on? thanks in advance.
- Daphne
Dropbox Staff
Hey there AdamFerg, thanks for posting!
Just to clarify, are you opening the files using the "Open" button when viewing the file in the Dropbox app?
Also, is this occurring with specific files sometimes when opening them, or does it appear to be random files?
If you can, please send along a screenshot of how the file appears when it's showing "read only".
Keep me posted!
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...
I’m also having this issue. I’ve tried resetting Microsoft and Dropbox logins, but it does nothing. OneDrive works perfectly fine and I can edit documents saved there no problem. I’ve also noticed that the files on dropbox don’t list the file pathway like those anywhere else. I think they used to but I’m not sure.
- Megan
Hey Starling, how are you today?
As a first thing, can you let me know the version of the Dropbox app that you have installed on your device, along with your OS?
Let me know if you see any errors when trying to open your Microsoft files, and if this happens with all file types too.
Keep me posted, and we'll take it from there.
- @Megan
Dropbox version 272.2.2
OS 15.4 on an ipad Pro 13
PowerPoint and Excel work fine, only Word has the issue.
It doesn't recognise where an open file is saved. If I reopen word it used to open the last file I was working on, now it pops up with an error saying it can't open the file because it's been moved, renamed or deleted (it hasn't been)
