Read-only file, only on Dropbox for Android (!)

[Franco52]

One file, docx., in a Dropbox directory - and only that file - appears as "only-read file" when I open it in Dropbox app for Android. Instead I can modify it without problems when I use the app on Windows 10 PC. I have copied the file from Dropbox to my PC, deleted it on Dropbox and uploaded it again: nothing changed. I reinstalled Dropbox on my Android tablet, no way. Others similar files in the game directory of Dropbox work perfectly. Can you help me, please? Thanks.

[saaniluk]

Hello

I have the same issue. Create a file in a shared folder but cannot edit it via the Dropbox mobile app / Word for mobile (see attached screenshot). Tried your hint of creating another file, but it's again read-only. Via desktop app I can edit. Could you please help? Thanks a lot in advance.

Salomedocx_file_read_only

[Jay]

Hi @saaniluk, aer you part of a Dropbox Business team, or is this a personal account?

[saaniluk]

Hello Jay

Thank you for your quick reply. It is a personal account.

[Walter]

Hey @saaniluk, sorry to jump in, but could you clarify the OS version of your device and the versions of the apps you're using?

Have you tried reinstalling both of them since you first noticed this issue by the way? 

[saaniluk]

Hey Walter

Its Android 12, Word 16.0, Dropbox 334.2.2. I installed Word only some days ago. Editing works for some docx files in another shared folder. But in some shared folders it doesn't work. I'm not aware of any difference between the two cases that have different behavior. Both folders are shared with the one same person, it is about the same document type, same user, same device etc.

[Jay]

Do you have edit access to those shared folders, or just read-only access? Are the files docx or doc files?

[saaniluk]

 I have edit access to these folders (it was me who created them) and also I can edit when I access the files via Dropbox desktop app. Only when I access them via Dropbox mobile app, they're shown as read-only.

[Megan]

Hi @saaniluk, could you try copying and pasting the file in another path and see if the same issue is experienced there?

Other than that, did you happen to clear the Dropbox app’s cache -you can do this by accessing the app's settings-, before reinstalling the app perhaps?

[saaniluk]

Hello Megan

I did everything you suggested. Still the same. But I found something out. When I create files on my mobile app I can edit them (via desktop app as well as via mobile app). But when I create a file via desktop app, then I can't edit it via mobile app, only via desktop app. Why is that?

Best Regards

Salome

[saaniluk]

But also now that it works for me to edit from mobile, for my colleague with whom I shared the folder it's still not possible to edit via mobile (but via desktop he can). The behavior appears to be very random. Slowly I start getting the impression there's some bugs inside the software.