If you use Microsoft Office 365, you may have come across the error: “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac”. It’s annoying and frustrating, because it means you can’t work on documents even if your subscription should allow you to do that. Here’s how to fix it.

To fix the Office 365 doesn't allow editing on a Mac error, check your Office subscription is update and try reinstalling the software. The Word file may be set to open in read-only mode, which is why you are unable to edit it. If editing the Word document has been restricted, then this problem can occur. The Protected view feature is enabled can restrict editing documents that can potentially harm your computer.

  1. If this feature doesn't work any longer the way it was, I have only 2 ways - try to write own plugin with old functionality or move to another editor:( don't even imagine what editor it could be: I really hope you will find a good solution for this issue:).
  2. Jul 22, 2021 What is the cause “Editing Not Allowed” on Office Applications on Mac The problem lies with: The software’s ability to detect correct licenses, which stops users from editing their documents. The Microsoft team has also identified the role of certain files in causing the same error.
  3. Let's take a quick look at some of the reasons why you might not be able to edit the file. The file is locked due to a previous crash If you had a crash with the file open previously, it's possible that the application still has it locked.

What causes the “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac' message?

Why Doesnt Microsoft Allow Editing On A

There are two possible reasons for the error:

  1. Microsoft doesn’t recognize your Office 365 license.
  2. There are corrupt files in your Mac’s Library folder.

With regard to number 2, above, Microsoft has identified three files that may cause a problem and recommends removing those. We’ll show you how to do that below.

If you’re having problems with Office 365 and they’re not solved by the steps here, you can try resetting the app so that it returns to the state it was in when it was first installed. The easiest way to do that is to use CleanMyMac X. It has an Uninstaller which can also reset apps instead of completely uninstalling them. Read how to reset your MS Office with CleanMyMac X.

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How to fix “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac”

  1. In a web browser, navigate to portal.office.com
  2. Click on My Account
  3. Look at the Subscriptions panel
  4. Check for Office 365
  5. If you see it, you have the correct license and that’s not the problem. If you don’t see it, check that you are signed into the correct account.
Why Doesnt Microsoft Allow Editing On A

If that doesn’t solve the problem, the next step is to remove those files we mentioned earlier.

  1. Launch each Office app installed on your Mac, click on the application name (eg Word) menu and choose Sign Out. Then quit the application.
  2. In the Finder, click on the Go menu and choose Go to Folder
  3. In the box, type: ~/Library
  4. Click on the Group Containers folder
  5. Locate the following three files/folders and drag them to the Trash
    UBF8T346G9.ms
    UBF8T346G9.Office
    UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost
  6. Empty the Trash and launch an Office application to check if you can now edit documents.

One more solution: Repair Disk Permissions

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The “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac” warning in Office 365 can be caused by broken or outdated permissions. You can try and fix it with a free tool in CleanMyMac X.

Download a free edition of this app (Apple-notarized version).

Why Doesnt Microsoft Allow Editing On A Mac

  • Run the program and click Maintenance.
  • Now check Repair Disk Permissions

Additionally, check the System Junk section in the sidebar. Cleaning system junk rids your system of caches and other temporary items that could interfere with your MS Office.

Why Doesn't Microsoft Allow Editing On A Pdf

Over time, these files grow and as well as taking up space on your drive, can slow your Mac down and cause it to run into problems. CleanMyMac X’s System Junk module can identify and remove these files with a couple of clicks.

Why Doesn't Microsoft Allow Editing On A Chromebook

The “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac” warning in Office 365 can be caused by a licensing issue or by files Microsoft puts on your Mac becoming corrupt. To fix it, follow the steps above and you should be able to edit files in Office apps once more.