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Forum Discussion

Researchboy's avatar
Researchboy
Explorer | Level 4
4 years ago

Editing Word document on Android mobile

I am able to edit Excel files stored in Dropbox; however, Word documents say Read Only and state I need to say a copy of my original file to be able to edit it.  I can't see anything different in the signin information or app settings within Word and Excel.  Is this a known issue or do you have a suggestion in trouble shooting this issue?

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    4 years ago
    Thanks for the update, Researchboy, if you experience this issue again, please let me know.

    Enjoy your week!
  • Eumelchen98 's avatar
    Eumelchen98
    Explorer | Level 3
    Hello everybody,
    I use the dropbox on a Galaxy S21÷ and I have the following problem.
    We have a folder with some .docx files in it. We can open and read them, but we can't edit the files. The button for editing (the pen) seems to be deactivated.
    When I upload my own .docx file I can edit it.
    The access rights on the files are both the same but in case of the file which wasn't uploaded from me I have only access to read but not to write.
    I use the Dropbox Basic Account with Microsoft 365 Office.
    I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance
    • Hannah's avatar
      Hannah
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff

      Hey Eumelchen98 , thanks for letting us know about this.

       

      Can you clear the cache of both the Dropbox app and the Word app on your phone, to see if that helps?

       

      If not, try uninstalling and reinstalling them as well.

       

      Just make sure you don't have more than 3 connected devices, before you uninstall, because with a Basic plan, you won't be able to reconnect the app to your account, unless you delete other connected devices.

      • Eumelchen98 's avatar
        Eumelchen98
        Explorer | Level 3
        Dear Hannah, thank you for your answer, but that doesn't help at all.
        I can't edit word files on my smartphone. Excel files are no problem and on my pc I can also edit all the files. It's just a problem on the smartphone and with word files. And it's not me alone, all of my mates have the same problem.
        What else can we do? Is that maybe a problem with the Dropbox Basic Abo? But then it makes no sense that we can edit it on the pc where we use the same basic Abo.
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
    Hi Researchboy, thanks for posting today!

    Are you trying to edit the doc on the Word Online app directly when opening it via the Dropbox mobile app?

    Are you a member of a Dropbox Business team, or are you opening the files while on a personal account?

    Could you try clearing the cache in the Word app to see if this helps?

    Keep me updated with any progress!
    • Researchboy's avatar
      Researchboy
      Explorer | Level 4

      Hi, Jay.

       

      I am trying to edit a Word document using the Android Word App on my Samsung S10+.  I have also tried to edit using the Office app on my Samsung.  I have a Personal Microsoft.com OneDrive account.  I am not a member of a Dropbox Buisness Team.

       

      I wasn't able to clear the cache in the Word app.  I don't see an option to do this on the Adroid phone Word app.

       

      Like I mentioned prevoiusly, I can open and edit an Excel file using the Excel app on my phone.  Same login using my Personal account.  Strange.