Forum Discussion
Administrator permissions
I am trying to save an edited spreadsheet, but Excel will not let me do this as it has opened the file as Read Only, and it tells me I need administrator permission. I can save the file on the desktop, but not in the folder I want (And if I then copy the file into the correct place it reverts to Read Only). Firstly I did not open the file as Read only. Secondly, when I checked in settings I am described as administrator!
I have just installed Excel on a brand new PC, running Windows 11.
2 Replies
Try this to see whether it can be fixed:
1. Check Folder Permissions
Right-click the folder where you want to save → Properties.
Go to Security tab → click Edit.
Select your user account → ensure Full Control is checked.
If not, click Add, type your username, and grant Full Control.
Apply changes and retry saving.
2. Remove Read-Only Attribute
Right-click the folder → Properties.
On the General tab, uncheck Read-only.
Click Apply to all subfolders and files.
4Retry saving in Excel.
3. Avoid Protected Locations
Don’t save directly into C:\Program Files, C:\Windows, or other system directories.
Instead, use C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents or a custom folder you own.
4. Check Excel File Properties
Right-click the Excel file → Properties.
If you see an Unblock button (under Security), click it.
Ensure the file is not marked as Read-only.
5. Run Excel as Administrator
Right-click Excel → Run as administrator.
Try saving again.
If this works, it confirms a permissions issue with the folder.
6. OneDrive/SharePoint Sync Issues
If the folder is inside OneDrive, check whether the file is marked as Always keep on this device.
Right-click the file → OneDrive → ensure it’s not “Online-only.”
Sync conflicts can force files into read-only mode.I have been away for a few days and somehow the problem seems to have gone away! What I couldn't understand was why the file worked in one location , but not another!
