Excel says the file is locked even though we should be co-authoring
Co-authoring only works on .xlsx in OneDrive or SharePoint. Older .xls or a local path falls back to exclusive lock.
Try this first
- 1Check the extension. Ends in .xls (no x) or .xlsm? Save as .xlsx via File > Save As.
- 2Open the file through the OneDrive or SharePoint link, not via a synced local path or a mapped drive.
- 3Have everyone who has it open in the background close it. A stale Excel holds the lock.
- 4Still locked? Open it in browser Excel via 'Edit in browser'; co-authoring is the default there.
When to bring us in
Macro workbooks (.xlsm) and protected workbooks support co-authoring poorly; tell us if you collaborate on them constantly.
See also
- Outlook crashes or freezes on large attachmentsUsually the mailbox cache is the culprit, not Outlook itself. Shrinking or relocating usually helps within ten minutes.
- Teams: they cannot hear me, or I hear nothingIn our experience Teams usually picked the wrong audio device after a Windows update or a new headset.
- OneDrive has stopped syncingThe cloud icon is grey or has a warning. Locally changed files are not showing up for colleagues.
None of the above fits?
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