Real-time collaboration/co-authoring by multiple editors at the same time is turned off when you turn on required check out.This setting is turned on at the library level and affects all files in the library.It takes 10+ clicks to edit a file that is shared using a sharing link via email (as you have to locate file then follow 8 steps above).There is not a quick “check out” button when the file is open in read-only in browser.Some people turn on the required check out setting for the document library.įiles that are clicked on will open in the browser in read-only view, however, to edit the file, it will now take a LOT of steps to edit a document. How to Protect A File to Open in Read-Only: You have to apply this setting at the document level to every document.The user can switch from Viewing to Editing with one button click in the browser and desktop app. Once setup, the user can press the File Name to have the file always open in read-only – both in browser and in desktop app. How to Open a File in Preview: Protect the File to Always Open in Read-Only Mode

The user can easily forget to remember to press the Preview button.The user can switch from Preview to Editing with two button clicks. The user can press the Preview button in the More menu to open a file in the browser to read it. Turn on the Required Check Out setting (Last Resort).Protect the File to Always Open in Read-Only Mode.I have ordered the solutions in priority order of what I would recommend. However, there are few options you can take to achieve a similar result. Why: Files are designed to always open in edit mode by default when you click the file name/document title in SharePoint Online. There is no setting at this time (as of August 2021) to have all files automatically open in read-only mode for an entire library or an entire site. This would help people from making changes by accident to a document.” More details: “If someone wants to edit, they can then click on the editing feature and edit the document. Question: “Is it possible to change the settings in a SharePoint Online site or library to default the documents we open to View- only instead of Editing?

Open new document in word online