why are my documents locked and how do I unlock them?

Documents in OneDrive can be locked for several reasons, particularly when accessed from shared computers. Here are some common causes and how to potentially unlock them:

1. Antivirus Programs: Sometimes, antivirus software may open files as read-only if they are considered potentially unsafe. You may need to check your antivirus settings or consult with your IT department to adjust these settings.
2. Library Settings: If the documents are stored in a SharePoint library that has specific settings such as Checkout Required, Validation columns, or Draft Item Security, these documents may be synchronized as read-only. You can check the library settings to see if any of these conditions apply.
3. Protected View: Office documents can open in Protected View, which prevents editing. This can happen even if you have enabled the setting to open documents as read/write while browsing. You may need to adjust your Office settings or consult your IT support for assistance.

To unlock your documents, you may want to:

• Check the settings of the shared computer you are using.
• Contact your IT department for help with permissions and settings related to OneDrive and SharePoint.
• Ensure that your antivirus software is not interfering with file access.

If the issue persists, consider running diagnostics available in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center if you have administrative access.

References:

• SharePoint files open as read-only
• Can't open Office files from SharePoint Online

Dear @David Leitner, 

Good day! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum! 

Based on your description, I understand that you’re experiencing an issue where your OneDrive documents appear locked when accessed from a shared work computer, and you’re looking for guidance on how to unlock them.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by this issue.

To understand the situation better and provide you with the most suitable support, could you confirm the following information: 

• Where are you opening the files from? (File Explorer via the OneDrive sync folder or OneDrive on the web?
• Have other people in the same organization with you experienced similar issues?
• When you try to open the file, do you see any specific message (for example, “File is locked for editing,” “Read‑only,” etc.)? If possible, could you provide a screenshot or the full text of the error message so that I could have a visual reference and more information on it?
• Is anyone else currently working on the same file, or do you have it open on another computer or account?
• Are you opening Word, Excel, or another Office app via the desktop version or Office for the web/Online version?
• Have you noticed any special protection on the file, such as password protection or sensitivity labels?
• Is OneDrive running and syncing properly on this shared computer?
• Are you able to share files normally, or do sharing options appear disabled?

Your confirmation would be very helpful in ensuring you receive the most suitable support!

If you’re able to share a bit more about your situation, I might be able to suggest some helpful next steps. 

Kindly let me know when there are updates or if you need further assistance. Any updates you’re able to share would be really helpful. I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing how things are going! 

Thank you for your time and patience.

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