🔒 Why Do I See a “Permission Denied” or “Read-Only” Message When Opening a Document in Word?

If you see a “permission denied” or “read-only” message when opening a document from Law App in Microsoft Word, this typically relates to Microsoft Office security settings — not an issue within Law App itself.

🔍 What’s Causing This?

Microsoft Word may treat files opened from a browser or web-based system (like Law App) as coming from an external or untrusted location. This can trigger Word to restrict editing, especially if:

• Protected View is enabled for internet-sourced files
• The file has embedded SharePoint or Microsoft 365 permissions
• Group policies or enterprise security rules are enforced by your IT team (e.g. via Intune, Azure AD, or Microsoft Defender)

✅ Before You Change Anything

Please make sure the document you’re trying to open:

• Was uploaded by someone you trust
• Comes from a safe internal source

The steps below should only be used if you’re confident the file is safe.

🛠 How to Resolve It

1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings

In the Trust Center, review:

Protected View

• Consider unticking:
  • “Enable Protected View for files originating from the internet”
  • “Enable Protected View for files located in potentially unsafe locations”
    (Only if approved by your IT provider)

File Block Settings

• Ensure modern file formats like .docx are allowed for both opening and editing

Trusted Locations (Optional)

• You may add Law App’s document path as a trusted location
• Tick “Subfolders are also trusted” to apply it broadly

These options may be controlled by your IT team or organisation’s security policy.

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Additional Note on SharePoint Security

Some documents — especially those previously saved in SharePoint, OneDrive, or Teams — may carry embedded permissions that restrict editing. These are set inside the file and cannot be removed by Law App.

If you encounter this:

• Save a local copy of the document, then re-upload it to Law App
• Or, contact your IT team to help strip or reset document permissions

Final Note

This type of restriction is a result of how Microsoft Office handles trusted sources and embedded document security. Law App presents documents securely, but Word ultimately decides whether editing is allowed based on its trust settings.

Once trust is established, documents should open and edit without issue.

If a document contains embedded SharePoint security, even if visible, it may block editing. Law App cannot override these. Your IT team may need to assist.