Lỗi is locked for editing by another user năm 2024

This is an expected behavior and before you can edit the document, the other user first needs to release it/check it in.

In some situations, this can however occur when the “other user” is you. It could be because you have the document open for editing in another application. If so, close this application and try again.

This can however happen even if you don’t have the document open in another application. It normally happens when you close a document and the Office application does not release the information that the document is open for editing. SharePoint will sooner or later release this lock, so if you have patience, just wait for a few minutes.

Solution/workaround, when the other user is you

If this happens often, for a specific user, there could be some issues with the user’s Office application. Some things that can be tested, to force the file’s lock to be released are:

• Logout from MetaShare/SharePoint and login again.
• Open the document in the Online app and rename the file from there.
• Check if “Upload Center” has locked this document. If so, you can unlock it from there.
• Try to delete it and if it gets deleted, then restore it back from the recycle bin.
• Check if there are any documents without a checked in version (this required you to log into the site with administrative permissions).
  • Go to: Library settings > Manage files which have no checked in version

Expected fix

This is a known SharePoint issue and there are many articles about this issue, e.g. this one: . We hope Microsoft will release a fix for it soon.

If you use Excel for collaboration, you have likely come across the following error message, “The document is locked for editing by another user” error message. This means that your Excel file has been locked for editing by another user, and it could take you a considerable amount of time to figure out how to unlock it. However, what if the Excel file has been locked for editing by me?

In this post, you’ll first understand the different reasons why Excel is prompting this error message. You’ll then learn different methods on how to unlock an Excel file locked for editing by another user or yourself.

Why Is “Excel File Locked for Editing by Me”?

If you have received the message “The document is locked for editing by another user” when attempting to edit an Excel file, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

• The Excel file is password-protected.
• Microsoft Excel didn’t close properly, and the owner file wasn’t erased.
• The Excel file is shared on a network and is being used by another user.
• The Excel file is open on a different device.
• The Excel file has been opened on a device or system that doesn’t support the Microsoft 365 version of Excel or Excel for the web.

In all the above scenarios, the file may have been locked for editing by another user or yourself. Let’s see how you can unlock the Excel file depending on the error source.

How to Unlock an “Excel File Locked for Editing by Me”?

Regardless of the user responsible for locking the file, the methods illustrated below will help you unlock the file quickly and efficiently.

How to Unlock an Excel File That Is Password-Protected?

In case your Excel has locked you from moving, deleting, or adding sheets to the file, this is what you need to do to unlock it.

1. 1. Open the Excel file that you’d like to remove the password from and go to Review > Protect Workbook.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Review tab

1. 2. Type in the Password to “Unprotect Workbook”. Click “OK”.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Type Password

Please note that this method applies to Excel files that are protected from structural changes and in case you know the password. If you don’t know the password, read our blog article on How to Remove a Password from Excel? (Multiple Methods) which applied to various situations.

Let’s now see how to unlock an Excel file locked for editing by another user but does not seem to be open. Since you won’t be able to close it using the traditional method, this is how to close an Excel file that is locked for editing “by me” using the Task Manager.

How to Unlock an Excel File That Didn’t Close Properly?

This is what you need to do in case the file didn’t close properly.

1. 1. Make sure to save your work and then close all open programs and applications. Then, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open Windows Security.
2. 2. Select “Task Manager” and then the “Processes” tab.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Task Manager

1. 3. Click on the Excel application and then “End Task”.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - End Process

So far, you’ve learned to unlock an Excel file in case you’ve saved the file to your desktop or uploaded it to a cloud environment. Let’s see how to unlock an Excel file that is locked for editing online.

How to Unlock an Excel File That Is Shared on a Network?

This method applies to the three remaining scenarios mentioned at the very beginning of this article. If your Excel file is locked for editing by another user or yourself in Sharepoint or OneDrive, you’ll first need to make sure that you’re working on the Microsoft Excel version which supports co-authoring.

1. 1. Launch Excel and click on the “File” tab.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - File tab

1. 2. Then, select “Account” to check the information on the version.

“Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Account info

If your version corresponds to Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows or Mac, Excel for Microsoft, Excel for the web, Excel for Android, Excel for iOS, or Excel Mobile, then you should be able to use the co-authoring feature. Note that it takes only one user to have a different version to prompt the error message to the rest. In this case, Microsoft encourages everyone to use Excel Online.

You’ve seen the different ways to unlock your Excel file that’s locked for editing by another user or yourself. But what if you want to lock the file back?

How to Lock Cells in Excel? (Cells, Sheets & Formulas)

Cells in Excel spreadsheets can be locked to prevent accidental edits. Here's how to lock specific cells, worksheets and formulas in Excel

READ MOREREAD MORE

How to Lock an Excel File for Editing?

There are many reasons why you might want to lock your Excel file for editing. This is commonly known as protecting your sheet instead of the workbook. By protecting the sheet, you are locking the cells contained within, and you’ll need to add a password to then unlock it.

1. 1. Open your Excel file and go to Review > Protect Sheet.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Protect Sheet

1. 2. Select the editing feature to restrict other users by ticking the boxes.

“Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - Protect Sheet

1. 3. Type in the password to protect the sheet. In case you want specific users to edit, you simply need to share this password with them. Once you finish, click “OK”.

"Excel File Locked for Editing by Me” Error & Solutions - OK

If you only want to lock specific Excel cells, then make the selection of the cells before selecting “Protect Sheet”. Read our guide on How to Unlock Cells in Excel to reverse this process.

Conclusion

Figuring out how to unlock an Excel file that has been locked for editing by another user or yourself can considerably slow down the efficiency of your team. Understanding the source of this issue can save you a lot of time and effort.

You know how to unlock an Excel file that was locked for editing based on different scenarios. However, the best solution to avoid any of these scenarios altogether is to use an Excel version that allows for co-authoring among multiple users.

If you want to learn more about collaborating on Excel, why not read our guide on How to Share an Excel File for Multiple Users.

Hady is Content Lead at Layer.

Hady has a passion for tech, marketing, and spreadsheets. Besides his Computer Science degree, he has vast experience in developing, launching, and scaling content marketing processes at SaaS startups.

Why is my Excel file locked for editing by another user?

If you have received the message “The document is locked for editing by another user” when attempting to edit an Excel file, it could be due to one of the following reasons: The Excel file is password-protected. Microsoft Excel didn’t close properly, and the owner file wasn’t erased.

What if a file is locked?

The source or destination file may be in use. The file is in use by another program or user. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use. Unlocker is the solution! If the folder or file is locked, a window listing of lockers will appear Simply click Unlock All and you are done!

What if I am not in a hurry to edit a file?

If you are not in a hurry, you can wait for the user on the other side to finish editing. Once the other person has finished editing and closed the file, you can access it without facing the error. You can disconnect another user that is currently editing the file.