Sharepoint Library "Require Check Out" feature and OneDrive "Sync" are not compatible?

Question

Hello everyone,

I have noticed a weird behavior when I enable the "Require Check Out" feature under a Sharepoint library.

Situation A: "Require Check Out" feature enabled and the library is NOT "synced" with OneDrive

• Check out on the web works fine and I am able to edit the files in the library save them and check in (all within the web interface)
• I am able to open the files "in app" and the desktop application (word, excel...) would load and I will be able to see the the "Check out button" in the yellow bar or under "File - Info"

• I can check out, edit and save the document. Finally, check in works fine. This situation is behaving as expected.

Situation B: "Require Check Out" feature enabled and the library is "SYNCED" with OneDrive

• Check out on the web works fine and I am able to edit the files in the library save them and check in (all within the web interface)
• But, here I enabled the "Sync" feature under the library by clicking sync under the document library.
• This syncs the files and I have the accessible under my local computer;
• The files are synced as read-only, which I assume is okay because the library requires check out. (the files have this little lock icon under status)
• This issue in this situation is that if I open the files using "open in app" or if open them directly form my computer, I am no longer able to see the "Check out" button, neither as yellow bar nor under the "File - Info"
• Instead I am faced with the following:
  
• If I click "Edit Workbook" I get the following message:
  
• I can edit the document but cannot save it, which is normal because it was never checked out:
  

TL;DR Sharepoint's "Require Check out" is not fully compatible with OneDrive sync, if you have the library synced to a local folder, the files show up as read only, the check out button is not showing up at all.

I would appreciate any input or instructions on how to make these two features work simultaneously.

Thank you!

Regards,

Answer 1

Hi @Said A
Per my test, if we enable the feature of "require check out" in SharePoint, the files synced to OneDrive will all be locked:

The reason could be the following:
"When syncing libraries that require check out, or libraries with required columns or metadata, the files are synced as read-only. If you do make changes to these files, the changes will not be synced back to Office 365."

Here is a similar issue for you to refer to:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/onedrive-for-business/read-only-padlock-icon-files-ofdb-17-3-6743-1212/m-p/38428#M952

You could send feedback to Microsoft SharePoint Feedback so that this problem could be resolved one day.

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Answer 2

I found the solution.

It works if you don't sync the file with OneDrive.

You need to open the file from the website or File>Open>Websites - YourCompany.

But first stop syncing the folder!