"We couldn't check out this file" error on trying to check out PowerPoint presentations on SharePoint Online

Question

When any user tries to check out any PowerPoint file stored within a document library through MS PowerPoint, they receive the error: "We couldn't check out this file. Click OK to open a read-only copy."

They are able to check out the file on SharePoint Online, however when they then try to edit it, PowerPoint will say "This file is checked out by their username"

I have tried clearing the document cache and also having the user sign out of office and sign back in.

This is SharePoint online, with the up to date version of M365 office. Of note, the site admin does not have this problem. It is also confirmed that the users have Full Control over the document Library. This is happening on all PC's.

Answer 1

Whether other types of files occur this issue? Whether all document libraries occur this issue?

Can users edit files when they open them in the browser?

Whether Office is not activated? And user office subscriptions are expired?

Please check following tips to troubleshoot this issue.

1.Go to Site Settings -> Site Collection Features > Deactivate "Limited-access user permission lockdown mode".

2.Go to SharePoint library settings, clicking on versioning settings and under "Require check-out" check and select No. And when Draft Item Security is set to Any user who can read items.

3.Try to sign out from Office applications -> Enter Credential Manager in Windows Search and click on it -> Windows Credentials -> Remove all the Office Credentials -> Restart your PC -> Open Office application and sign in with account -> Open the file in desktop application from SharePoint online document library to check the behavior.

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Answer 2

I spent several hours on this before my colleague noticed that checkout does not work with sync, as reported also in Sharepoint Library "Require Check Out" feature and OneDrive "Sync" are not compatible? - Microsoft Q&A

I think checkout is extremely useful, so it should be mandatory whereas sync should be turned off until their co-operation gets fixed.

Earlier, easier to find answers did not tell that

• Check-out from Excel, Word, PowerPoint - no option in Info tab - Microsoft Community (4k views)
• Check-in-check-out-bar-missing - answers.microsoft.com(15k views)
• Top-questions-about-check-out-check-in-and-versions - support.microsoft.com

Admin should mention the sync issue also from those places, since it is pretty stealthy.