Why is SharePoint giving a checked-out error for a document not yet uploaded?

Question

Why is SharePoint giving a checked-out error for a document not yet uploaded?

Sean Sailor 20

I am trying to upload a new excel document to a library on our SharePoint site. The document does not yet exist in the library, but SharePoint is showing an error that the file can't be uploaded because it is checked out to the person who created it. Again, the file is a new file and does not yet exist in the library. I've already asked her to make sure the document is closed on her computer but that did not resolve the issue. She can't "check it in" because it's not in the library yet.

Emily Du-MSFT 51,846 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-02-15T02:22:37.95+00:00

Thank you for your question.

We are currently looking into this issue and will give you an update as soon as possible.
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-15T02:30:36.8866667+00:00

Hey, Where has she created this document? Was is it Office 365 (SharePoint)?
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-15T14:19:28.5766667+00:00

The document was created on her desktop in Excel 2016. Offline.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-15T22:35:46.5966667+00:00

I may have found part of the problem. I added the word "Region" to the file name to make it different and uploaded it. SharePoint then automatically filled in the Title field of the document with a previous year document Title, even though the new document is named differently (see image below).

Now, if I try to change the name of the file from "2024 Tallahassee Region Business Development" back to "2024 Tallahassee Business Development", it says there is already a document in the library by that name, which there has never been (see below):

What could be causing this behavior? I previously tried clearing the browser cache and cookies, tried a different browser, and turned off the Require Check Out under versioning. I also waited 24 hours to see if it was a glitch that would clear, since that has resolved another issue in the past where SharePoint said a document was still checked out to someone, even though they had checked it back in (and it would not let them check it out/in again because it said they, the same user, had it checked out). I'd just really like to understand why this happens.
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-16T00:35:52.4266667+00:00

Could you try to check-in 2020 Tallahassee Business Development?
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-16T00:37:14.0833333+00:00

Just do be sure that you are owner.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-16T14:27:02.5766667+00:00

It's already checked in, so the Check In link is greyed out.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-16T21:57:11.13+00:00

The document was sent to me via email. I opened it, saved it to my own folder, and then tried to upload it, so there should not be any ownership issues.

1 answer

Your answer

Emily Du-MSFT 51,846 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2024-02-15T02:22:37.95+00:00

Thank you for your question.

We are currently looking into this issue and will give you an update as soon as possible.
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-15T02:30:36.8866667+00:00

Hey, Where has she created this document? Was is it Office 365 (SharePoint)?
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-15T14:19:28.5766667+00:00

The document was created on her desktop in Excel 2016. Offline.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-15T22:35:46.5966667+00:00

I may have found part of the problem. I added the word "Region" to the file name to make it different and uploaded it. SharePoint then automatically filled in the Title field of the document with a previous year document Title, even though the new document is named differently (see image below).

Now, if I try to change the name of the file from "2024 Tallahassee Region Business Development" back to "2024 Tallahassee Business Development", it says there is already a document in the library by that name, which there has never been (see below):

What could be causing this behavior? I previously tried clearing the browser cache and cookies, tried a different browser, and turned off the Require Check Out under versioning. I also waited 24 hours to see if it was a glitch that would clear, since that has resolved another issue in the past where SharePoint said a document was still checked out to someone, even though they had checked it back in (and it would not let them check it out/in again because it said they, the same user, had it checked out). I'd just really like to understand why this happens.
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-16T00:35:52.4266667+00:00

Could you try to check-in 2020 Tallahassee Business Development?
Sergii Bielskyi 75 Reputation points MVP

2024-02-16T00:37:14.0833333+00:00

Just do be sure that you are owner.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-16T14:27:02.5766667+00:00

It's already checked in, so the Check In link is greyed out.
Sean Sailor 20 Reputation points

2024-02-16T21:57:11.13+00:00

The document was sent to me via email. I opened it, saved it to my own folder, and then tried to upload it, so there should not be any ownership issues.

Answer 1

Whether this issue occurs in all document libraries?

Create another new file then try to upload it into the document library, compare the result.

Go to Library settings -> Versioning Settings -> Set Require Check Out to No, then upload files.

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Why is SharePoint giving a checked-out error for a document not yet uploaded?

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