Why can't I attach my word document from Ondrive to my email? It says Retry or Dismiss.

Question

I have created a doc in MSword, saved it into a folder in Onedrive and now I can;t attach it to an outgoing email on Outlook. It says " You don;t have appropiate permission to perform this operation" and yet this is how I always do this... pls help!

Answer 1

Hi Jayne Johnson,

Welcome to our forum!

Here are some steps you may take:

1. Check OneDrive Permissions

• Make sure the file isn't "Protected": Open the file in Word and check if it says "Protected View" at the top. If so, click "Enable Editing".
• Check sharing settings in OneDrive:
  • Right-click the file in OneDrive → Share → Ensure it’s set to "Anyone with the link can edit" (or at least "view" if you just need to attach it).
  • If it’s restricted (e.g., "Specific people"), Outlook may block the attachment.

1. Close & Reopen Outlook
   • Sometimes, Outlook caches permissions incorrectly. Restarting it may help.
2. Check Office & OneDrive Updates

Outdated software can cause glitches:

• Open Word/Outlook → File → Account → Update Options → Update Now.
• Check for OneDrive updates (right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar → Settings → About).

1. Try a Different Attachment Method
   • Upload to OneDrive and share via link:
   • Right-click the file in OneDrive → Share → Copy link → Paste into the email.
   • Save a copy locally:
   • Save the file to your Desktop or Documents folder (not OneDrive) and attach it.
2. Temporary Workaround: Use Web Versions

• Attach the file via Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com).
• Or upload to OneDrive and insert as a cloud attachment.

Hope it helps.

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