How to fix “User does not have access privileges”

Question

My Microsoft word documents won’t open and they keep saying word cannot open the document, user does not have access privileges

Answer 1

Dear emma riley

Welcome, and thank you for posting your issue in the Q&A forum. Based on the details you shared, the error message “Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges” on Mac is often linked to Finder permissions or temporary issues with Office.

To assist you better, could you please confirm:

• Are you experiencing this issue with multiple files or just one specific file?
• Could you provide a screenshot of the error message when you attempt to open the file?

If you prefer not to share this information publicly, please reply privately, I will follow up with a secure message to collect the necessary details. Your cooperation will help us provide the most accurate and effective solution.

In the meantime, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

Check file permissions

• Right-click the file >> Get Info >> check Sharing & Permissions.
• Make sure your account has Read & Write access.

Unlock the file if it’s locked

• In the Get Info window, uncheck Locked.

Change ownership if needed

• If you’re not the owner, click the lock icon >> enter your admin password >> adjust permissions.

 

Copy the file to another location: Move the file to your Desktop or a personal folder.

Use the “Open and Repair” feature

• In Word for Mac: File >> Open >> select the file>> click the arrow next to Open >> choose Repair.

I hope this helps clarify your situation If anything’s unclear or you need help with the next step, feel free to reach out.  I'm here to help and support you through this process. 

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