Multiple users are allowed to open an Excel file (Office 365) in Edit mode even though it's already opened in Edit mode by 1st user

Question

We have an issue that has been occurring intermittently.

User A opens up an Excel File (Office 365) in Edit mode. User A makes edits on the Excel file throughout the whole time the file is opened.

When user A tries to save the file, the error message as below pops up:

User A then realises that User B (second user) has been able to open the same Excel file (in Edit mode) at the same time as when User A has the file open.

The issue is why doesn't Excel program prompt User B that the Excel file is already opened by User A and can only be opened in "Read Only" mode?

We have established that User A has the file open in Edit mode first, then User B opened it later

We are using Windows 2019 server as the file server - it's an internal network file share server.

We don't use co-authoring.

Any help or insight on this is much appreciated.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi, @YFb
Did you tick the option in the Review tab? This option will allow multiple users to open the Excel file at the same time.

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Answer 2

Hi Ceasar,

Thank you for your reply.

We don't use 'Share' workbook method and we don't use co-authoring.
The excel files are on a Windows 2019 Server and each user access the file individually on a local office network.

Thanks.

Answer 3

Hi，
After my research, Microsoft has no prompt in this regard. why doesn't Excel program prompt User B that the Excel file is already opened by User A and can only be opened in "Read Only" mode?
You can submit feedback at feedback

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Answer 4

Hi Ceasar,

You mentioned Microsoft has no prompt in this regard.
But, it should at least show a message as shown below if User A already has the file opened when User B tries to access it, right?

Answer 5

Hi Ceasar,

Thank you for your reply.

You mentioned that not all cases will have a prompt.

In which situation will it not prompt the users?

Thanks.