Why can't I edit the server file?

If a document, worksheet, or presentation is locked for editing and can't be opened, one of the following issues might be stopping you from getting to the file.

File is already being edited by someone

Someone else has the file checked out and is already editing it.

Another author has checked out the file

Other authors are locked out until the person checks it back in.

Word specific issues

Another author has checked out the file

If you open a file stored on a SharePoint site, more than one person can work on it at the same time. But if you check out the file before you open it, other authors are locked out of it until you check it back in.

If required check-out is turned on for the document library in which the file is stored, the co-authoring features aren't available.

Another author is using a different version of Word

If an author opens the document in a previous version of Word or in the Word Web App, the co-authoring functionality isn't available to authors who are using Word 2010 or Word 2013.

The server doesn't support the co-authoring functionality

The co-authoring functionality is available when a document is saved on a SharePoint Foundation site that supports Workspaces or on OneDrive.

It's also possible that your organization's policy administrator has disabled the co-authoring functionality on either the server or on your computer.

The version of Word doesn't support the co-authoring functionality

The new co-authoring functionality is available only in Word 2013, Word 2010, and Word for Mac 2011.

The file format isn't compatible with the co-authoring functionality

The co-authoring functionality can be used with .docx files, except for blog .docx files. The co-authoring functionality is not available for .doc files (the Microsoft Word 93-2007 format), .rtf files, or other formats.

Edit permissions have not been granted

If you do not have edit permission for the file, the co-authoring functionality is not available.

Other features that can't be used with the co-authoring functionality

The co-authoring functionality is not available if the document is marked as final or if it includes the following:

• Information Rights Management or Digital Rights Management

• Encryption

• ActiveX controls

The co-authoring functionality is not available if the document is a master document or a subdocument, or if the Store random numbers to improve Combine accuracy option is not selected.