I can not access Word documents saved on my Macbook Pro.

Question

I can not access Word documents saved on my Macbook Pro.

This just started happening today. Every time I try to access a Word document from my laptop, it tells me the Microsoft Word needs access to the file. It prompts me to select the document and grant access. I do that, then it tells me: user does not have access privileges. Same thing happens when I try to access a document in a Dropbox folder that I own. I can access the Dropbox documents on my iPad, just not from my MacBook Pro. And I can access spreadsheets, pdfs and other format documents without a problem.

How do I give myself access to my files again?

MacBook

Posted on May 2, 2019 5:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 2, 2019 9:00 PM in response to lindafromgolden

Before you proceed have a current backup plan in the event you have to fall back and restore your user account /data.

Preferable 3 different backup, 2 different methods to ensure your ability to Restore.

Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder

3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.

Boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

Use DiskUtility Restore feature https://support.apple.com/guide/disk-utility/restore-a-disk-dskutl14062/mac

Reply

Answer 2

May 4, 2019 7:02 PM in response to lindafromgolden

lindafromgolden wrote:

Thanks. I followed the instructions to change my permissions for all my documents. I had tried that earlier but didn't complete all the necessary steps, so the step-by-step instructions in the link helped there. At the link it also told me to run a disk program, which I tried, but cancelled after it ran for several hours without completing. But when I restarted my laptop, all was well again. Sooo glad I didn't have to recover and reload everything. And, as a bonus, I found first one and then another useless spammy apps that had lodged in my Applications directory, so I got rid of those too before they started getting pushy.

So, a good outcome all around. Thanks for the help.

Good computing lindafromgolden !

Reply

Answer 3

May 4, 2019 6:25 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks. I followed the instructions to change my permissions for all my documents. I had tried that earlier but didn't complete all the necessary steps, so the step-by-step instructions in the link helped there. At the link it also told me to run a disk program, which I tried, but cancelled after it ran for several hours without completing. But when I restarted my laptop, all was well again. Sooo glad I didn't have to recover and reload everything. And, as a bonus, I found first one and then another useless spammy apps that had lodged in my Applications directory, so I got rid of those too before they started getting pushy.

So, a good outcome all around. Thanks for the help.

Reply

I can not access Word documents saved on my Macbook Pro.

Similar questions