Grant Access issue with Microsoft Word and Excel

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Level 1

7 points

Grant Access issue with Microsoft Word and Excel

I am currently running Mojave, version 10.14.6, on my 2019 iMac at work. A few days ago, I updated my Office 365 suite to version 16.33. We were also required to install security software, specifically, Sophos. We also use Suitcase Fusion to manage our fonts. After restarting my computer after installing the updates, I suddenly get a Grant Access message when trying to open Word or Excel documents that I was previously able to open before.

In Word, a window pops up saying: "Additional permissions are required to access the following files: (abc.docx) Microsoft Word needs access to the file named abc.docx. Select this file to grant access." So I hit "Select." I then get the alert: "Word cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges."

In Excel, a window pops up wanting me to select the specific file to open (abc.xlsx) and then click the button "Grant Access." When I do, I then get the "Alert: Excel cannot open the file 'abc.xlsx' because the file format or file extension is not valid. Verify that the file has not been corrupted and that the file extension matches the format of the file."

I've tried a couple temporary solutions I've found online, but I need a permanent solution. I don't want to have to restart Word and Excel or my computer daily. Please help. This is very frustrating.

iMac 27", macOS 10.14

Posted on Jan 21, 2020 7:56 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

leroydouglas

Community+ 2024

Level 10

183,642 points

Jan 21, 2020 8:48 AM in response to jenerallee78

Give permission— for your application

>System Preferences>Security & Privacy>Privacy

Change Privacy preferences on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 3, 2020 8:18 AM in response to jenerallee78

Has anyone figured out a solution to this? Besides the 'grant access' issue with Word and Excel, I recently discovered a problem with Outlook. I've been able to send emails without attachments, but if I try to send one with an attachment, I get the following error message:

"Outlook can’t send or save this message with the attached file.

If you remove the attachment, you will be able to save the draft message. Then, you can restart Outlook and attach the file to the message again."

Well, saving a draft, restarting Outlook, and reattaching the file does NOT work. I get the same error again.

From all my research so far, the majority of people think it has to do with having a third-party font manager (in my case, Suitcase Fusion) and/or Apple's Sandbox. Like I mentioned in my original post, I didn't start having these issues until I updated Mohave to 10.14.6 and Office 365 to version 16.33. I feel like I've tried every suggestion out there, but nothing is working. Surely, I'm not the only person dealing with this problem. For the time being, I've been having to open up Excel documents in the Numbers app, Word documents in the TextEdit app, and using my work email through the web version of Outlook. Please somebody help! :-(

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Answer 3

Feb 3, 2020 8:21 AM in response to jenerallee78

You should start your own thread rather than posting in a thread about an unrelated issue. Starting your own thread will ensure focus on and visibility of your issue. It will also not detract from the issue being discussed in this thread.

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Answer 4

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 10, 2020 8:37 AM in response to Seciab

Unfortunately, no. I just know that these issues started for me with the latest update to Mohave (10.14.6) and Office 365 (16.33). I updated them both on the same day. For the time being, I've just been using the web versions of Office 365 (which I dislike) instead of opening files with the actual apps on my iMac. Seems like a lot of people are having this same issue. I feel like I've tried every suggestion out there so far. I will definitely update this post if and when I ever do figure it out. Good luck! And please share here if you figure it out first! :-)

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Answer 5

Seciab

Level 1

4 points

Feb 10, 2020 10:46 PM in response to jenerallee78

Hi. Good news.

I read on a forum somewhere that one should not run any Antivirus on a Mac as it has its own virus protection and the anti virus programs can actually cause a vulnerability. So I deleted the one anti virus i had running ( ComboCleaner). This didn't seem to automatically solve the issue.

The advice was that once you have deleted all antivirus software you should always run the latest version of the OS as these are updated with all the antivirus programs you require and or if you have the latest version then run any updates and reboot your PC and run any updates.

I downloaded MacOS High Sierra as I had an update pending and my computer rebooted and immediately the problem was gone ??? I have no idea if this is what fixed it but it worked for me.

Good Luck and let me know :-)

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Answer 6

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 17, 2020 9:23 AM in response to Seciab

Unfortunately, I don't think the anti-virus software is the issue. I did try uninstalling the anti-virus software, but was still getting the same Grant Access issue message. I did just update Office 365 the other day to 16.34, hoping that maybe the issue would be resolved, but sadly no.

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Answer 7

Jan 21, 2020 8:05 AM in response to jenerallee78

Uninstall Sophos. It is interfering with your computer's built-in protections. It is using system resources while providing no benefit.

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Answer 8

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 21, 2020 8:36 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

I uninstalled Sophos but I still got the same alerts, so I don't believe that's the issue.

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Answer 9

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jan 21, 2020 9:31 AM in response to leroydouglas

This didn't solve the issue.

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Jan 21, 2020 9:43 AM in response to jenerallee78

Try the forums run by the folks who make those apps:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word-mso_mac

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Answer 11

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,922 points

Feb 3, 2020 9:31 AM in response to jenerallee78

Re Outlook, if you have not done so already, also ask at

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_outlook-mso_mac

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Answer 12

Seciab

Level 1

4 points

Feb 10, 2020 3:50 AM in response to jenerallee78

Hi

Did you find a solution to this??? I am currently struggling with the same frustrating issue !

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Answer 13

jenerallee78 Author

Level 1

7 points

Feb 10, 2020 8:40 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

The original thread is mine. The Outlook issue is related to the original. The whole Office 365 suite is not playing nice with the latest update to Mohave.

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Grant Access issue with Microsoft Word and Excel

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