macOS locked files unlocked by iPadOs

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macOS locked files unlocked by iPadOs

I am not running the current version (my version is High Sierra) of macOS for a particular reason. But I am running the current version on the iPad. The file in question is a Numbers file.

I want to lock a file in a subfolder of my documents folder which is on iCloud with the objective of forcing (more or less) the iPad user to make a copy to do anything with the file. But it is not happening. When I open the locked file again in macOS and make a change, a dialog appears with one option being to duplicate. See the following image.

Granted, there is an unlock option so this is far from bullet-proof. But the user must make a choice to proceed. They can be instructed to choose Duplicate. It's the honor system after that.

But when I open the same locked file with the iPad, there are no questions. The file is simply unlocked and the user has full control. I got no notifications that the file was unlocked. I was able to make changes and those changes were saved back to iCloud.

Is this a result of a mix of old versions and current versions of software?

Is there no way to get the macOS behavior to occur on the iPad with iCloud?

Or is unlocking the iCloud file without notification a design feature?

Tom C.

[Personal Information Edited by Moderator]

iPad Pro, iPadOS 16

Posted on Jan 26, 2023 7:37 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 29, 2023 12:08 PM in response to Tom Cloutier

Hello Tom Cloutier,

Just to confirm, it seems like you have a locked spreadsheet, and you want to prevent changes to it on all your devices, is that correct?

If so, please check out this link, which has information about locking a Numbers spreadsheet on Mac, which may help: Lock a Numbers spreadsheet on Mac

Locking a spreadsheet isn’t the same as protecting it with a password—anyone can unlock the spreadsheet.

See also

Password-protect a Numbers spreadsheet on Mac

For information on password-protecting a Numbers spreadsheet on iPad, please check out this link, which explains that process: Password-protect a Numbers spreadsheet on iPad

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Apple Support for assistance. You may be able to reach them here: Contact Apple Support

Thanks!

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Answer 2

Sheree_P

Community Specialist

Jan 29, 2023 2:19 PM in response to Tom Cloutier

Hey Tom Cloutier,

Since the information above didn't help, we recommend contacting Apple Support here: Get Support. They will be able to investigate this further.

Take care.

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Answer 3

Tom Cloutier Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 29, 2023 12:38 PM in response to Brittany1416

Not it.

In my version (High Sierra) of macOS, I can open a locked spreadsheet. If I try to make a change, a dialog appears with three options: Copy, Cancel, Unlock. It forces the user to make a choice before proceeding. It also gives the user an on-the-fly way to make a copy before proceeding. The presumption here is that if I see a file is locked in my macOS Documents folder, the iCloud file is locked also (assuming there are two separate files that iCloud keeps properly synchronized).

In iPadOS (most recent version) there is no such notification. The file is unlocked.

There is viewing mode which prevents changes to the original. But switching to editing mode does not produce a dialog at all if the file is locked. It just unlocks the file with no notification. There is no easy way to make a copy on-the-fly.

I was expecting a macOS-like behavior for locked files.

There are other workarounds to simulate the macOS experience ... but everything I have thought of is quite cumbersome.

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macOS locked files unlocked by iPadOs

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