Excel files read-only, cannot save on new MacBook

Question

chrisg1997 Author

Level 1

4 points

Excel files read-only, cannot save on new MacBook

Hello,

Problem

I am migrating from a 2015 macbook pro to a new 2025 macbook pro (macOS 26.0) and I am having problems with file permissions with microsoft excel. It seems to be a macbook permissions issue with my user account and not an excel applciation issue. All existing excel files open in "read-only" mode and I am not allowed to save new files in my Documents folder - Error "You do not have prermission to save files to this loaction"

Background

Setup new 2025 Macbook Pro running macOS 26.0 as a new computer.

Setup new user account with same name as old macbook account

Manually copied over Documents files from old Mac time machine backup to new Mac (not using migration assistant)

Installed Microsoft Excel via app store and signed into Microsoft365 account

Steps Taken

Gave application (Microsoft Excel) Full Disk Access via Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access
Ensured Mac user account had read & write permission to folder and file
Cleared application (Microsoft Excel) Cache and Preferences
Cleared Office License with license removal tool and unintalled/reinstalled application
Ran First Aid on Disk Utility to ensure no glitches

Inability to save documents appears to be user account related - I created a separate user profile on the macbook and I was able to save files to documents folder without getting the same error.

Opening of files as "read-only" appears to be driven by files I manually transferred over form previous Macbook - I copied file over to seperate user profile on macbook and it opened as read-only. I was however able to save copy as stated above.

Let me know if anyone has experienced similar issue and any additional insight would be helpful. Could this be the result of manually copying items from a Time Machine backup to the new computer?

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Dec 6, 2025 9:14 AM

Reply

Answer 1

chrisg1997 Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 6, 2025 2:43 PM in response to Barney-15E

I was able to fix the issue. I indeed had to use migration assistant and now am able to open to edit and save in Excel and other applications.

Prior to using Migration Assistant

I checked the info section of the file and folders and I had read/right not "custom" access
I was logged into the account/user profile where I stored them. I migrated to the same apple account and same username
I tried to open other files with adobe and had the same eror as read only and unable to save in documents folder file structure.

I would encourage others that do not want to have permission issues on transfers to use migration assistant.

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 6, 2025 2:59 PM in response to chrisg1997

chrisg1997 wrote:

I was able to fix the issue. I indeed had to use migration assistant and now am able to open to edit and save in Excel and other applications.

I would encourage others that do not want to have permission issues on transfers to use migration assistant.

Yes it has always been advocated—

The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. Set up your MacBook Pro - Apple Support

The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac: Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,054 points

Dec 6, 2025 1:18 PM in response to chrisg1997

When you Get Info on the folder or file and you see that you have read/write, is there a message above the list stating "you have custom access."

When you copied them, were you logged into the account where you stored them, or did you move them using a different account?

Do you have any other problem saving files into Documents with any other app?

Can you open the Excel files with Numbers? It will convert a copy of the file, so that might not provide any useful insight.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 6, 2025 9:34 AM in response to chrisg1997

chrisg1997 wrote:

Hello,

Problem

I am migrating from a 2015 macbook pro to a new 2025 macbook pro (macOS 26.0) and I am having problems with file permissions with microsoft excel.

Opening of files as "read-only" appears to be driven by files I manually transferred over form previous Macbook - I copied file over to seperate user profile on macbook and it opened as read-only. I was however able to save copy as stated above.

Let me know if anyone has experienced similar issue and any additional insight would be helpful. Could this be the result of manually copying items from a Time Machine backup to the new computer?

Is it a matter of updating your third party software...(?)

if in doubt search the developers website or contact their: Support/Help/FAQ/Known issues/compatibility/updates…

Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

Microsoft only supports the most recent three versions of macOS, the current Word app version is 16.101.1.

the recommendation would be to subscribe to MicroSoft365 or buy a new Office license.

Microsoft Corporation/Customer service

1 (800) 642-7676

Microsoft support

https://support.microsoft.com

Ask the Microsoft Community

https://answers.microsoft.com/

Update history for Office for Mac