Office for Mac: Fix File Permission Errors

Fixing Permission Errors in Microsoft Office for Mac

If you're using an older version of Microsoft 365 on a Mac, you may receive an error like:

"Word / Excel / PowerPoint cannot open the document: user does not have access privileges."
or
"Grant access to the file..."

Granting access alone will not resolve the issue. Follow the steps below to fix it.

⚠️ Important: Advanced Troubleshooting Required

The instructions below involve using Terminal and modifying system folders. This level of access is intended for experienced users or technicians. If you're unsure about these steps, contact the IT Service Desk for assistance before proceeding.

Required: Close All Programs

Make sure all Microsoft Office apps and any other open programs are fully closed before beginning.

Clear Office Font Caches and Permissions

  1. Open Terminal
    Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search. Type Terminal and press Enter.
  2. Run the Command
    In Terminal, type the following command and press Enter: 
    sudo atsutil databases -remove
    You may be prompted for your Mac password.
  3. Restart the Mac
    Once the command finishes, restart your Mac to complete the reset.

What this does:
This command clears out Office-related font caches and stored permission data that can interfere with file access.

Test: After restarting, open the previously affected file in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to confirm the error is resolved. If the error still appears, continue with the next section.

Remove Problem Containers from Library Folder

If the above steps don't solve the issue, follow these instructions to manually remove Office-related container files:

  1. Close all open programs again.
  2. Open Terminal and enter: 
    chflags nohidden ~/Library
  3. Open Library Folder
    From the desktop, click the Go menu in the menu bar, then click Library.
  4. Go to Containers Folder
    In the Library window, open the Containers folder.
  5. Delete Microsoft Office Folders
    Find and delete any folders ending in:
    com.microsoft.Word
    com.microsoft.Excel
    com.microsoft.Powerpoint
    com.microsoft.Office
    Only remove folders related to Microsoft Office.

Test: Relaunch Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint and attempt to open the affected file again. The error should no longer appear. If issues persist, proceed to contact support.

Additional Support

For further assistance with Microsoft Office for Mac, visit the Microsoft Support Page.

 

Print Article