How To Lock a Document in Microsoft Teams? There are two ways to lock files in Microsoft Teams. The first option is to lock a file using SharePoint, or to check out the file.

For Check Out, locate the file you want to check out and click more. In the list of options, you will find an option to check out the file.

When using SharePoint, open your files and hover over the more button.

When you have clicked on the Open in SharePoint button, you will be able to lock your file on the SharePoint website.

When working with Microsoft Teams, you can have access to your files by other members within the organization in the case of an organization.

Your files are sensitive and the multiple ways that they are protected ensures their safety and privacy.

There are times when you may wish to lock a document in Microsoft Teams so that other members can’t read or write them without your permission.

Locking files ensures that others can’t read or write unauthorized files, depending on their permissions.

As a first step, let us examine why locking documents is so important. Following that, we will examine two ways to lock files and conclude with frequently asked questions about locking files in Microsoft Teams. So let’s get started!

Why Lock Documents in Microsoft Teams?

When you upload your documents to Microsoft Teams, any user or group of users will have access to them, be able to view them, and even edit them if the document is not locked.

This makes Microsoft Teams a great place to work and connect with all the members of your team.

While accessing files for other users is great if you are working on the same project, you may not always want all of your files to be accessible to other users as you work on the project.

It could be that you are working on a confidential project or have sensitive files that you do not want others to access, so locking your files can be quite useful in that case.

The simplicity of using Teams gets even better when you consider that you can lock files so that others cannot access them.

Additionally, you can choose whether to make your documents inaccessible to other users or restrict permissions, such as the ability to edit or share them.

How To Lock a Document in Microsoft Teams

As a user of Microsoft Teams, you are able to edit files owned by others, especially when working on a project with others.

However, if others edit your file, it can make it messy and cause problems. However, you get a better way to control your files if you lock your files and give specific users access permissions.

Here are two ways in which you can lock documents within Microsoft Teams that are both effective.

Check Out Files

It is a great idea to use Check Out when you do not want others in the room editing your file.

Check Out removes the edit permissions from all users; only the file owner is allowed to edit the file, and the other users are only permitted to view it.

In this article, you will find out how to check out a document in Microsoft Teams in order to lock it.

  1. Access your Teams channel in Microsoft Teams.
  2. Navigate to the “Files” tab.
  3. Once all files have been displayed, click the “More” button to the right of the file you wish to lock.
  4. On the next page, click the “More” button.
  5. Click “Check Out” to complete the checkout process.

There is now a lock on your Microsoft Teams document; only you can edit it.

How do I make a team document read only?

Adding read-only permissions to a team document depends on the platform or software you are using. #How do I make a team document read only

Below are some general instructions on how to make a team document read-only on many of the most commonly used platforms:

How To Lock a Document in Microsoft Teams
How To Lock a Document in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams:

  1. Open the Teams channel where the document is located.
  2. Make a read-only copy of the file you wish to protect.
  3. To open a file, click the three dots (…) next to its name.
  4. To manage permissions, click on “Manage permissions.”
  5. Permissions should be changed to “View Only.”
  6. Save the changes by clicking “Apply” or “Save”.

Google Workspace:

  1. You will need to open the Google Drive folder that contains the document.
  2. Choose the file you want to make read-only from the right-click menu.
  3. “Share” will appear.
  4. Click on “Advanced” under “Share with people and groups.”
  5. Next to the permission level, click “Change” in the “Advanced” section.
  6. The permission level should be set to “View Only.”
  7. The changes will be saved when you click on “Save changes”.

Slack:

  1. Open the Slack channel containing the document.
  2. To make a file read-only, click on it.
  3. You can access the gear icon at the top right of the file preview by clicking on it.
  4. Drop down the menu and select “Permissions”.
  5. “Read Only” should be the permission level.
  6. The changes will be saved when you click on “Save changes”.

If you encounter any issues, contact the platform’s support team or refer to their documentation. #How do I make a team document read only

These are general instructions, but the exact steps may vary according to the platform you use. #How do I make a team document read only

How To Lock Documents in Teams Using SharePoint

As an alternative to locking all your files individually, you might consider creating a folder in SharePoint, adding all your files to it, and then locking the folder.

The SharePoint platform allows you to define your access criteria and who can view, share, or edit the locked files for your folder and its contents.

By doing so, you can manage the permissions for your folder and its contents conveniently.

The following steps will guide you through the process of locking your documents using SharePoint.

  1. Access your Teams channel in Microsoft Teams.
  2. At the top, click “Files.”.
  3. Then hover your mouse over the file and click the three dots.
  4. A menu will appear with the option “Open in SharePoint”.
  5. A redirect will take you to the SharePoint website.
  6. New folders can be created by clicking the “New” button.
  7. Tap the three dots on the right of the newly created folder.
  8. Choose “Manage access” from the menu.
  9. Tap the right-hand drop-down menu to set access levels for each listed user.

Now that your documents are locked in Microsoft Teams, you can no longer access them.

Conclusion

The steps we’ve presented in this guide have covered the steps you need to take for locking documents in Microsoft Teams.

Using the steps presented in this guide, you’ll now be able to lock your documents using Check Out or SharePoint.