Synced Library Shows Read-Only Files: Root Cause and Fix

You open a synced SharePoint library in Windows File Explorer and see the padlock icon on some files. When you try to edit them, Windows says the files are read-only. This happens even though you have edit permissions in the SharePoint site itself. The cause is a conflict between the file’s local file system attributes and the sync metadata stored by OneDrive. This article explains why SharePoint synced files become read-only, how to fix the sync state, and what to do if the problem keeps coming back.

Why a Synced SharePoint Library Shows Files as Read-Only

When you sync a SharePoint document library to your Windows PC using OneDrive, the sync engine replicates the files and folders to a local folder under C:\Users\\SharePoint. Each file inherits two sets of permissions: the SharePoint permission level from the site and the NTFS file system attributes on your local drive. The read-only attribute in Windows does not match the SharePoint permission level. A file can be read-only on your local disk even if you have Full Control in the SharePoint library.

The most common root cause is a sync conflict or a metadata update that OneDrive did not apply correctly. For example, if a file was checked out in SharePoint, it might remain read-only on your local machine after check-in. Another scenario is when the file was originally set as read-only by a policy (such as a compliance label) and the sync engine cached that attribute. The OneDrive sync engine treats the local read-only flag as an override, so Windows Explorer shows the padlock icon and prevents editing.

A less common but still frequent cause is file ownership. If the file was created by another user and you do not have the “Edit” permission on the specific item (due to unique permissions or item-level security), the sync engine respects that restriction and marks the file as read-only locally. In this case, the fix is not local but requires a SharePoint permission change.

Steps to Fix Read-Only Files in a Synced SharePoint Library

Follow these steps in order. Start with the simplest fix and move to more advanced methods only if the problem persists.

Method 1: Clear the Read-Only Attribute in File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer and locate the affected file
   Navigate to the synced SharePoint library folder. The default path is C:\Users\[Your Username]\SharePoint. Look for the file with the padlock icon.
2. Right-click the file and select Properties
   The Properties dialog opens. On the General tab, look for the Attributes section at the bottom.
3. Uncheck the Read-only check box
   Clear the box next to Read-only. Click Apply and then OK. Windows removes the read-only attribute from the local copy.
4. Verify the fix in OneDrive sync status
   Open the OneDrive icon in the system tray. The file should now show a green check mark (synced). Try editing the file in the native application. If it still shows read-only, proceed to Method 2.

Method 2: Stop and Resume Sync for the Affected Library

1. Open OneDrive Settings
   Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray and select Settings. Go to the Account tab.
2. Choose which folders to sync
   Under the SharePoint library that contains the read-only files, click Choose folders. Uncheck the library or the specific folder that has the problem. Click OK. OneDrive stops syncing that content and removes the local folder.
3. Re-check the folder and resume sync
   Go back to Choose folders for the same site. Check the library or folder again. Click OK. OneDrive downloads a fresh copy of the files. The new copy should not have the read-only attribute.
4. Confirm the file is editable
   Open the file from the local folder. If the padlock icon is gone, the fix is complete. If the problem returns after a few minutes, move to Method 3.

Method 3: Reset the OneDrive Sync Connection

1. Open OneDrive Settings and unlink this PC
   Right-click the OneDrive icon, select Settings, and go to the Account tab. Click Unlink this PC. Confirm the action. This does not delete your files from the cloud.
2. Restart OneDrive
   Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and open Task Manager. Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list, right-click it, and select End task. Then launch OneDrive from the Start menu. Sign in again with your work or school account.
3. Re-sync the SharePoint library
   During the OneDrive setup, choose to sync the SharePoint library that had the read-only issue. OneDrive downloads all files again. This resets all local attributes to match the SharePoint metadata.
4. Test the file
   Open the file from File Explorer. The read-only attribute should be gone. If it persists, the issue is likely a SharePoint permission problem rather than a sync problem.

If SharePoint Still Has Issues After the Main Fix

OneDrive Shows “Read-Only” but I Have Edit Permissions

This scenario often means the file has unique permissions at the item level. Go to the SharePoint library in a browser. Select the file, click the ellipsis (…) and choose Manage access. Check the permission list. If your name is not there, click Advanced permissions settings and grant yourself Edit or Contribute access. After the permission change, run a manual sync by right-clicking the OneDrive icon and selecting Sync.

File Shows as Read-Only After Check-Out in SharePoint

When you check out a file in SharePoint, the sync engine marks the local copy as read-only for other users. If you are the user who checked out the file, you should be able to edit it. If you are not the user, ask the person who checked out the file to check it back in. After check-in, OneDrive automatically updates the local copy and removes the read-only attribute.

Synced Library Folder Shows a Red Circle with a White Cross

This icon means the sync is blocked or has an error. Open OneDrive Settings, go to the Network tab, and increase the download rate limit. Also check that the file path is not longer than 255 characters. If the path is too long, rename folders or files to shorten the path. Then right-click the OneDrive icon and select Resume syncing.

Local File vs SharePoint File: Read-Only Behavior Comparison

Item	Local Windows File	SharePoint File (in Browser)
Read-only attribute	Set by Windows file system (NTFS)	Set by SharePoint permission level or item-level security
Edit restriction	Blocked by Properties > Attributes	Blocked by permission settings or check-out status
Fix location	File Explorer Properties dialog	SharePoint Manage Access or Library Settings
Sync behavior	OneSync respects local read-only flag	OneSync writes the SharePoint permission state to the local file

You can now identify whether the read-only problem is a local file attribute issue or a SharePoint permission issue. Start by clearing the read-only check box in File Explorer. If that does not work, stop and resume sync for the library. For persistent cases, reset the OneDrive connection. If the file is still read-only after all these steps, check the item-level permissions in the SharePoint library itself. A quick tip: always check the OneDrive sync status icon before editing a file. A padlock icon means the file is read-only locally, while a red X means the sync is broken and needs repair.