SharePoint Document Issues

Can You Completely Disable SharePoint Check-In and Check-Out?

Rana Garcia Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if there is a way to completely remove or disable the check-in and check-out commands in SharePoint so that site members cannot access them.

Can SharePoint Check-In and Check-Out Be Disabled Completely?

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing a SharePoint document library where administrators want to prevent users from manually checking out files.
Observed behavior: Even when the library settings are configured to not require check-out, site members can still see and use the check-in and check-out commands in the interface.

Before you start

Verify that you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions for the SharePoint document library to access and modify the versioning and check-out settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Turn Off the Mandatory Check-Out Requirement

While SharePoint does not allow you to completely remove the check-in and check-out buttons from the interface, you can ensure that users are not forced to use them before editing documents.

SharePoint provides a built-in feature to make checking out files optional rather than mandatory. By default, the system retains the check-out commands in the ribbon and context menus for users who manually wish to lock a document. There is no out-of-the-box setting to hide these buttons from site members completely.

Navigate to Library Settings

Open your SharePoint document library. Click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner and select 'Library settings'. If prompted, click 'More library settings'.

Access Versioning Settings

Under the General Settings column on the Library Settings page, click on 'Versioning settings'.

Disable Required Check Out

Scroll down to the 'Require Check Out' section at the bottom of the page. Select 'No' under 'Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited?'.

Save Changes

Click the 'OK' button to apply the changes. Users can now edit documents without being forced to check them out, though the buttons will remain visible.

Turn Off the Mandatory Check-Out Requirement

Button Visibility: Because the check-out command is a core SharePoint feature, the buttons cannot be disabled or hidden natively, even when mandatory check-out is turned off.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft

Since hiding the check-in/check-out commands entirely is not a supported feature in SharePoint, you can submit feedback directly to Microsoft to request this functionality.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do site members still see the check-out command when it is not required?

SharePoint retains the check-out and check-in commands by design so that users have the option to manually lock a document while they work on it, preventing others from making simultaneous changes even if the library doesn't enforce it.

Can I use custom code to hide the check-out button in SharePoint Online?

In modern SharePoint Online environments, injecting custom CSS or JavaScript to hide native ribbon buttons is highly restricted and generally not supported or recommended by Microsoft, as updates can break custom scripts.

What happens if a user voluntarily checks out a document?

When a user manually checks out a document, it becomes locked for editing by that specific user. Other site members will only be able to view the last saved version in read-only mode until the document is checked back in.

How can an administrator override a checked-out document?

If a user forgets to check a document back in, an administrator with Full Control or Design permissions can go to the library settings and use the 'Discard Check Out' option to unlock the file for other users.

Document & File Issues