Permission & Access Issues

Fix Cannot Change Request Additional Permissions Email in Excel

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to modify or clear the email address designated for requesting additional permissions in an Excel workbook.

How to Fix Cannot Change Request Additional Permissions Email in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to update the permission request email address for a macro-enabled Excel file stored in a SharePoint library.
Observed behavior: The permission email field remains locked and unchanged in SharePoint, and the restriction persists even when a local copy is downloaded, overriding file owner actions.

Before you start

Verify that you have site owner or tenant administrator privileges in SharePoint, as adjusting Information Rights Management (IRM) settings requires elevated administrative permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Information Rights Management (IRM) Settings in SharePoint

When IRM is active, the permissions-request address is controlled by the SharePoint library policy rather than the individual Excel workbook.

SharePoint's Information Rights Management (IRM) applies strict policies to entire document libraries. If an Excel file is stored in an IRM-enabled library, its permission settings are inherited from the library configuration. Modifying the request email requires updating the library's IRM policy.

Access Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint site, open the document library where the Excel file is stored, and click the gear icon to access 'Library Settings'.

Open IRM Configurations

In the settings menu, locate and click on 'Information Rights Management Settings' under the Permissions and Management section.

Modify the Request Email

Review the current IRM policy details, locate the permission-request email address field, and update it to the desired address. Save your changes.

Update Information Rights Management (IRM) Settings in SharePoint

Administrative Rights Required: Only users with designated site owner or tenant administrator rights can access and modify Information Rights Management policies.

Solution 2

Copy the Excel File to an Unprotected SharePoint Library

If you cannot change the IRM policy, moving the file to a library without IRM protection will remove the server-level restriction.

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Try WPS Office for Simplified Spreadsheet Management

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your computer.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your .xlsx or macro-enabled .xlsm workbook directly.
3. Manage Permissions Locally: Navigate to the 'Review' tab to easily manage local workbook passwords and user editing permissions without complex server restrictions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the request permissions email stay the same even when I download the Excel file locally?

When an Excel file is protected by SharePoint's Information Rights Management (IRM), the security policy embeds the restrictions and metadata directly into the file's structure. This means local copies will retain the IRM email settings until the overarching policy is changed or the file is deliberately unprotected by an administrator.

Can a file owner bypass IRM settings in Excel?

No. Information Rights Management applied at the SharePoint document library level overrides individual file owner permissions. To modify the overarching IRM policy or change the request email address, you must have library administration rights.

Are macro-enabled Excel files (.xlsm) fully supported by Information Rights Management?

Yes, IRM can protect macro-enabled workbooks. However, certain VBA script executions might be restricted or blocked depending on the specific rights granted to the user opening the file under the IRM policy.

Document & File Issues