SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Word Approvals Add-in Not Working with SharePoint Files

Ayan Masood Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users encounter an error where the Word Approvals add-in cannot locate files stored in a SharePoint document library, despite functioning correctly with files in OneDrive.

How to Fix Word Approvals Add-in Not Working with SharePoint Files

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to use the Word Approvals add-in to route and approve a document hosted within a SharePoint team environment.
Observed behavior: The add-in reports that it cannot find the file, restricting its approval routing functionality exclusively to files stored on personal OneDrive accounts.

Before you start

Verify that your document is fully synced to your SharePoint library and that you have full edit and sharing permissions for the file before troubleshooting the add-in.

Solution 1Recommended

Move or Sync the Document to OneDrive

Bypass the SharePoint compatibility limitation by temporarily relocating the file to your personal OneDrive, which is fully supported by the Approvals add-in.

Because the Word Approvals add-in has known limitations with SharePoint document libraries, the most reliable workaround is to process the approval from a OneDrive location.

Open SharePoint

Navigate to your SharePoint document library in your web browser and locate the document you need to approve.

Move the File

Click the three vertical dots (More options) next to the file name and select 'Move to' or 'Copy to' from the context menu.

Select OneDrive Destination

Choose 'My files' (which represents your OneDrive) as the destination and confirm the transfer.

Run Approvals

Open the file from your OneDrive folder and launch the Word Approvals add-in again. The add-in should now locate the file successfully.

Sharing Links: Moving a file from SharePoint to OneDrive will break any existing sharing links. You will need to share the file again from its new location.

Solution 2

Verify File Permissions and Sync Status

Ensure the issue isn't caused by a lack of proper permissions or synchronization delays between the desktop app and SharePoint.

Solution 3

Submit a Support Request to Microsoft

Since this is a documented limitation of the Word Approvals add-in, reporting the issue helps developers prioritize a patch for SharePoint integration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Word Approvals add-in officially support SharePoint?

Currently, the Word Approvals add-in frequently experiences compatibility issues with SharePoint document libraries. It is primarily built and optimized for files stored in personal OneDrive accounts.

Can changing SharePoint settings fix the Approvals add-in error?

In most cases, no. The error stems from a limitation within the add-in's code, which expects a specific OneDrive directory structure. Adjusting SharePoint permissions or library settings generally will not bypass this hardcoded limitation.

Are there alternative ways to manage approvals in SharePoint?

Yes. Instead of using the Word Approvals add-in, you can use Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) to create robust, automated approval workflows directly within your SharePoint document libraries.

Document & File Issues