Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Excel Workbook Permission and Information Rights Management Errors

Elise Williams Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to access an Excel workbook protected by Information Rights Management (IRM) despite ownership of the file and folder being transferred.

How to Fix Excel Workbook Permission and Information Rights Management Errors

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to open a restricted Excel workbook originally created by a former employee, resulting in an error that prevents adding an account or requesting permission.
Observed behavior: The workbook throws a permission error and blocks the user from opening the file, adding an account, or requesting access. The restrictions persist even after standard file ownership transfer.

Before you start

Verify your active Microsoft 365 account credentials and ensure you have downloaded a local copy of the restricted workbook to your computer.

Solution 1Recommended

Ask IT to Log In as the Original Owner

Since IRM is an enterprise-level protection system, the most reliable method is to have an administrator remove the restriction using the original creator's account.

Information Rights Management (IRM) embeds access restrictions directly into the file. Simple file or folder ownership transfers in Windows do not override these embedded permissions. If the original creator is a former employee, their account must be used to lift the restriction.

Contact your IT department

Reach out to your organization's IT administrator and request assistance with an IRM-restricted workbook.

Sign in with the creator's account

Ask the IT administrator to temporarily activate or sign in using the former employee's Microsoft 365 credentials.

Access the protection settings

With the original account active, open the workbook in the desktop version of Excel and click on File in the top-left corner, then select Info.

Remove the restriction

Click on Protect Workbook, select Restrict Access, and choose Unrestricted Access to completely remove the IRM protections. Save the file and share it with the team.

Fastest Workaround: If IT cannot immediately access the account, ask if they have global RMS administrative privileges, which can sometimes be used to forcefully decrypt the file via PowerShell.

Solution 2

Review Protection Settings Locally

If the file partially opens or you have limited access, you can attempt to review the current protection configuration to identify the required permissions.

Solution 3

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for RMS Migration Issues

If your organization recently changed its rights-management infrastructure, legacy files might become orphaned and require Microsoft's intervention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bypass Information Rights Management (IRM) if the owner left the company?

No, you cannot bypass IRM simply by changing file ownership. IRM is an enterprise-level security feature embedded into the file's encryption. Your IT administrator must log in with the original creator's credentials or use global admin rights to decrypt and remove the restriction.

What is the difference between IRM and standard Excel password protection?

Standard password protection simply requires a password to open or modify a file. IRM, however, restricts specific actions (like printing, copying, or forwarding) based on authenticated user accounts and enterprise policies, rather than a shared password.

Why am I getting a permission error after taking ownership of the folder?

Taking ownership of a folder or file in Windows only changes the local NTFS permissions of the operating system. It does not override the embedded IRM protections inside the Excel workbook, which are managed by a central Rights Management server.

How do I remove standard restrictions if I have the correct permissions?

If you are authorized, open the workbook in Excel, click on File > Info, select Protect Workbook, click on Restrict Access, and choose Unrestricted Access. Save the document to apply the changes.

Document & File Issues