How to Fix File Locking and Co-Authoring Issues in Office LTSC 2021 Excel
Question details
Users are unable to simultaneously edit an Excel workbook on SharePoint with personal sheet views, as the file becomes locked.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel (Office LTSC 2021)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Multiple users attempting to co-author a SharePoint-hosted workbook while maintaining individual filter and column settings.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel file becomes locked for editing when opened, preventing simultaneous multi-user collaboration and personal sheet views.
Verify the exact version of Office deployed across your team, as feature availability for co-authoring and Sheet Views varies significantly between perpetual licenses like LTSC and subscription versions.
Upgrade to Microsoft 365 for Full Co-Authoring Support
Microsoft 365 subscriptions include built-in support for advanced co-authoring and Personal Sheet Views on SharePoint.
Office LTSC 2021 is a perpetual release designed for offline, locked-in-time environments and lacks continuous cloud collaboration updates. To utilize Personal Sheet Views and seamless simultaneous editing without locking the file, upgrading to a Microsoft 365 subscription is required.
Contact your IT administrator to discuss upgrading user licenses from Office LTSC 2021 to Microsoft 365.
Once upgraded, save the Excel workbook to SharePoint or OneDrive for Business.
Open the workbook in the Excel desktop app or Excel for the Web and navigate to the 'View' tab on the ribbon.
Click 'Sheet View' and select 'New' to create a personal view that will not disrupt other co-authors' filters.
Collaborate Using Excel for the Web
If you cannot upgrade from LTSC 2021, use the web browser version of Excel to enable basic simultaneous editing.
Migrate Data to a Database or Dedicated Tool
For complex, multi-user filtering needs, an Excel workbook may not be the optimal platform.
Switch to WPS Office for Seamless Collaboration
If Office LTSC 2021 is causing collaboration bottlenecks, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative. With integrated cloud features, you can share and collaborate on spreadsheets easily without expensive subscriptions.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open existing files: Open your existing .xlsx files directly in WPS Spreadsheet; no conversion is needed.
- 3. Upload to WPS Cloud: Upload your file to WPS Cloud to easily share an editing link with your team.
- 4. Start collaborating: Start collaborating seamlessly without worrying about restrictive local file locks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Office LTSC 2021 support Personal Sheet Views?
No, Personal Sheet Views are a cloud-centric feature available in Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Office LTSC 2021 does not fully support this feature in the desktop application.
Why does my Excel file get locked on SharePoint?
A file gets locked when it is opened by a user in a desktop version of Excel that does not support modern co-authoring, or if a feature incompatible with co-authoring is currently active.
Can multiple people edit an Excel file on SharePoint at the same time?
Yes, simultaneous editing (co-authoring) is possible if all users open the file in Excel for the Web, or if all users are using the Microsoft 365 version of the Excel desktop app.
What is the difference between Office LTSC and Microsoft 365 for collaboration?
Office LTSC is a one-time purchase with locked-in features suitable for offline environments, while Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that receives continuous updates for advanced cloud collaboration.
