Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word for Mac Documents Read-Only and OneDrive Save Errors

Camila Milosovich Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where Microsoft Word documents on their Mac are opening in read-only mode and failing to save or sync with OneDrive.

How to Fix Word for Mac Documents Read-Only and OneDrive Save Errors

Product: Word for Mac, OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Attempting to open, edit, and use the AutoSave feature for Word documents hosted on OneDrive.
Observed behavior: Documents open strictly as read-only, preventing edits from being saved directly. The connection to OneDrive fails, disabling AutoSave and file synchronization.

Before you start

Before proceeding, manually back up any unsaved work by using 'Save As' to store a copy locally on your Mac desktop, then close all running Office applications and the OneDrive sync client.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Office Credentials, Container Caches, and OneDrive

Use this comprehensive method to clear corrupted local identities and caches that are preventing Word from authenticating and syncing with OneDrive.

Read-only issues on Mac often stem from corrupted Microsoft login credentials stored in Keychain Access, or outdated application cache files. By thoroughly cleaning these hidden system containers and resetting the OneDrive client, you can force the suite to re-authenticate and restore proper AutoSave functionality.

Clear Office Application Containers

Open Finder, select Go > Go to Folder (or press Shift+Command+G), and type '~/Library/Containers'. Find the folders associated with Microsoft Word and other Office apps, and move them to the Trash.

Clear Office Group Containers

Navigate to '~/Library/Group Containers'. Locate the folders named 'UBF8T346G9.ms', 'UBF8T346G9.Office', and 'UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost'. Copy them to a safe backup location (like your Desktop), then move the originals to the Trash.

Remove Corrupted Keychain Credentials

Open Spotlight (Command+Space) and search for 'Keychain Access'. Go to View > Show Visible Items. Search for 'adal' and delete all 'MicrosoftOffice15_2_Data:ADAL' entries. Next, search for 'office' and delete both 'Microsoft Office Identities Cache 3' and 'Microsoft Office Identities Settings 3'.

Restart Mac and Reset OneDrive

Restart your Mac. Open the OneDrive app and follow the prompt to set it up again. Launch Microsoft Word, sign back into your Microsoft 365 account, and open a OneDrive-hosted document to verify that AutoSave is enabled and the read-only warning is gone.

Reset Office Credentials, Container Caches, and OneDrive

Important Backup Warning: The 'UBF8T346G9.Office' Group Container folder holds local Outlook profiles and email data. You must back this folder up before deleting it to avoid losing any local Outlook messages.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit and Save Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office for Mac

If you are tired of dealing with corrupted credentials, read-only locks, and complex synchronization errors in Microsoft Word, switch to WPS Office. It is a lightweight, reliable, and completely free alternative built to maximize productivity on your Mac.

1. Download the App: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer package, drag WPS Office to your Applications folder, and launch the suite.
3. Open Your Documents: Simply drag and drop your existing .docx files into WPS Office to immediately start editing and saving without read-only restrictions.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel, and PowerPoint formats.Lightweight installation that uses minimal Mac system resources.Built-in robust cloud syncing to prevent document locking and save failures.Familiar user interface requiring zero learning curve for Office users.Completely free to use for your essential document creation and editing tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Mac Word documents suddenly opening in read-only mode?

This usually occurs when your Office 365 login credentials expire, become corrupted in the Mac Keychain, or when OneDrive encounters a synchronization conflict that locks the file to prevent data loss.

Can I recover my work if Word is stuck in read-only on my Mac?

Yes. Before closing the application, immediately use the 'Save As' function (File > Save As) and choose a local directory on your Mac, such as your Desktop or Documents folder, to save a new editable copy of your recent work.

Will deleting the UBF8T346G9.Office folder remove my Outlook emails?

Yes, that specific Group Container folder stores your local Outlook profiles, offline emails, and contacts. Always copy this folder to a separate drive or your Desktop as a backup before moving it to the Trash.

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