How to Disable the “This File Is Not Shared” Notification in Word
Question details
The user wants to permanently disable a persistent 'Not Shared' notification that appears when opening unshared documents.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and editing a locally saved, unshared document in Microsoft Word 2016.
- Observed behavior
- A 'This file is not shared with anyone else' message persistently appears on screen. Clicking 'Got it' only minimizes the notification, leaving a distracting box visible during work.
Before proceeding, check if you have any third-party cloud storage applications installed on your computer, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, as these are typically responsible for this notification.
Disable Cloud Storage COM Add-ins in Word
Turn off third-party COM add-ins, which are the most common cause of the persistent 'Not Shared' notification in Word.
This notification is usually generated by an installed cloud-storage or collaboration integration (like Google Drive) rather than by Word's native document-editing features.
Disabling the specific add-in will remove the on-screen prompt without affecting the actual files stored on your computer.
Launch Microsoft Word 2016, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Add-ins' in the left-hand sidebar.
At the bottom of the window, find the 'Manage' dropdown menu, select 'COM Add-ins', and click the 'Go...' button.
Uncheck the box next to any nonessential sharing, cloud, or storage add-ins (such as Google Drive or Google Drive Office plugin) and click 'OK'.
Adjust Settings in Your Cloud Storage Application
If you need to keep the integration active for other features, try disabling the specific notification from within the cloud application's own settings.
Experience Distraction-Free Document Editing with WPS Office
If persistent notifications and plugin issues in Microsoft Word disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, user-friendly interface that lets you focus entirely on your documents without unnecessary pop-ups or external add-in conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the installation file and open WPS Writer.
- 3. Open Your Document: Drag and drop your existing Word document into WPS Writer to continue editing smoothly and without interruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word keep saying 'This file is not shared'?
This message is typically not triggered by Word itself, but by an external cloud storage plugin (like the Google Drive desktop app) that attempts to manage the file's collaboration status.
Can I just click 'Got it' to remove the notification completely?
Clicking 'Got it' usually acknowledges the prompt but only minimizes it to a smaller badge or box that remains on your screen. To remove it entirely, you must disable the add-in responsible for the notification.
Will disabling the COM Add-in delete my documents?
No, disabling a COM Add-in in Word only turns off the integration features, such as sharing directly from the Word interface. Your files will remain safe in your local folders or cloud storage.
