Who can edit an Office document

Who can edit, comment, review or only view a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file in Drime, and why a share link never gives edit rights on an Office file.

Updated October 21, 2026Web

To edit a Word, Excel or PowerPoint file in Drime, you need edit rights on it. Without them, the document opens read-only, but you can still comment.

#What each person can do

Who	Open and read	Comment	Track changes	Edit	Download, print, copy
The owner	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
A person invited with Can edit, or a workspace member whose role can edit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
A person invited with Can Download	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
A person invited with Can view	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
A visitor through a share link	Yes	Yes	No	No	If the link allows downloads

#Share links never allow editing

A share link (Get link) never gives edit rights on an Office file. Its panel always reads Anyone with this link can view. Visitors can read the document, comment, and download it if the link allows downloads.

To let someone edit, invite them by email with Can edit: see Share a file or folder with people.

Link settings of a demo Office document: Send & Track, Link expiration and Password protect, with no option to let link visitors edit

The share dialog of a demo Word document with a demo member invited with Can edit

#In a workspace

Members of a workspace edit its Office files when their role allows editing files. See Workspace roles and permissions.

#Backup files

Files in your backups always open read-only, whoever opens them.

#If it doesn't work

What you see	What to do
The document opens but you cannot change anything	You do not have edit rights. Ask the owner to invite you with Can edit.
Someone with the link cannot edit	That is expected: links are view-only for Office files. Invite the person with Can edit.
A backup file cannot be edited	Backup files are read-only. Download it, or restore it from your backups, to work on a copy.

#Next steps

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