# Android app: Editing a copy always required for every file

**URL:** <https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-editing-a-copy-always-required-for-every-file/2242>\
**Category:** Calc\
**Created:** [December 10, 2023, 10:35am UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-editing-a-copy-always-required-for-every-file/2242 "2023-12-10T10:35:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 7

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**Author:** ![darshan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.collaboraonline.com/darshan/32/2230_2.png) [@darshan](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/u/darshan)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:04am UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-editing-a-copy-always-required-for-every-file/2242/7 "2025-04-01T11:04:28Z")

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> [@Android app unable to edit document](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-unable-to-edit-document/3566/3):
>
> Thanks for prompt response. Github issue lodged [Android app cannot edit original copy of document · Issue #11492 · CollaboraOnline/online · GitHub](https://github.com/CollaboraOnline/online/issues/11492) I can only impress that this is a significant issue for your Android user base: Its an obvious limitation to using Collabora. I (almost) may as well as use LibreOffice Viewer, or maybe another, commercial provider. Its a gap in the Android ‘app ecosystem’ - its impossible to have trustworthy opensource office file editing on Android (without compl…

> <https://github.com/CollaboraOnline/online/issues/11492>
>
> \### Describe the Bug
> I have a .xls file on a cloud service (Mega), opened on an …Android device using Play Store’s latest version of Collabora. The file has been checked to make sure its a local offline copy.
> 
> I can open it, but the edit button launches a choice of a) cancelling the edit, or b) make a copy and edit that.
> 
> This is a nightmare for version management and makes the whole app somewhat pointless.
> 
> This is a serious flaw in the app.
> 
> \### Steps to Reproduce
> 1. open document from cloud storage folder (local copy - i.e. enable 'available while offline' in Mega preferences)
> 2. click edit button
> 3. be frustrated
> 
> \### Expected Behavior
> Edit should be enabled, probably as default.
> 
> If required, make 'read only' status enabled as an 'opt-in' option in preferences/config/whatever.
> 
> \### Actual Behavior
> I can open cloud-based document (even its local copy), but the edit button launches a choice of a) cancelling the edit, or b) make a copy and edit that.
> 
> \### Smartphone
> (Please complete the following information)
> - Pixel Tablet
> - GrapheneOS 2025032500 / Android 15
> - Collabora version 24.04.12.4
> - Vanadium browser 135.0.7049.38.0
> - Mega 15.4.1(250801539)(974aaa1fa3)
> 
> \### Additional Context
> Many others have noted this problem with other configurations. See:
> \- https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-unable-to-edit-document/3566/1
> \- https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/android-app-editing-a-copy-always-required-for-every-file/2242

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