Locking my document so no one can edit it after

Hi @Sherwood, Tanya

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

In Microsoft Teams, your files actually live in SharePoint, which gives you a few reliable ways to “freeze” a finished assignment so teammates can’t keep editing it. After researching, here are some solutions that may be helpful to you:

Option A: Lock a single finished file

1. In Teams, open the Files tab where the assignment lives → Open in SharePoint.
2. Select the file → … (More) → Manage access.
3. Under Direct access, change the Team Members group from Can edit to Can view (or remove it entirely, leaving only Owners).
4. Optional: select Stop sharing to remove all ad‑hoc sharing links in one click

Why this works: SharePoint permissions drive file behavior in Teams. Changing Members to View makes the file read‑only for the whole team (except Owners), and “Stop sharing” cleans up any lingering edit links.

Option B: A no‑mistakes, repeatable process

If people sometimes forget to copy, the safest design is to separate “Working” from “Final” and automate the handoff.

Create two libraries in your Team’s site

• Assignments – Working: Team Members = Edit (where people collaborate).
• Assignments – Archive: Team Members = Read (where finished files go).

Moving files within the same site preserves history and metadata in modern SharePoint, so you keep your audit trail intact.

Option C: Check out file temporary 

If you want to make changes to a file on a SharePoint site and want to make sure no one else can edit it, check out the file. When you have the file checked out, you can edit it online or offline, and save it—multiple times, if necessary.

Some libraries are set up to require checkout of files. If checkout is required, you will be prompted to check out any files that you want to edit. When you are finished with the file, you need to check it back in or discard the checkout.

If checkout isn't required in the library, you don't need to check it out as long as you don't mind letting other people edit at the same time as you.

Reference link  Check out, check in, or discard changes to files in a SharePoint library - Microsoft Support

You can apply these steps for Teams as following steps:

Open Channel in Teams, then select Files, click 3 dots --> Check out buttonThank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

In Microsoft Teams, your files actually live in SharePoint, which gives you a few reliable ways to “freeze” a finished assignment so teammates can’t keep editing it. After researching, here are some solutions that may be helpful to you:

Option A: Lock a single finished file

1. In Teams, open the Files tab where the assignment lives → Open in SharePoint.
2. Select the file → … (More) → Manage access.
3. Under Direct access, change the Team Members group from Can edit to Can view (or remove it entirely, leaving only Owners).
4. Optional: select Stop sharing to remove all ad‑hoc sharing links in one click

Why this works: SharePoint permissions drive file behavior in Teams. Changing Members to View makes the file read‑only for the whole team (except Owners), and “Stop sharing” cleans up any lingering edit links.

Option B: A no‑mistakes, repeatable process

If people sometimes forget to copy, the safest design is to separate “Working” from “Final” and automate the handoff.

Create two libraries in your Team’s site

• Assignments – Working: Team Members = Edit (where people collaborate).
• Assignments – Archive: Team Members = Read (where finished files go).

Moving files within the same site preserves history and metadata in modern SharePoint, so you keep your audit trail intact.

Option C: Check out file temporary 

If you want to make changes to a file on a SharePoint site and want to make sure no one else can edit it, check out the file. When you have the file checked out, you can edit it online or offline, and save it—multiple times, if necessary.

Some libraries are set up to require checkout of files. If checkout is required, you will be prompted to check out any files that you want to edit. When you are finished with the file, you need to check it back in or discard the checkout.

If checkout isn't required in the library, you don't need to check it out as long as you don't mind letting other people edit at the same time as you.

Reference link  Check out, check in, or discard changes to files in a SharePoint library - Microsoft Support

You can apply these steps for Teams as following steps:

• Open Channel in Teams, then select Files, click 3 dots --> Check out button

I hope information above helpful, if you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out

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