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.

When you finish editing and check the file back into the library, other people can see your changes and edit the file, if they have permission. And, if you decide not to make or keep any changes in the file, you can simply discard your check out, so you don’t affect version history.

Tip: If you want to edit an Office document at the same time as other people (also called co-authoring), don’t check out the document. Just open it and edit it. We recommend turning on versioning for the library first, though, just in case someone makes a mistake later and you need to restore an earlier version of the document. For more info about co-authoring, see Document collaboration and co-authoring.

When you want to check out and edit a document, whether it's working online, or downloading, do it in the following sequence:

Check out the document

Open the document in a supported app, or download it

Edit the document

Save the document, or upload it

Check in the document

Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.