Odyssey's security settings prevent downloading files or using copy/paste when you're working from a personal or unmanaged device. This guide walks you through how to get a file out of SharePoint, edit it, and put it back without running into those blocks.

Before You Start

You'll need access to these in your browser:

• The SharePoint site
• Outlook on the web (outlook.cloud.microsoft)

Step 1: Try Editing Directly in SharePoint First

This is the fastest option and skips all the steps below.

1. Go to your SharePoint document library and find your file.
2. Click the file name to open it in the browser.
3. If you can edit it directly in Word Online or Excel Online, do so. Changes save automatically back to SharePoint.

If editing in the browser is blocked or unavailable, continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Copy the File to Your OneDrive

The Outlook file picker can't browse directly to SharePoint, so you'll copy the file to your OneDrive first. This keeps everything in the Microsoft cloud — nothing downloads to your device.

1. In your SharePoint document library, check the box next to the file to select it.
2. In the toolbar that appears, click Copy to.
3. In the panel that opens on the right, select My files. This is your OneDrive. You can drop it at the root level or pick a specific folder.
4. Click Copy here.

The file is now in your OneDrive and ready to attach from Outlook.

Step 3: Send Yourself a Copy via Email

1. Open Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com) in a new browser tab.
2. Click New mail and address it to yourself (your work email).
3. Click the paperclip (Attach) icon.
4. Select OneDrive or Browse cloud locations.
5. Click Files in the left sidebar. You should see the file you just copied over.
6. Select the file. When prompted, choose Attach as a copy, not "Share as a link."
7. Send the email.

Step 4: Edit the File

1. Open the email you just sent yourself and open or download the attachment.
2. Edit the file using Word, Excel, or whichever app applies.
3. Save it when you're done and keep track of where it's saved.

Email attachments are usually not subject to the same block as SharePoint downloads. If yours is also blocked, contact your IT helpdesk for assistance.

Step 5: Get the Edited File Back into Your OneDrive

You need to get your edited file back into the Microsoft cloud before you can upload it to SharePoint.

1. In Outlook on the web, open the email you'll send yourself with the edited file attached, or compose a new email to yourself and attach the edited file from your device.
2. Once the email is in your inbox, right-click the attachment and select Save to OneDrive. This puts the edited file back into your OneDrive without going through SharePoint's restrictions.

Step 6: Upload the Edited File Back to SharePoint

1. Go back to your SharePoint document library.
2. Click Upload > Files.
3. In the file picker, select Browse cloud locations and navigate to your OneDrive to find the edited file.
4. Select it and click Open or Upload.
5. If a file with the same name already exists, choose Replace when prompted. SharePoint keeps a full version history, so the original won't be lost.