Read Only Files

Hi Madelyn, 

Welcome to the Box Community, I'm happy to help!

A user's ability to read and write on a collaborated file in Box is actually determined by that user's collaborator permission on the shared content. If you have been granted a permission of an "Editor" this automatically grants you read and write or edit the document. On the hand, there are some permissions levels that can grant others with lesser permission, such 'read-only' access to those granted with "Previewer Uploader, Viewer, or Previewer".

To learn more about the different levels of collaborator permissions in Box, please take a look at this article: https://support.box.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044196413-Understanding-Collaborator-Permission-Levels 

Hope this helps! If you have other questions, please let me know and I will do my best to assist you

All the Best, 

Thank you! Can I change the permissions on a file where I as the owner would not be able to edit it?

Hi Madelyn, 

Unfortunately, we currently do not have a feature that would prevent an owner from being able to edit a content they own.

This permission is automatically granted to you being you are the owner of the content and there is no way to stop this.

If you have any product feature request or suggestions, we recommend you post your idea on pulse.box.com for more visibility. Our product team reviews all submissions and will consider whether to include feedback in their product roadmap. 

All the Best,