How to FIX the Microsoft Teams Bad Request Error
Microsoft Teams has a power desktop app available for both Windows and macOS. It also has apps for iOS and for Android however, ff you’re unable to install and use the dedicated desktop app, you can always use the Microsoft Teams web app.
The Microsoft Teams web app is almost as good, if not just as good as its desktop counterparts. It performs well but because the app runs in a browser, it will throw errors that you may not necessarily see if you’re using the desktop app.
Microsoft Teams bad request error
The Microsoft Teams bad request error is an error that is unique to the web version of the app.
This error appears when a user tries to access/edit a file that’s been shared with a team. These are normally files created in the Microsoft Office e.g., Word documents (DOCX files), Excel spreadsheets (XLSX files), or PowerPoint presentations (PPTX files.
There haven’t been reports of the error appearing when files shared over one-on-one chat.
Here’s how you can resolve it.
1. Change file permissions
Files can be set so that they are read-only. When a file has the read-only attribute set for it, it may prevent other users from being able to edit it.
- Click the more options button next to a file that won’t open, and select Download.
- For a non-Microsoft Office file, right-click the file on your desktop and select Properties.
- On the General tab, uncheck the Read-only box, and click Apply.
- Upload the file again and everyone will be able to open it.
- For a Microsoft Office file, open it and go to File>Save As.
- Open the Tools dropdown at the bottom of the Save as box (next to the Save button).
- Select General Options.
- In the window that opens, unselect the ‘Read-only recommended’ option.
- Save the file with a new name, and then upload it to your team in Microsoft Teams.
2. Try a different browser
This error is specific to the Microsoft Teams web app so try to sign in to Microsoft Teams in a different browser. To be safe, try using Microsoft Edge before you try any other browser.
3. Edit the file on the desktop
Check if you’re able to edit the file on the desktop.
- In the Microsoft Teams web app, click the more options button next to the file that won’t open.
- Select Download from the menu.
- Save the file to your system.
- Open the file with its default app e.g., open a DOCX file in Microsoft Word.
- If the file opens, and you’re able to edit it, copy and paste its contents into a new file, and upload it to Teams so everyone else can edit it as well.
4. Check file extension
Microsoft Office files generally all have the letter ‘x’ as the last letter in the file extension. This indicates that the file format is ‘newer’. A few years ago, Microsoft Office used to save files in a different format. If your file is in an older format e.g., DOC, XLS, PPT, etc, then converting it to the new format may resolve the problem.
- Download the file to your desktop.
- Open it in its respective app e.g., a PPT file will be opened in PowerPoint.
- Go to File>Save As.
- Open the Save as type dropdown.
- Select the Word Document (*.docx) option.
- Click Save.
- Upload it to Microsoft Teams and everyone will be able to edit it.
Conclusion
If this error persists, try to open the file in the desktop app. If it fails to open there, check the error message and resolve it. It may help point out the problem with the file. If the file opens without any problem on the desktop app, it is possible that this is a momentary fluke and may resolve itself if left alone.
