Troubleshooting NetDocuments Check-In Issues: A Complete Guide

Posted in NetDocuments Tips, NetDocuments Windows Roll-Out on November 8, 2018 by Craig Bayer

If you want this solved immediately,  call NetDocuments Tech Support, and they can jump on your pc and fix the issue:  801.226.6882

One of the most frustrating issues NetDocuments users encounter is when documents won’t check back in after editing. You’ve finished your work, you click to check in the document, and… nothing happens. Or worse, you get an error message that doesn’t clearly explain the problem.

  • An error is displayed indicating that ndClick is not running.
  • Documents do not open automatically in their native applications, such as Adobe, Microsoft Word, or Excel.
  • Documents may be downloaded locally rather than opening in ndOffice or ndClick.
  • An error in the browser extension that says “Either ndClick is not running or the same user is not found.”

Understanding the Check-In Process

Before diving into troubleshooting, it helps to understand what happens during a check-in. When you check out a document in NetDocuments, you create a temporary lock that prevents others from editing it simultaneously. The system downloads the file to your local computer, and you can make your changes. When you check it back in, NetDocuments uploads your modified version, releases the lock, and makes the document available to others again.

Step 1:  Recent updates to Chrome and Edge have stopped NetDocuments from working

When using Google Chrome version 142 and above or Microsoft Edge version 143 and above, users may experience one of the following issues:

This issue was caused by a change introduced in Google Chrome 142 and Microsoft Edge 143. These releases require that Local Network Access be enabled manually or via an administrative policy. In previous versions, this setting was enabled by default. As a result of this new setting, ndClick may fail to bind to a local port required for operation.

In Google Chrome

In Microsoft Edge

Solution for IT companies to implement firm-wide:  https://support.netdocuments.com/s/article/Configure-Local-Network-Access-permissions-for-NetDocuments

Step 2:  Verify that ndOffice is installed on your computer (Windows PC)

In your system tray, verify that you see the nd icon

If this icon is missing, please restart your pc. If the icon still doesn’t appear after restarting your PC, ndOffice isn’t installed correctly on your PC.

Click Here to install ndOffice:  https://apps.netdocuments.com/apps/ndOffice/ndOfficeSetup.exe

Step 3:  Verify you are logged into ndOffice

(Windows PC)

If you have ndoffice installed, right-click each program and verify that it does NOT say “login”.

If it says “Log in,” please log in.

Step 4:  Are you using Firefox? If so, please follow these steps to properly set up NetDocuments in Firefox.

See this article.

Step 5: Are all documents not checking in, or is it only a specific type, such as PDFs or Word documents?

If it’s only certain types of documents, use this step to troubleshoot:

Word\Excel\PowerPoint: https://optiable.com/my-netdocuments-plugins-in-word-excel-outlook-have-disappeared/

Adobe: https://optiable.com/ultimate-guide-to-troubleshooting-adobe-issues-with-netdocuments/

Step 6:  Are you on a Mac?

Install ndClick and restart your PC:  https://optiable.com/installing-ndclick-on-a-mac/

Firefox and NetDocuments work on Windows but not on macOS.

Log in and restart your Mac

Step 7:  Try Switching Browsers and see if it still happens.

If you’re using Chrome, switch to Edge or vice versa

If you are using Firefox, switch to Chrome or Edge.

Step 8:  Have your IT turn off virus scanning for the ndOffice Folder:

C:\Users\USERNAME\ND Office Echo\

Step 9: Call NetDocuments Tech Support; they will log in and resolve the issue.

801.226.6882

Conclusion

Check-in issues in NetDocuments can be frustrating, but they’re almost always solvable. The key is methodical troubleshooting—start with the most straightforward explanations, such as network connectivity or permissions, then move to more complex scenarios involving application conflicts or synchronization problems.

By understanding how the check-in process works and following the troubleshooting steps outlined here, you should be able to resolve most issues quickly and get back to productive work. And remember, implementing preventive best practices will minimize these problems in the first place, making your NetDocuments experience smoother and more reliable.

About the Author

Craig Bayer is the founder and leader of Optiable, an award-winning document management (DMS) consulting firm dedicated to helping law firms seamlessly integrate NetDocuments. Specializing in firms with 10 to 150 users, he has successfully guided over 500 law firms across the United States and Canada through NetDocuments implementations since 2010.

With deep expertise in the legal industry, Craig has a proven track record of optimizing technology to meet the unique needs of law firms. His certifications include industry-leading tools such as Amicus Attorney, Centerbase, Clio, PCLaw, HotDocs, TimeMatters, Soluno, and Worldox, enabling him to deliver comprehensive solutions tailored to each client’s workflow and goals.

Craig Bayer