NLotus Notes is the mailing platform of IBM. It stores email data and other file data in the NSF file format. The NSF file stands for Notes Storage Facility. Lotus Notes email store data like contacts, calendars, customized folders, etc. When this error message appears on your screen, it means that you are not authorized to access the email application. The basic functions like the opening of emails, edit mails, design change couldn't be performed.
The Lotus Notes database file has a default feature of Access Control List (ACL). It is the ACL that controls all encryption and local securities into the file of the NSF database. The ACL is the one that maintains the local security of the Notes NSF file. This avoids any kind of unauthorized data usage, data piracy and also have all security checks.
The admin has the right to provide authentication for a particular file to the desired file for multiple users. The NSF file owners provide the privilege to other users of Lotus Notes to edit, open or delete NSF file. If the NSF file user doesn't have permission to access the file from NSF owner then the error 'You are not authorized to access that database' appears.
Thus, the issue occurs because of the lack of authorization. And you can fix the error by providing access to the file to the user. The alternate method to resolve this error is to remove local security from the NSF file.
You could remove security to fix this error. We all protect the database with a password and it is important but sometimes it creates a problem too. E.g. if there is a need for opening an NSF file in the absence of administrators, there would be an issue displayed in the following errors.
The step by step guide for the same is here:
If you want to access NSF file database without using the manual method, then you can use third-party software for the same. If the administrator is not available, then you can use a third-party software. One of the software is Softaken NSF Local Security Remover. The software, remove local security from NSF file in a few clicks. Some features of the software are:
Conclusion: The manual method and software method both are effective ways to fix the error. However, when it comes to fixing 'you are not authorized to perform that operation' error, then the software method is the most reliable one.