diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/entities/drive-file.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/entities/drive-file.ts
index b856d5c8..e3667a7d 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/entities/drive-file.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/entities/drive-file.ts
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export class DriveFile {
 
   /**
    * If this field is non-null, then an editing session is in progress (probably in OnlyOffice).
-   * Should be in the format `appid-timestamp-hexuuid` where `appid` and `timestamp` have no `-`
+   * Should be in the format `timestamp-appid-hexuuid` where `appid` and `timestamp` have no `-`
    * characters.
    */
   @Type(() => String)
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/services/index.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/services/index.ts
index 53b4b054..d24e0f92 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/services/index.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/services/index.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ import {
 import archiver from "archiver";
 import internal from "stream";
 import config from "config";
+import { randomUUID } from "crypto";
+import { MultipartFile } from "@fastify/multipart";
+import { UploadOptions } from "../../files/types";
 
 export class DocumentsService {
   version: "1";
@@ -264,6 +267,45 @@ export class DocumentsService {
     };
   };
 
+  /**
+   * Fetches a drive element by its `editing_session_key`
+   *
+   * @param {string} editing_session_key - the editing_session_key of the DriveFile to fetch
+   * @param {DriveExecutionContext} context
+   * @returns {Promise<DriveItemDetails>}
+   */
+  getByEditingSessionKey = async (
+    editing_session_key: string,
+    context: DriveExecutionContext & { public_token?: string },
+  ): Promise<DriveFile> => {
+    if (!editing_session_key) {
+      this.logger.error("Invalid editing_session_key: " + JSON.stringify(editing_session_key));
+      throw new CrudException("Invalid editing_session_key", 400);
+    }
+    if (!context) {
+      this.logger.error("invalid context");
+      return null;
+    }
+    const entity = await this.repository.findOne({ editing_session_key }, {}, context);
+    if (!entity) {
+      this.logger.error("Drive item not found");
+      throw new CrudException("Item not found", 404);
+    }
+    //Check access to entity
+    try {
+      //TODO: may need to check for read only if we permit readonly editors to join
+      const hasAccess = await checkAccess(entity.id, entity, "write", this.repository, context);
+      if (!hasAccess) {
+        this.logger.error("user does not have access drive item " + entity.id);
+        throw Error("user does not have access to this item");
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      this.logger.error({ error: `${error}` }, "Failed to grant access to the drive item");
+      throw new CrudException("User does not have access to this item or its children", 401);
+    }
+    return entity;
+  };
+
   getAccess = async (
     id: string,
     userId: string,
@@ -879,6 +921,78 @@ export class DocumentsService {
     }
   };
 
+  /**
+   * If not already in an editing session, uses the `editing_session_key` of the
+   * `DriveFile` entity to store a unique new value to expect an update later
+   * with only that key provided.
+   * @param id DriveFile ID of the document to begin editing
+   * @param editorApplicationId Editor/Application/Plugin specific identifier
+   * @param context
+   * @returns An object in the format `{}` with the unique identifier for the
+   *   editing session
+   */
+  beginEditing = async (
+    id: string,
+    editorApplicationId: string,
+    context: DriveExecutionContext,
+  ) => {
+    const isoUTCDateNoSpecialCharsNoMS = new Date()
+      .toISOString()
+      .replace(/\..+$/, "")
+      .replace(/[ZT:-]/g, "");
+    const newKey = [
+      isoUTCDateNoSpecialCharsNoMS,
+      editorApplicationId,
+      randomUUID().replace(/-+/g, ""),
+    ].join("-");
+    // OnlyOffice key limits: 128 chars, [0-9a-zA-z=_-]
+    // This is specific to it, but the constraint seems strict enough
+    // that any other system needing such a unique identifier would find
+    // this compatible. This value must be ensured to be the strictest
+    // common denominator to all plugin/interop systems. Plugins that
+    // require something even stricter have the option of maintaining
+    // a look up table to an acceptable value.
+    if (newKey.length > 128 || !/^[0-9a-zA-Z=_]+$/m.test(editorApplicationId))
+      CrudException.throwMe(
+        new Error('Invalid "editorApplicationId" string. Must be short and only alpha numeric'),
+        new CrudException("Invalid editorApplicationId", 400),
+      );
+
+    if (!context) {
+      this.logger.error("invalid execution context");
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const hasAccess = await checkAccess(id, null, "write", this.repository, context);
+    if (!hasAccess) {
+      logger.error("user does not have access drive item " + id);
+      CrudException.throwMe(
+        new Error("user does not have access to the drive item"),
+        new CrudException("user does not have access drive item", 401),
+      );
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const driveFile = await this.repository.findOne(
+        {
+          id,
+          company_id: context.company.id,
+        },
+        {},
+        context,
+      );
+      const result = await this.repository.atomicCompareAndSet(
+        driveFile,
+        "editing_session_key",
+        null,
+        newKey,
+      );
+      return { editingSessionKey: result.currentValue };
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error({ error: `${error}` }, "Failed to begin editing Drive item");
+      CrudException.throwMe(error, new CrudException("Failed to begin editing Drive item", 500));
+    }
+  };
   downloadGetToken = async (
     ids: string[],
     versionId: string | null,
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/types.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/types.ts
index 733c83c5..a96136f3 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/types.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/types.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ export type ItemRequestParams = RequestParams & {
   id: string;
 };
 
+export type ItemRequestByEditingSessionKeyParams = RequestParams & {
+  editing_session_key: string;
+};
+
 export type DriveItemDetails = {
   path: DriveFile[];
   item?: DriveFile;
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/controllers/documents.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/controllers/documents.ts
index 050e2c55..72bbc572 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/controllers/documents.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/controllers/documents.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   DriveItemDetails,
   DriveTdriveTab,
   ItemRequestParams,
+  ItemRequestByEditingSessionKeyParams,
   RequestParams,
   SearchDocumentsBody,
   SearchDocumentsOptions,
@@ -165,6 +166,26 @@ export class DocumentsController {
     };
   };
 
+  /**
+   * Fetches a DriveFile item by its `editing_session_key`.
+   *
+   * @param {FastifyRequest} request
+   * @returns {Promise<DriveItemDetails>}
+   */
+  getByEditingSessionKey = async (
+    request: FastifyRequest<{
+      Params: ItemRequestByEditingSessionKeyParams;
+      Querystring: PaginationQueryParameters & { public_token?: string };
+    }>,
+  ): Promise<DriveFile> => {
+    const context = getDriveExecutionContext(request);
+    const { editing_session_key } = request.params;
+    return await globalResolver.services.documents.documents.getByEditingSessionKey(
+      editing_session_key,
+      context,
+    );
+  };
+
   /**
    * Browse file, special endpoint for TDrive application widget.
    * Returns the current folder with the filtered content
@@ -310,6 +331,35 @@ export class DocumentsController {
     }
   };
 
+  /**
+   * Begin an editing session if none exists, or return the existing one
+   * @returns The `editing_session_key` that was either set or already was there
+   */
+  beginEditing = async (
+    request: FastifyRequest<{
+      Params: ItemRequestParams;
+      Body: { editorApplicationId: string };
+    }>,
+  ) => {
+    try {
+      const context = getDriveExecutionContext(request);
+      const { id } = request.params;
+
+      if (!id) throw new CrudException("Missing id", 400);
+      if (!request.body.editorApplicationId)
+        throw new CrudException("Missing editorApplicationId", 400);
+
+      return await globalResolver.services.documents.documents.beginEditing(
+        id,
+        request.body.editorApplicationId,
+        context,
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.error({ error: `${error}` }, "Failed to begin editing Drive item");
+      CrudException.throwMe(error, new CrudException("Failed to begin editing Drive item", 500));
+    }
+  };
+
   downloadGetToken = async (
     request: FastifyRequest<{
       Params: ItemRequestParams;
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/routes.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/routes.ts
index 70af3cbd..ed1e3e5d 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/routes.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/routes.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { FastifyInstance, FastifyPluginCallback } from "fastify";
 import { DocumentsController } from "./controllers";
-import { createDocumentSchema, createVersionSchema } from "./schemas";
+import { createDocumentSchema, createVersionSchema, beginEditingSchema } from "./schemas";
 // import profilerPlugin from "../../../utils/profiler";
 
 const baseUrl = "/companies/:company_id";
@@ -79,6 +79,21 @@ const routes: FastifyPluginCallback = (fastify: FastifyInstance, _options, next)
     handler: documentsController.createVersion.bind(documentsController),
   });
 
+  fastify.route({
+    method: "POST",
+    url: `${serviceUrl}/:id/editing_session`,
+    preValidation: [fastify.authenticateOptional],
+    schema: beginEditingSchema,
+    handler: documentsController.beginEditing.bind(documentsController),
+  });
+
+  fastify.route({
+    method: "GET",
+    url: `${serviceUrl}/editing_session/:editing_session_key`,
+    preValidation: [fastify.authenticateOptional],
+    handler: documentsController.getByEditingSessionKey.bind(documentsController),
+  });
+
   fastify.route({
     method: "GET",
     url: `${serviceUrl}/download/token`,
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/schemas.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/schemas.ts
index 102384e9..81a095d2 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/schemas.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/src/services/documents/web/schemas.ts
@@ -109,3 +109,22 @@ export const createVersionSchema = {
     "2xx": fileVersionSchema,
   },
 };
+
+export const beginEditingSchema = {
+  body: {
+    type: "object",
+    properties: {
+      editorApplicationId: { type: "string" },
+    },
+    required: ["editorApplicationId"],
+  },
+  response: {
+    "2xx": {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        editingSessionKey: { type: "string" },
+      },
+      required: ["editingSessionKey"],
+    },
+  },
+};
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/entities/mock_entities.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/entities/mock_entities.ts
index 8105cd6c..6106028c 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/entities/mock_entities.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/entities/mock_entities.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export class DriveFileMockClass {
     tags: string[];
     last_modified: number;
     access_info: MockAccessInformation;
+    editing_session_key: string;
     creator: string;
     is_directory: boolean;
     scope: "personal" | "shared";
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/user-api.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/user-api.ts
index f369ba91..d4830d24 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/user-api.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/common/user-api.ts
@@ -396,6 +396,29 @@ export default class UserApi {
       });
   };
 
+  async beginEditingDocument(
+    driveFileId: string,
+    editorApplicationId: string,
+  ): Promise<Response> {
+    return await this.api.post(
+      `${UserApi.DOC_URL}/companies/${this.platform.workspace.company_id}/item/${driveFileId}/editing_session`,
+      { editorApplicationId },
+      {
+        authorization: `Bearer ${this.jwt}`
+      });
+  }
+
+  async beginEditingDocumentExpectOk(
+    driveFileId: string,
+    editorApplicationId: string,
+  ): Promise<string> {
+    const result = await this.beginEditingDocument(driveFileId, editorApplicationId);
+    expect(result.statusCode).toBe(200);
+    const {editingSessionKey} = result.json();
+    expect(editingSessionKey).toBeTruthy();
+    return editingSessionKey;
+  }
+
   async searchDocument(
     payload: Record<string, any>
   ) {
@@ -459,6 +482,16 @@ export default class UserApi {
     return doc;
   };
 
+  async getDocumentByEditingKey(editing_session_key: string) {
+    return await this.platform.app.inject({
+      method: "GET",
+      url: `${UserApi.DOC_URL}/companies/${this.platform.workspace.company_id}/item/editing_session/${encodeURIComponent(editing_session_key)}`,
+      headers: {
+        authorization: `Bearer ${this.jwt}`
+      }
+    });
+  };
+
   async sharedWithMeDocuments(
     payload: Record<string, any>
   ) {
diff --git a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/documents/editing-session.spec.ts b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/documents/editing-session.spec.ts
index 3521ece7..8c5e6ce5 100644
--- a/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/documents/editing-session.spec.ts
+++ b/tdrive/backend/node/test/e2e/documents/editing-session.spec.ts
@@ -75,4 +75,43 @@ describe("the Drive's documents' editing session kind-of-lock", () => {
     expect(driveFileRepository?.atomicCompareAndSet(temporaryDocument, "editing_session_key", "124", null)).
       rejects.toThrow("no row matched PK");
   });
+
+  it('rejects invalid editorApplicationId', async () => {
+    let result = await currentUser.beginEditingDocument(temporaryDocument.id, '');
+    expect(result.statusCode).toBe(400);
+    result = await currentUser.beginEditingDocument(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e-testing');
+    expect(result.statusCode).toBe(400);
+    result = await currentUser.beginEditingDocument(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing_but_this_one_is_likely_too_long_the_max_is_128_with_added_guid_and_ts_added_after_and_counting_towards_128');
+    expect(result.statusCode).toBe(400);
+  });
+
+  it('can begin an editing session on a document only once', async () => {
+    const editingSessionKey = await currentUser.beginEditingDocumentExpectOk(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing');
+    const secondKey = await currentUser.beginEditingDocumentExpectOk(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing');
+    expect(editingSessionKey).toBe(secondKey);
+    const document = await currentUser.getDocumentOKCheck(temporaryDocument.id)
+    expect(document.item.editing_session_key).toBe(editingSessionKey);
+  });
+
+  it('cannot begin an editing session on a document without write permissions', async () => {
+    const secondUser = await UserApi.getInstance(platform!, true);
+    const editingResult = await secondUser.beginEditingDocument(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing');
+    expect(editingResult.statusCode).toBe(401);
+  });
+
+  it('can retreive the document from the editing session key', async () => {
+    const editingSessionKey = await currentUser.beginEditingDocumentExpectOk(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing');
+    let foundDocumentResult = await currentUser.getDocumentByEditingKey(editingSessionKey + "-made-wrong");
+    expect(foundDocumentResult.statusCode).toBe(404);
+    foundDocumentResult = await currentUser.getDocumentByEditingKey("");
+    expect(foundDocumentResult.statusCode).toBe(400);
+    foundDocumentResult = await currentUser.getDocumentByEditingKey(editingSessionKey);
+    expect(foundDocumentResult.statusCode).toBe(200);
+    expect(temporaryDocument.id).toBe(foundDocumentResult.json().id);
+  });
+
+  it('can end an editing session on a document only once with the right key', async () => {
+    const editingSessionKey = await currentUser.beginEditingDocumentExpectOk(temporaryDocument.id, 'e2e_testing');
+
+  });
 });