Permission & Access Issues

Fix Cannot Change OneDrive Album Permission from View to Edit

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user is unable to assign editing permissions when sharing a photo album from a Microsoft 365 Family account.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a photo album with other users to allow them to edit or contribute to it.
Observed behavior: The "Can Edit" permission option is missing or unavailable when sharing the album, restricting recipients to view-only access.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into the correct Microsoft 365 account and verify that your OneDrive has enough storage space available for the photos you intend to share.

Solution 1Recommended

Share a Standard Folder Instead of an Album

Because OneDrive personal accounts restrict "Can Edit" permissions on albums, placing your photos in a standard folder allows you to grant full editing rights.

In OneDrive, albums act as virtual collections designed primarily for viewing rather than collaborative file management. Because of this structural limitation, the edit permission is often disabled for albums. Moving your photos into a traditional folder bypasses this restriction.

Navigate to My Files

Open OneDrive and click on 'My Files' from the left-hand navigation menu.

Create a new folder

Click 'New' at the top of the screen and select 'Folder'. Give the folder a descriptive name for your photos.

Upload or move your photos

Upload the photos from your device or move the existing photos from your OneDrive into this newly created folder.

Share with editing permissions

Right-click the new folder, select 'Share', click on the permission settings (usually defaults to 'Anyone with the link can view'), and change it to 'Allow editing' or 'Can Edit'.

Collaborative Access: Once shared, recipients will be able to add, delete, and modify the photos within this folder.

Solution 2

Contact OneDrive Support

If the issue persists and affects standard folders as well, it may be an account-specific glitch requiring assistance from Microsoft Support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I allow others to edit my OneDrive photo album?

Microsoft OneDrive often restricts photo albums to view-only access for personal and family accounts. Albums function as curated visual collections rather than standard directories, which limits advanced file permission controls like editing.

Can a Microsoft Family Organizer change album permissions to edit?

No. Even if a user is designated as a family organizer in a Microsoft 365 Family account, the structural limitation of OneDrive photo albums still restricts the 'Can Edit' feature.

How do I let others add photos to my shared OneDrive album?

To allow others to add or manage photos, you must create a standard folder under 'My Files,' move your photos into it, and share that specific folder with the 'Can Edit' permission enabled.

Document & File Issues