Permission & Access Issues

Fix: Cannot Create Subfolders with Publishing Editor Permissions in Outlook

WPS Content Manager Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to create subfolders in another user's Inbox despite having Publishing Editor permissions assigned.

Fix: Cannot Create Subfolders with Publishing Editor Permissions in Outlook

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to manage another user's mailbox and organize emails by creating new nested subfolders.
Observed behavior: The option to create subfolders remains unavailable across multiple Outlook clients, even though the account correctly displays Publishing Editor access.

Before you start

Verify that your Outlook client is connected to the Exchange server and fully synced before attempting to modify delegate folder permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove and Reapply Publishing Editor Permissions

Resetting the assigned permissions forces Exchange to refresh access rights, which often resolves hidden synchronization errors.

Sometimes delegate permissions do not propagate correctly from the server to the client apps. Having the mailbox owner completely remove and then re-add your access is the most effective way to clear backend glitches.

Open Folder Properties

Have the mailbox owner right-click their Inbox or root mailbox folder in Outlook and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

Remove Existing Permissions

Navigate to the 'Permissions' tab, select the delegate's name from the list, click 'Remove', and then click 'Apply'.

Re-add the Delegate

Click 'Add' to find and select the delegate from the address book again. Once added, choose 'Publishing Editor' from the Permission Level dropdown menu and click 'OK' to save.

Allow Time for Synchronization

Wait up to a few hours for the Exchange server to synchronize the new permission settings across all devices and Outlook clients.

Remove and Reapply Publishing Editor Permissions

Synchronization Delay: Depending on your organization's Microsoft 365 environment, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours for permission changes to fully take effect.

Solution 2

Verify Permission Propagation to Specific Subfolders

Ensure that the Publishing Editor access granted at the root level correctly trickles down to the specific folder where you are trying to work.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Upgrade Your Productivity with WPS Office

While troubleshooting complex Microsoft Outlook server permissions, consider trying WPS Office for your document, spreadsheet, and presentation tasks. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and completely free alternative to the Microsoft Office suite.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight installation with faster startup times and smoother performance.Familiar tabbed user interface that requires zero learning curve to master.Built-in PDF editing tools for a seamless all-in-one document workflow.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Publishing Editor permission in Outlook allow?

The Publishing Editor permission level allows a delegate to read, create, modify, and delete all items and files in a shared folder, as well as create necessary subfolders.

Why aren't my Outlook delegate permissions syncing immediately?

Exchange server permissions can sometimes experience caching delays. Using Outlook on the Web (OWA) often reflects changes faster than the desktop client, but full propagation can still take several hours.

Can I create subfolders if I only have Author permissions?

No. The Author permission level allows you to read and create items, and modify or delete only the items you created yourself. It does not provide the rights to create or manage subfolders.

Who should I contact if reapplying permissions doesn't work?

If removing and reapplying permissions fails to restore your ability to create subfolders, contact your organization's Microsoft 365 IT administrator. They may need to grant additional delegate or administrative permissions through the Exchange backend.

Document & File Issues