Fix Cannot Upload Files or Create Folders in SharePoint Library
Question details
Users are unable to upload documents or create new folders within a specific SharePoint document library, while other libraries function normally.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to manage and upload files or create new directory folders in an existing SharePoint site document library.
- Observed behavior
- The upload and folder creation functions fail or are disabled for all users in one specific library, including site owners, despite working correctly in newly created test libraries.
Ensure you are logged in with an account that has site owner or administrator privileges so you can review and modify the library's permission settings.
Verify and Correct Library Permissions
Check if your user account or site owners group still has the necessary Edit or Full Control permissions specifically for the affected library.
SharePoint allows document libraries to have unique permissions that break inheritance from the main site. If these unique permissions are accidentally altered, even site owners might lose their ability to add files or folders.
Navigate to the affected SharePoint document library, click on the Settings gear icon in the top right, and select 'Library settings'.
In the settings menu, click on 'Permissions for this document library' to view the access rights.
Click the 'Check Permissions' button located in the top ribbon, enter your username, and click 'Check Now'.
Confirm that your account has 'Full Control' or at least 'Edit' permissions. If not, you will need a site administrator to grant you the proper access level.
Copy Content to a New Document Library
If permissions are verified to be correct but the library still blocks uploads for everyone, the library itself may be corrupted. Copying your files to a new library serves as a quick workaround.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I upload files in one SharePoint library but not another?
SharePoint allows administrators to break permission inheritance. This means each document library can have its own distinct set of permissions. You likely have 'Edit' access in one library but only 'Read' or 'View' access in the other.
Can site owners lose upload permissions in a SharePoint library?
Yes. If unique permissions are set up for a specific library and the 'Site Owners' group is accidentally removed from the access list, even the creator of the site will lose the ability to upload files or create folders there.
What should I do if nobody, including administrators, can upload to the library?
If permissions are correct but the issue affects all users, the library may have reached a site storage quota, hit a customized list view threshold, or become corrupted. Using the 'Copy to' feature to move files to a new library is the recommended immediate workaround.
