Permission & Access Issues

Fix PerformDocumentSharing Errors When Granting Edit Access in SharePoint

Huda Qurayshi Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an error preventing them from sharing SharePoint files or folders with Edit permissions.

How to Fix PerformDocumentSharing Errors in SharePoint

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to share files or folders with Edit permission in a SharePoint site, particularly one with many existing sharing links or migrated content.
Observed behavior: SharePoint displays a 'PerformDocumentSharing' or 'Failed to grant access' error message when generating a sharing link or applying permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Administrator or Owner permissions before attempting to modify advanced site permissions or review tenant-level sharing limits.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Advanced Permissions Page as a Workaround

Bypass the standard sharing interface error by granting direct access through the advanced permissions settings.

When the standard document library sharing icon fails due to too many existing links, the classic advanced permissions page often still works to grant user access.

Access Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, click the gear icon in the top right, and select 'Library settings'.

Open Permissions

Click on 'More library settings' if prompted, then select 'Permissions for this document library' under the Permissions and Management section.

Grant Permissions

Click 'Grant Permissions' in the ribbon, enter the email addresses of the users you want to share with, and select the 'Edit' permission level.

Use the Advanced Permissions Page as a Workaround

Delayed Notifications: When granting access using this method, the email notification sent to the end user may experience a long delay compared to standard sharing.

Solution 2

Test Sharing in a New Document Library

Determine if the sharing error is isolated to a specific corrupted library or if it affects the entire SharePoint site.

Solution 3

Review Limits and Contact Microsoft Support

Check for breached SharePoint limits and escalate to Microsoft 365 support for tenant-level investigation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get a 'Failed to grant access' error specifically on migrated SharePoint sites?

Migrated sites often bring over complex, legacy permission structures and thousands of unique sharing links. SharePoint has a strict limit on the number of unique permissions allowed per item or list, and exceeding this threshold prevents new sharing links from being generated.

Will removing existing sharing links fix the PerformDocumentSharing error?

Not always immediately. Even if you remove sharing links from a folder or file to clean up permissions, backend sync delays or library-wide corruption might cause the sharing interface to continue failing. Testing in a completely new library helps confirm this.

Do users receive emails when I use the Advanced Permissions page?

Yes, users are still notified when you check the 'Send an email invitation' box on the advanced permissions page. However, the system may process these alerts slower, resulting in a delayed notification compared to the standard modern sharing menu.

Document & File Issues