Permission & Access Issues

Fix Project Online Group Categories Not Granting View Permissions

Partner Editor Oct 8, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users added via new Project Online groups are unable to view projects or the Project Center, despite the categories being configured to grant access.

Fix Project Online Group Categories Not Granting View Permissions

Product: Microsoft Project Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Configuring view permissions for new user groups in Project Web App (PWA).
Observed behavior: Group members cannot see projects or Project Center items, even though the exact same category configurations work perfectly for a manually managed group.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator access to Project Web App (PWA) settings and verify that Active Directory or Microsoft 365 group synchronization has fully completed.

Solution 1Recommended

Test View Permissions by Assigning Directly to a User

Isolate the issue by verifying if the permissions work when assigned directly to a user's profile rather than through a group.

By bypassing the group layer, you can determine if the core issue lies with the category's permissions or with how the group membership is being synchronized and evaluated by the system.

Navigate to Manage Users

Go to PWA Settings, and under the Security section, click on 'Manage Users'.

Assign Direct Permissions

Select an affected user, scroll down to the 'Security Groups' and 'Security Categories' sections, and temporarily assign the necessary category directly to their profile.

Verify Access

Ask the user to log out and log back in, then navigate to the Project Center to see if the projects are now visible.

Test View Permissions by Assigning Directly to a User

Diagnostic Indicator: If the user can view projects after direct assignment, the category permissions are correct, and the issue is specifically related to the new group's setup or sync status.

Solution 2

Verify Project Scope and Group Synchronization

Ensure the category applies to the correct projects and that the newly created group has successfully synchronized.

Solution 3

Compare Configurations with a Working Group

Cross-check the new group's settings against the manually managed group that is currently functioning properly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can users in a new Project Online group not see any projects?

This often occurs if the group hasn't finished syncing from Active Directory, or if the category associated with the group doesn't have the correct project scopes checked under PWA settings.

How do I know if my Project Online category is configured correctly for viewing?

Check the 'Manage Categories' section in PWA Settings. Ensure that the category explicitly grants 'View Project Summary in Project Center' permissions and includes the intended projects in its scope list.

Can I assign permissions directly to a user in Project Online?

Yes. While role-based group assignment is the recommended best practice, you can assign categories directly to a user profile in 'Manage Users' for temporary troubleshooting or special access scenarios.

Document & File Issues