Permission & Access Issues

How to Automatically Inherit OneDrive Permissions for New Folders

WPS Editor Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants specific users to automatically receive access whenever new folders are created in OneDrive, eliminating the need to manually assign permissions each time.

How to Automatically Inherit OneDrive Permissions for New Folders

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Collaborating with a team and needing to share multiple new folders consistently with the same group of users.
Observed behavior: Currently, permissions do not apply globally, forcing the user to manually configure access for every new folder created in the directory.

Before you start

Ensure you have owner or full control rights over the OneDrive directory where you plan to set up the inherited permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Parent Folder to Inherit Permissions

Since OneDrive does not have a global built-in setting to automatically apply permissions to every new standalone folder, setting up a shared parent folder is the best workaround. All items placed inside it will inherit its access rights.

By structuring your files inside a designated parent folder, you only need to configure the sharing settings once. Any subfolders or files created within this parent directory will automatically grant access to the same users.

Create a New Parent Folder

Open OneDrive, right-click on an empty space, select 'New', and click on 'Folder'. Name it appropriately for your shared project.

Assign Permissions to the Parent Folder

Right-click the newly created parent folder and select 'Share' or 'Manage Access'. Add the specific users you want to grant access to and configure their viewing or editing permissions.

Create Child Folders

Navigate inside the shared parent folder. Create your new files and folders here. These new child items will automatically inherit the permissions of the parent folder, giving your selected users immediate access.

Create a Parent Folder to Inherit Permissions

Permission Inheritance: The child items will continue to inherit permissions from the parent folder unless you manually break the inheritance for a specific subfolder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set default permissions for my entire OneDrive?

No, OneDrive does not support a global setting to automatically share all newly created root folders with specific users. You must use the parent-child folder method to achieve automatic inheritance.

How do I stop a child folder from inheriting permissions?

To stop inheritance, right-click the specific subfolder, select 'Manage access', click on 'Advanced', and choose 'Stop Inheriting Permissions'. You can then assign unique access to that folder.

Why aren't my new files inheriting the parent folder permissions?

If files are moved into the folder rather than created inside it, or if there is a synchronization delay, they might not immediately show inherited permissions. Ensure you create the files directly inside the shared parent folder, or wait for OneDrive to finish syncing.

Document & File Issues