How to Create a SharePoint Contribute Permission Level Without Delete Rights
Question details
The user needs to create a custom SharePoint permission level allowing users to edit and add items without the ability to delete them, while preventing the document library from reverting to the Classic experience.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring custom access permissions for a SharePoint document library to prevent accidental file deletion.
- Observed behavior
- When applying the custom permission level, the SharePoint document library unexpectedly switches from the modern view to the Classic experience.
Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint site, as these are required to create and assign custom permission levels.
Configure Custom Permission Level and Enforce New Experience
Create a copy of the default Contribute permission, remove the delete rights, and force the document library to use the modern New experience.
To safely create a custom permission without affecting default roles, you should always copy an existing permission level rather than modifying the default ones. Afterward, you can manually set the document library to retain the modern interface.
Navigate to your SharePoint site. Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, select 'Site permissions', and then click 'Advanced permissions settings'.
Click on 'Permission Levels' in the top ribbon. Click on the default 'Contribute' level to open its details, scroll to the very bottom of the page, and click the 'Copy Permission Level' button.
Enter a name for the new level, such as 'Contribute Without Delete'. Under the 'List Permissions' section, uncheck both the 'Delete Items' and 'Delete Versions' checkboxes. Scroll to the bottom and click 'Create'.
Return to the permissions page, select the user or group you want to restrict, click 'Edit User Permissions' on the ribbon, check your newly created 'Contribute Without Delete' level, and click 'OK'.
Navigate to the Document Library that switched to the Classic experience. Click the Gear icon, choose 'Library settings', and click 'More library settings'. Click 'Advanced settings', scroll down to the 'List experience' section, select 'New experience', and click 'OK'.
Open an InPrivate or Incognito browser window, log in with an account that has the new permission level applied, and verify that the user cannot delete items and that the library displays the modern view.
Use WPS Office for Seamless Document Collaboration
While SharePoint handles your team's file storage and access permissions, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for editing those files. Enjoy seamless compatibility with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats without the heavy subscription costs.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files directly from your synced SharePoint folders or local storage.
- 3. Edit and Save: Use the familiar suite of tools to edit your documents and save them in their original Microsoft formats for seamless team collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does removing delete permissions trigger the SharePoint Classic experience?
Customizing permissions can occasionally cause SharePoint to fall back to the Classic experience if it interprets the restricted access as incompatible with certain modern web parts or features. Manually enforcing the 'New experience' in the library's Advanced Settings resolves this visual fallback.
Can I apply the 'Contribute Without Delete' permission to a specific folder only?
Yes. You can stop inheriting permissions on a specific folder or document library by navigating to its 'Manage Access' settings, clicking 'Advanced', breaking inheritance, and then applying your custom permission level exclusively to that item.
Will users with 'Contribute Without Delete' still be able to edit existing documents?
Yes, users will still be able to view, add, update, and edit documents. They simply will not see or be able to use the 'Delete' option for files, folders, or document versions.
