Permission & Access Issues

How to Create SharePoint Upload-Only Permissions Without Delete Access

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to configure SharePoint permissions so that specific users or groups can only view and upload documents, but cannot edit or delete them.

How to Create SharePoint Upload-Only Permissions Without Delete Access

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing team access and document security in a SharePoint repository.
Observed behavior: The goal is to restrict user access to an 'Upload and View Only' state to prevent accidental modifications or deletions of existing files.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on your SharePoint site, as these are required to create custom permission levels and modify folder access inheritance.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Assign a Custom Permission Level

By creating a custom permission level based on the default 'Read' access, you can selectively add the ability to upload files while keeping delete and edit rights disabled.

SharePoint handles granular access through Permission Levels. Instead of creating one from scratch, copying the existing 'Read' permission level is the safest method to ensure you do not miss any baseline view permissions.

Access Site Permissions

Open Site Settings on your SharePoint site and select 'Site Permissions' under the Users and Permissions section.

Copy the Read Permission Level

Click on 'Permission Levels' in the ribbon. Click the 'Read' permission level to open its details, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select 'Copy Permission Level'.

Configure Custom Permissions

Enter a descriptive name for the new level, such as 'Upload and View Only'. Check the boxes for 'Add Items' and 'View Items', making sure that 'Delete Items' and 'Edit Items' are left unchecked. Click 'Submit' or 'Create'.

Stop Folder Inheritance

Navigate to the target folder where you want to apply these permissions. Click the ellipsis (...) next to the folder, select 'Manage access', and open 'Advanced settings'. Click 'Stop inheriting permissions' on the ribbon.

Grant Custom Access

Select 'Grant Permissions', enter the target user or group names, click 'Show options', and choose your newly created custom permission level from the dropdown. Click 'Share' to apply the changes.

Create and Assign a Custom Permission Level

Check Overlapping Permissions: SharePoint permissions are additive. If a user belongs to another SharePoint group (like 'Members') that has edit or delete rights, they will still be able to delete files. Ensure you remove the target users from any groups with higher access levels for this specific folder.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Discover WPS Office for Seamless Document Collaboration

While managing complex SharePoint permissions is necessary for Microsoft 365, you might also need a lightweight, highly compatible office suite for editing your downloaded files. WPS Office provides an excellent free alternative with full format compatibility.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open Your Office Files: Launch WPS Office to seamlessly open, edit, and save documents downloaded from your SharePoint repository.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight software with fast startup speeds and low system requirementsBuilt-in PDF editing and conversion toolsFamiliar, easy-to-use interface requiring no learning curveFree to use for essential daily document tasks

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can users still delete files after I applied the upload-only permission?

This usually happens because the user is part of another SharePoint group (like the default Site Members group) that has Edit or Full Control permissions. You must remove them from those groups or remove those groups' permissions from the specific folder.

Can I apply this custom permission to a single document instead of a folder?

Yes, you can stop inheriting permissions on an individual file by accessing its Advanced settings in the Manage Access pane, and then grant the custom upload-only permission level directly to that file.

Will users with upload-only permissions be able to create new folders?

If the custom permission level only has 'Add Items' and 'View Items' enabled without 'Manage Lists', users can upload files into existing folders but typically cannot create new folder structures.

Document & File Issues