How to Fix Anonymous Users Entire Web Site Permission Issue in SharePoint
Question details
A site administrator has discovered an unremovable 'Anonymous Users Entire Web Site' permission entry and needs to know its origin and how to handle it.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing site permissions and reviewing external sharing access in a SharePoint environment.
- Observed behavior
- An unexpected 'Anonymous Users Entire Web Site' entry appears in the site's user-permissions page and cannot be removed using the standard SharePoint permissions interface.
Verify whether your environment is SharePoint Online or SharePoint Server, as legacy anonymous access features and permission management differ significantly between the two platforms.
Review Site External Sharing Configurations
Determine if external sharing or anonymous access links are currently enabled, which might cause this permission entry to appear or remain active.
Sometimes, the presence of anonymous users in the permission list is directly tied to active 'Anyone with the link' sharing policies at the site or tenant level.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center using admin credentials and navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center.
Go to Policies > Sharing in the left-hand navigation pane and review the organization-level external sharing settings to see if 'Anyone' links are permitted.
Navigate to Sites > Active sites, select the specific site showing the permission, and click on the 'Sharing' tab to adjust its specific external sharing limits.
Request Backend Investigation via Microsoft Support
Since the entry cannot be removed through the normal SharePoint UI, it requires Microsoft Support to intervene at the backend to clear the stuck permission.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Anonymous Users Entire Web Site' permission appear in SharePoint Online?
This usually appears if anonymous access was previously enabled on a legacy system, if there is a glitch related to external 'Anyone' sharing links, or due to a backend synchronization issue during a migration to SharePoint Online.
Can I remove this permission using the standard SharePoint interface?
In most cases where it is a stuck entry, selecting it and clicking 'Remove User Permissions' will be grayed out or result in an error message. It typically requires Microsoft Support to remove it from the backend.
Does this permission mean my SharePoint site is exposed to the public?
Not necessarily. It is often a 'ghost' entry that does not grant actual access if anonymous sharing is disabled at the tenant level. However, you should immediately verify your Active Sites sharing settings in the Admin Center to ensure 'Anyone' links are strictly controlled.
Is anonymous access still fully supported in SharePoint Online like it was in Server?
SharePoint Online primarily uses 'Anyone with the link' for anonymous external sharing rather than the traditional IIS-level Anonymous Access settings found in older SharePoint Server versions.
