Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Group and SharePoint Site Permission Mismatches

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are experiencing inconsistencies between Microsoft 365 group memberships and SharePoint site permissions, where members can access the site but the permission check incorrectly displays 'None'.

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Group and SharePoint Site Permission Mismatches

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Administrators are trying to verify inherited access for members of a private Microsoft 365 group on a connected SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: The Microsoft 365 group shows 32 members, but only a few appear in the SharePoint security groups. Additionally, the Check Permissions tool returns 'None' for active users who can successfully open the site.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges to view advanced site permissions and manage Microsoft 365 group memberships.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Inheritance Settings and Request Microsoft Backend Support

Since group members automatically inherit Edit access, a persistent mismatch usually indicates a backend synchronization error that requires Microsoft support to resolve.

Members of a private Microsoft 365 group normally receive Edit access to the connected SharePoint site automatically. If users are listed in the M365 group but do not appear in the SharePoint security groups, or if the Check Permissions tool shows 'None' while access works, the environment is likely experiencing an inheritance synchronization issue.

Confirm Microsoft 365 Group Membership

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, select 'Teams & groups', and verify the total number of active users listed in the affected private group.

Review Advanced SharePoint Permissions

Open your connected SharePoint site, click the Settings gear icon, select 'Site permissions', and then click 'Advanced permissions settings'.

Check for Custom Permissions

Ensure there are no broken inheritances or custom child permissions on specific document libraries that might be overriding the default M365 group access.

Open a Microsoft Support Ticket

If the member counts still do not align and permission checks remain inconsistent, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator to open a support ticket with Microsoft Online Support for a backend inspection of the group's synchronization.

Verify Inheritance Settings and Request Microsoft Backend Support

Inheritance Display Limitations: The 'Check Permissions' tool in SharePoint may sometimes fail to render expected permission levels correctly when access is granted dynamically through connected Microsoft 365 Groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the SharePoint Check Permissions tool show 'None' for a user who can open the site?

This commonly occurs due to backend synchronization delays or service display bugs between Microsoft 365 Groups and SharePoint. If the user accesses the site through inherited group policy, the tool sometimes fails to render the effective permission level accurately.

Do Microsoft 365 group members automatically get SharePoint access?

Yes, when users are added directly to a private Microsoft 365 group, they normally receive 'Edit' access to the connected SharePoint site's root and its contents automatically, assuming no custom child permissions exist.

How can I fix a discrepancy where the M365 group has more members than SharePoint displays?

First, verify that custom permissions are not breaking inheritance. If the discrepancy persists, it is a known backend synchronization issue. Your administrator will need to open a support ticket with Microsoft to force a manual sync of the permissions from the backend.

Document & File Issues