Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Guest Users Unable to Rename, Move, or Delete Files

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

External guest users with Edit permissions in OneDrive are unable to rename, move, or delete shared files and folders.

How to Fix OneDrive Guest Users Unable to Rename, Move, or Delete Files

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A Microsoft 365 administrator or file owner has shared OneDrive folders with external users, expecting them to have full management capabilities over the shared content.
Observed behavior: Guest users can successfully open and add new files, but they are prevented from renaming, moving, or deleting existing files despite having Edit permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 administrator privileges, as resolving this issue requires accessing tenant-level sharing policies and classic site permission settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Custom Permission Level in Classic OneDrive

Creating and assigning a specific custom permission level ensures that guest users have the exact rights needed to modify, rename, and delete files without granting full control.

By default, the standard Edit permission assigned via sharing links may restrict certain file management actions for external users to prevent accidental data loss. Modifying this in Classic OneDrive settings allows for granular control.

Access Classic OneDrive Settings

Log in to the Microsoft 365 environment, navigate to your OneDrive, and click the gear icon to access 'OneDrive settings'. Click on 'More Settings' and then select 'Return to the old Site settings page'.

Open Site Permissions

Under the 'Users and Permissions' section, click on 'Site permissions'.

Create a New Permission Level

Click on 'Permission levels' in the ribbon menu, then select 'Add a Permission Level'. Name this new level appropriately (e.g., 'Guest Full Edit').

Select Required Permissions

In the list of permissions, ensure you check the boxes for 'Edit Items', 'Delete Items', and 'View Items'. Save the new permission level.

Assign to Guest Users

Return to the Site Permissions page, select the external guest accounts (formatted as user#EXT#@domain.onmicrosoft.com), and assign them the newly created permission level.

Create a Custom Permission Level in Classic OneDrive

Permission Update Delay: It may take a few minutes for the new permission settings to propagate. Ask the external users to refresh their browser or sign out and sign back in.

Solution 2

Submit a Microsoft 365 Online Support Ticket

If custom permission levels do not resolve the issue, a tenant-level restriction or policy may be blocking external file management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can guest users add files but not delete them in OneDrive?

This occurs because the default 'Edit' permission assigned via external sharing links often restricts deletion to protect the organization's data from accidental removal. Changing this requires an administrator to adjust the custom permission levels in classic site settings.

How do guest accounts appear in the Microsoft 365 admin center?

When external users are invited via OneDrive sharing links, they are added to your directory as guest accounts. Their email addresses typically appear with an '#EXT#' tag, such as user#EXT#@domain.onmicrosoft.com.

Does unsharing and resharing the folder fix the rename or delete issue?

Not always. While generating a new sharing link can reset basic permissions, if a tenant-level policy or default site permission level restricts external deletion, resharing the folder will not bypass those administrative restrictions.

Document & File Issues