Permission & Access Issues

How to Let SharePoint Users Create Items but Not Edit Them

Emma Brown Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to restrict SharePoint list permissions so that site members can submit new items but are prevented from modifying them after submission.

How to Let SharePoint Users Create Items but Not Edit Them

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing a data collection, ticketing, or submission list where post-submission tampering must be strictly prevented.
Observed behavior: By default, users with standard Contribute access can edit existing items, requiring custom permission levels and item-level restrictions to remove editing capabilities while retaining creation rights.

Before you start

Ensure you have Full Control or Site Owner permissions on the SharePoint site to modify permission levels and list settings. It is recommended to create a custom permission level rather than modifying default site-wide permissions to avoid disrupting other workflows.

Solution 1Recommended

Restrict Editing via Advanced Settings and Custom Permission Levels

This method provides robust server-side protection by removing the 'Edit Items' permission from users and configuring item-level privacy settings directly on the list.

Relying solely on visual tweaks like JSON formatting is insecure because users can bypass the interface. Modifying the actual permission levels ensures data integrity.

Access Site Advanced Permissions

Navigate to your SharePoint site, click on the Settings gear icon, and select Site Permissions. From there, click on 'Advanced permissions settings'.

Create or Edit the Permission Level

Click on 'Permission Levels' in the top ribbon. Instead of modifying the default 'Contribute' level (which affects the whole site), click on 'Contribute', scroll to the bottom, and click 'Copy Permission Level'. Name it 'Submit Only', uncheck the box for 'Edit Items', and click Save.

Assign the New Permission to Users

Go to your specific list, click Settings > List settings > Permissions for this list. Click 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' if necessary. Select the users or groups, click 'Edit User Permissions', assign your new 'Submit Only' level, and click OK.

Configure Item-Level Permissions

Return to the List Settings page and click 'Advanced settings'. Under 'Item-level Permissions', set Read access to 'Read items that were created by the user' (optional) and set Create and Edit access to 'Create items and edit items that were created by the user'. Click OK to save.

Restrict Editing via Advanced Settings and Custom Permission Levels

Enhanced Security: This configuration completely revokes edit privileges on the backend, offering much stronger protection than hiding buttons via view formatting.

Solution 2

Restrict Editing Using JSON View Formatting (UI Only)

Use this method if you only want to hide the edit buttons from the user interface without changing underlying site permissions. This should only be used to simplify the user experience, not for security.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use JSON view formatting to securely prevent users from editing SharePoint items?

No, JSON view formatting only hides the edit buttons in the user interface. Savvy users can still bypass this via the search function, API requests, or by switching to different list views. For true security, you must adjust the SharePoint permission levels.

Why can users still edit items after I changed the list settings?

If users are assigned standard 'Contribute' or 'Edit' permission levels at the site or list level, those broad permissions will override the item-level creation settings. You must create or edit a permission level to specifically uncheck the 'Edit Items' box.

Will changing the Contribute permission level affect other lists on my SharePoint site?

Yes, modifying the default Contribute permission level applies to the entire site. To prevent unintended consequences across other lists, it is highly recommended to copy the Contribute permission to create a custom level (e.g., 'Submit Only') and assign that custom level exclusively for this specific list.

Can users view items submitted by other people with these restricted settings?

It depends on how you configure the 'Item-level Permissions' in the Advanced Settings. If you select 'Read items that were created by the user', they will only see their own submissions. If you want them to see everything but only submit new items, change the Read access to 'Read all items'.

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