Permission & Access Issues

How to Make SharePoint List or Library Columns Read-Only

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

A site owner needs to restrict users or groups from editing specific columns while still allowing them to access and edit the rest of a SharePoint list or document library.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Securing specific column data in a list or document library from unauthorized editing or modifications.
Observed behavior: SharePoint allows access control at the list or library level, but lacks a built-in feature to set read-only permissions for individual columns.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint site to modify list settings and create new calculated columns.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Calculated Column Workaround

Create a calculated column to display data securely while hiding the original editable column from users.

Because SharePoint does not allow administrators or users to manually edit the output of a calculated column, you can use it to mirror data securely. This method applies universally to all users viewing the list.

Maintain the original column

Keep your standard column (e.g., Single line of text) where the original data is stored. This acts as your editable data source.

Create a calculated column

Navigate to List Settings > Create column. Select 'Calculated (calculation based on other columns)' as the column type.

Insert the formula

In the formula box, input a reference to your original column (e.g., =[Your Original Column Name]) and save the settings.

Hide the original column

Modify the list views and content types to hide the original editable column, ensuring users only see the read-only calculated column.

Limitation Note: This method makes the data read-only for everyone. It does not support user-specific or group-specific permission variations.

Solution 2

Customize Forms via Power Apps

Use Power Apps to enforce user-specific or group-specific column restrictions on entry forms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set column-level permissions natively in SharePoint?

No, SharePoint currently only supports permissions at the site, list, library, folder, and item levels. Setting permissions at the specific column level requires workarounds like calculated columns or Power Apps integrations.

Does hiding a column in SharePoint make it secure?

Hiding a column from a default view or form does not make it secure. Users with sufficient permissions can still access and edit the data via Quick Edit (Grid view), Microsoft Graph API, or by creating a personal view.

Can site owners edit a calculated column?

No, neither administrators nor standard users can manually edit the output value of a calculated column. The displayed value is purely derived from the background formula.

Document & File Issues