Permission & Access Issues

How to Manage Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Permissions for Connected Sites

Khadija Khan Oct 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

Understand and manage how Microsoft Teams membership affects permissions on connected SharePoint sites to avoid accidental loss of access.

How to Manage Microsoft Teams and SharePoint Permissions for Connected Sites

Product: Microsoft Teams and SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Administrators or site owners need to assign specific SharePoint permission levels without disrupting the users' access to the connected Microsoft Teams group.
Observed behavior: Removing users from the SharePoint Members group inadvertently removes them from the underlying Microsoft 365 group, instantly revoking their access to Microsoft Teams.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or SharePoint Administrator privileges before attempting to modify advanced permission settings for connected groups.

Solution 1Recommended

Use SharePoint Custom Groups for Site-Only Access

Create custom SharePoint groups to manage site-specific permissions independently, keeping the default Microsoft 365 group intact for Teams access.

Microsoft Teams and connected SharePoint sites share permissions through a centralized Microsoft 365 Group. Modifying the membership of the default site Members group directly impacts access to Teams.

To restrict or grant SharePoint access without affecting Teams functionality, you should use separate SharePoint-only permission groups.

Access Site Permissions

Navigate to your SharePoint site, click the gear icon in the top right corner to open 'Settings', and select 'Site permissions'.

Open Advanced Settings

At the bottom of the Site permissions panel, click on 'Advanced permissions settings' to view the classic permission structure.

Create a Custom Group

Click 'Create Group' in the ribbon. Name your new SharePoint group (e.g., 'Site Visitors' or 'Custom Members') and assign the desired permission level, such as 'Read' or 'Contribute'.

Assign Users to the Custom Group

Add specific users to this newly created custom SharePoint group. Because this group is separate from the Microsoft 365 Group, Teams membership remains unaffected.

Use SharePoint Custom Groups for Site-Only Access

Best Practice: Always leave the required users in the default Microsoft 365 group to ensure their Teams chat and channel access functions normally.

Solution 2

Adjust Default Microsoft 365 Group Permission Levels

Modify the default permission level of the connected Members group from 'Edit' to 'Contribute' to protect site structure while maintaining Teams access.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did a user lose Teams access when I removed them from SharePoint?

Connected SharePoint sites and Microsoft Teams rely on the same underlying Microsoft 365 Group. Removing a user from the default SharePoint Members group removes them from the Microsoft 365 Group, which instantly revokes their access to the connected Team.

Can I give someone access to the SharePoint site without adding them to Microsoft Teams?

Yes. You can share the SharePoint site directly or add the user to a custom SharePoint-only group (like Site Visitors or a custom Members group). Because they are not added to the Microsoft 365 Group, they will not have access to the Team.

How do I prevent users from deleting folders in SharePoint but keep them in Teams?

You need to change the default Members group permission level in SharePoint. Go to Advanced Permission Settings, select the default Members group, click 'Edit User Permissions,' and switch their access from 'Edit' to 'Contribute'.

What is the difference between Edit and Contribute permissions in SharePoint?

In SharePoint, 'Edit' allows users to add, edit, and delete lists or document libraries. 'Contribute' only allows users to add, edit, and delete items or documents within those existing libraries, making it much safer for general staff.

Document & File Issues