Permission & Access Issues

How to Manage SharePoint Folder Permissions for Read and Edit Access

Huda Qurayshi Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to configure a SharePoint folder to grant an IT group edit access while restricting other users to read-only access, particularly during a file server migration.

How to Manage SharePoint Folder Permissions for Read and Edit Access

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Migrating files to SharePoint and setting up distinct access controls for different user groups.
Observed behavior: Enforcing specific read and edit access rights at the folder level to maintain data integrity.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Administrator privileges or Full Control access to the target SharePoint site to modify advanced folder permission settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Assign Unique Folder Permissions using SharePoint Groups

Stop folder permission inheritance to manually apply Contribute/Edit rights to an IT group and Read rights to others.

By default, SharePoint folders inherit permissions from their parent document library. To assign specific access levels, you must first break this inheritance. It is highly recommended to use Microsoft 365 security groups or SharePoint groups rather than assigning permissions to individual users.

Access Folder Permissions

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, hover over the target folder, click the three-dot (ellipsis) icon, and select 'Manage access'.

Open Advanced Settings

In the Manage Access panel, scroll to the bottom and click on 'Advanced' to open the advanced permissions settings page for that folder.

Stop Inheriting Permissions

Click 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' in the top ribbon. Confirm the prompt to break the permission link with the parent site.

Grant Group Permissions

Click 'Grant Permissions' in the ribbon. Invite the IT group and select 'Edit' or 'Contribute' under the permissions level. Repeat this process for the other user group, ensuring you select 'Read' as their permission level.

Assign Unique Folder Permissions using SharePoint Groups

Permission Planning: Plan your folder permission structure carefully before initiating a file server migration to prevent access disruption.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I revert a SharePoint folder back to inheriting permissions?

Go to the folder's Advanced Permissions settings page and click 'Delete unique permissions' in the top ribbon. This will erase the custom setup and restore inheritance from the parent document library.

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

'Contribute' allows users to view, add, update, and delete documents. 'Edit' includes all 'Contribute' rights plus the ability to manage lists and libraries.

Why can't I see the 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' option?

This option is only visible to users with Site Administrator privileges or Full Control permissions over the document library. Standard edit users cannot break permission inheritance.

Can I apply SharePoint permissions to individual users instead of groups?

Yes, you can use the 'Grant Permissions' menu to add specific individuals. However, using Microsoft 365 or SharePoint groups is recommended to make long-term access management much easier.

Document & File Issues