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How to Manage SharePoint Permissions for Home Page, Library, and Subsite
Question details
The user needs to configure separate SharePoint permissions for a home page, document library, and subsite, as navigation links remain visible to users lacking access.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring separate access controls for different components of a SharePoint site to ensure users only access permitted areas.
- Observed behavior
- Users can see navigation links to subsites they do not have permission to open because inherited permissions are granting unwanted visibility.
Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions in SharePoint before attempting to modify site, library, or subsite access settings.
Break Inheritance and Separate Permissions
Stop inheriting permissions from the parent site to customize access for the specific document library or subsite.
By default, SharePoint document libraries and subsites inherit permissions from the parent site. To restrict specific groups from accessing a library while maintaining their access to other areas, you must break this inheritance.
Navigate to the main document library, click on the Settings gear icon, select 'Library settings', and then click on 'Permissions for this document library'.
Review the permission list to determine if the unauthorized group (e.g., Group 2) has inherited access from the parent site.
Click on 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' in the top ribbon. This action allows you to create unique permissions for this specific library.
Select the checkbox next to the group you want to restrict (e.g., Group 2) and click 'Remove User Permissions' in the ribbon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can users see a subsite link if they don't have permission to access it?
In SharePoint, navigation links can sometimes be configured manually without security trimming, meaning the link text remains visible to everyone. However, if security trimming is properly enabled in structural navigation, unauthorized users should not see the links.
How do I restore permission inheritance in a SharePoint library?
If you want the library to use the parent site's permissions again, navigate to the library permission settings and click 'Delete unique permissions' in the ribbon. This will permanently remove the custom permissions and restore the inherited access levels.
Can I hide navigation links from users without permissions?
Yes. By ensuring that the site navigation uses structural navigation with 'security trimming' enabled, or by manually enabling 'target audiences' for specific navigation links, unauthorized users will not be able to see the restricted links.
