SharePoint Document Issues

How to Prevent Users from Changing SharePoint Site Layouts

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

A site owner needs to allow users to edit SharePoint page content without granting them the ability to change the page's structural layout.

How to Prevent Users from Changing the SharePoint Site Layout

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing user permissions to secure site structure from accidental modifications during content updates.
Observed behavior: Users with standard edit permissions are inadvertently changing the site layout because SharePoint bundles content editing and layout editing in the same permission level.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged in with Site Owner or Full Control administrative privileges to adjust user permissions and configure approval workflows.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Page Approvals and Limit Edit Access

Since SharePoint does not offer a separate permission exclusively for text editing without layout changes, implementing a page approval workflow is the most effective workaround to control structural changes.

SharePoint Online currently ties page content editing and page layout modification to the same 'Edit' permission level. To prevent unwanted structural modifications, site owners must rely on controlled publishing workflows.

By enforcing page approvals, any changes made by users with Edit permissions—including accidental layout shifts—will be held in a draft state until an administrator reviews and approves them.

Enable Page Approvals

Navigate to your SharePoint site's 'Pages' library. Click on the 'Automate' dropdown menu, select 'Power Automate', and then click on 'Configure page approval flow'.

Set Up the Workflow

Follow the prompt to create the flow. Specify the site owners or designated administrators who will act as approvers for any page modifications.

Review Changes Before Publishing

Once enabled, when a user edits a page and clicks 'Submit for approval', the approver can review the draft. If the layout was accidentally altered, the approver can reject the changes or correct the layout before publishing.

Submit Feature Feedback

Because a dedicated 'content-only edit' permission is highly requested, navigate to the Microsoft SharePoint Feedback Portal to submit or upvote this requirement for future updates.

Use Page Approvals and Limit Edit Access

Permission Levels: Assigning users the 'Contribute' permission instead of 'Edit' prevents them from modifying the page layout entirely, but it also prevents them from editing the page content. 'Contribute' only allows users to add or edit items within lists and document libraries.

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1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free application for Windows, Mac, or Linux.
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3. Edit and Save: Make your edits seamlessly and save the files in standard Microsoft formats before uploading them back to your SharePoint site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a custom SharePoint permission level just for editing text?

No, SharePoint currently does not allow you to separate text editing from layout editing on site pages. The 'Add and Customize Pages' permission dictates both capabilities.

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

The 'Contribute' permission allows users to add, update, and delete list items and documents in libraries. The 'Edit' permission includes all 'Contribute' rights plus the ability to manage lists and modify SharePoint site pages.

How do I revert an accidental layout change on a SharePoint page?

If versioning is enabled in your Pages library, you can go to Site Contents, open the Site Pages library, click the ellipsis (...) next to the affected page, select 'Version History', and restore a previous version of the page before the layout was altered.

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