Permission & Access Issues

How to Restore OneDrive Permission Inheritance for Folders

Bushra Parveen Oct 9, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to make a child folder inherit sharing permissions from its parent folder in OneDrive after unique permissions were previously applied.

How to Restore OneDrive Permission Inheritance from a Parent Folder

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing access levels and directory sharing settings within a OneDrive file structure.
Observed behavior: Child folders and files retain their own read/write access settings, failing to cascade the read-only or restricted permissions assigned to the parent folder.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator or full control access to both the parent and child folders in OneDrive. It is also recommended to notify current collaborators, as changing permissions might revoke their access to specific files.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Unique Permissions in OneDrive Advanced Settings

The most direct way to fix permission cascading is to delete unique permissions on the child folder, forcing it to inherit access rights from the parent directory.

When a folder in OneDrive stops inheriting permissions, it is usually because unique sharing links or direct access rights were granted specifically to that folder. Removing these unique permissions will revert the folder to the parent's access level.

Log into OneDrive web

Open your web browser, navigate to the OneDrive portal, log in, and locate the specific child folder that has incorrect permissions.

Open Manage Access

Hover over or select the folder, click the 'Show actions' (three dots) icon, and choose 'Manage access' from the dropdown menu.

Access advanced permissions

Scroll down in the Manage Access panel and click on 'Advanced' to open the detailed permissions settings page for that folder.

Restore inheritance

Click 'Delete unique permissions' on the top ribbon. Confirm the prompt to remove unique access rights, which will automatically restore the folder's inheritance from its parent.

Remove Unique Permissions in OneDrive Advanced Settings

Check Sharing Links: Items inside the folder with separate, active sharing links may still bypass inherited permissions. Review and delete individual sharing links from the Manage Access panel if necessary.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't a child folder inherit permissions from its parent in OneDrive?

This happens if someone manually shared the child folder using a unique sharing link or granted direct access, which breaks the standard inheritance chain from the parent folder.

Will restoring inheritance delete any files in my OneDrive?

No, restoring inheritance only modifies who has access to view or edit the files. It does not delete, move, or alter the actual content of your documents or folders.

Can I restore folder inheritance directly from the OneDrive desktop app?

Advanced permission management usually requires opening OneDrive in a web browser. You can right-click the folder in your desktop app and select 'View online' to quickly access these settings.

How do I check if a folder has unique permissions applied?

Go to the 'Manage access' panel for the folder and click 'Advanced'. If the settings ribbon displays a 'Delete unique permissions' option, the folder is currently not inheriting access from its parent.

Document & File Issues