Permission & Access Issues

How to Restrict Access to a Project Online Project Center View

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restrict access to specific views in the Project Online or PWA Project Center so that only administrators can see them.

Product: Project Online / PWA
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Configuring view permissions to hide sensitive data (like Cost views) from standard team members and project managers while retaining full access for administrators.
Observed behavior: Currently, unauthorized users may be able to see restricted views in the Project Center, which requires modifying the default security categories and group permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged in with administrator privileges in Project Web App (PWA) before modifying security groups, categories, or global permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Default Security Categories in PWA Settings

Edit default categories to remove restricted views from standard user groups like Project Managers and Team Members.

This is the most direct way to hide specific views (such as Cost views) without completely revoking a user's access to the Project Center.

Access PWA Settings

Navigate to your Project Web App (PWA) settings menu and click on 'Manage Categories' under the Security section.

Edit the 'My Projects' Category

Select the 'My Projects' category, which is typically used by Project Managers, and remove the restricted view (e.g., Cost view) from the available views list.

Edit the 'My Tasks' Category

Select the 'My Tasks' category used by Team Members and remove the same restricted view.

Verify Administrator Access

Ensure that the restricted view remains assigned to the 'My Organization' category, allowing administrators to retain access to it.

Solution 2

Disable Global Project Center Access for Specific Users

Prevent users from seeing project summaries in the Project Center while still allowing direct access to specific authorized projects.

Solution 3

Validate Permissions with a Test Account

Always test your new permission configurations before applying them broadly to ensure views are correctly restricted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hide the Cost view from Project Managers but keep it for Administrators in PWA?

Yes, you can achieve this by removing the Cost view from the 'My Projects' category in PWA Settings, while ensuring it remains enabled in the 'My Organization' category, which is typically used by Administrators.

How can team members access a project if they can't view the Project Center?

If you disable the 'View Project Center' global permission for Team Members, they will no longer see the summary list. However, they can still access specific authorized projects by clicking on a direct URL link to the project site.

Why are my permission changes not reflecting immediately in Project Online?

Permission changes in Project Web App (PWA) might take a few moments to synchronize across the server. Ensure you have saved your category and group configurations, and ask users to log out, clear their browser cache, and log back in.

Document & File Issues