Permission & Access Issues

How to Restrict Editing of a SharePoint List Choice Column

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent certain users from modifying a specific choice column in a SharePoint list while still allowing them to view the data.

How to Restrict Editing of a SharePoint List Choice Column

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing list item permissions and maintaining data integrity within a shared SharePoint environment.
Observed behavior: SharePoint natively applies edit permissions to entire list items, meaning any user with edit access to an item can modify all of its columns, including choice columns.

Before you start

Verify your current SharePoint site permissions to ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control access, which is required to modify list settings or customize forms with Power Apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Apps to Customize the List Form

Since SharePoint lacks built-in column permissions, customizing the list form with Power Apps is the most robust way to conditionally restrict editing for specific fields.

Power Apps allows you to change the display mode of a specific column based on user permissions or roles. By setting a choice column's data card to 'View' mode, users can see the current selection but cannot alter it.

Open Power Apps Integration

Navigate to your SharePoint list. Click on 'Integrate' in the top command bar, select 'Power Apps', and then choose 'Customize forms'.

Select the DataCard

Once the Power Apps studio loads, look at the Tree view on the left. Expand the form and select the DataCard that corresponds to your Choice column.

Modify the DisplayMode

In the properties pane on the right, switch to the 'Advanced' tab and click 'Unlock to change properties'. Find the 'DisplayMode' property and change its value from 'Parent.DisplayMode' to 'DisplayMode.View'.

Save and Publish

Click 'File' in the top left, select 'Save', and then click 'Publish to SharePoint'. Users opening the form will now see the choice column as read-only.

Use Power Apps to Customize the List Form

Advanced Conditional Logic: You can also use an If() statement in the DisplayMode formula to make the field read-only only for specific users while allowing admins to edit it.

Solution 2

Assign Read-Only Permission to the Entire List Item

If specific users do not need to edit any data within the list item at all, you can downgrade their overall permission to Read.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Tabular Data Easily with WPS Office

SharePoint's lack of column-level permissions can make data management complicated. If you're managing structured data and need precise control over who can edit specific columns, consider using WPS Spreadsheet. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Excel with built-in cell and column locking features.

1. Open Your Data in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your exported list data in the Spreadsheet application.
2. Select the Target Column: Highlight the choice column you want to restrict users from editing.
3. Apply Sheet Protection: Navigate to the 'Review' tab, click 'Protect Sheet', and configure the settings to prevent unauthorized edits to your locked cells.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats for seamless data migration.Easily lock and password-protect specific columns, rows, or cells natively.Create comprehensive data validation drop-down lists without any coding.Free, lightweight, and features a familiar, easy-to-use interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SharePoint support column-level permissions natively?

No, SharePoint does not provide built-in column-level permissions. Edit permissions are applied at the list or item level, meaning anyone who can edit the item can edit all its columns by default.

Can I use JSON formatting to restrict editing in SharePoint?

JSON formatting can hide fields or change their appearance, but it is not a true security measure. Tech-savvy users can still bypass JSON formatting using the 'Edit in grid view' feature or SharePoint APIs to modify the choice column.

Is Power Apps free to use for customizing SharePoint forms?

Yes, standard Power Apps capabilities for customizing SharePoint list forms are included with most standard Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise licenses.

Will customizing the form with Power Apps prevent editing in Grid View?

No, Power Apps only customizes the standard entry form. To prevent users from bypassing your form restrictions, you should also disable 'Edit in grid view' in the SharePoint list's Advanced Settings.

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