Permission & Access Issues

How to Restrict SharePoint Folder Access While Keeping the Site Open

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to configure permissions so that specific folders are limited to select users or groups, while ensuring the broader SharePoint site remains visible to all employees.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing document security and privacy within a company-wide SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: By default, folders inherit permissions from the parent site, automatically granting all site visitors access unless unique folder-level permissions are applied.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint site, as these privileges are required to modify folder-level access and break permission inheritance.

Solution 1Recommended

Stop Inherited Permissions and Assign Unique Access

By breaking the permission inheritance, you can remove general site visitors and explicitly grant access only to the required users for a specific folder without affecting the rest of the site.

SharePoint permissions flow downward from the main site to the document libraries and folders. To restrict a single folder, you must first stop this flow (inheritance) and then customize the access list.

Select the target folder

Navigate to your SharePoint document library, hover over the folder you want to restrict, and click the three-dot menu icon (More options).

Open Manage Access

Select 'Manage access' from the dropdown menu, then scroll to the bottom of the right-hand panel and click on 'Advanced settings'.

Stop inheriting permissions

In the advanced permissions page, click the 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' button located in the top ribbon. Confirm the prompt to create unique permissions for this folder.

Remove unwanted users

Select the checkboxes next to the users or groups (such as site visitors or all employees) who should no longer have access, and click 'Remove User Permissions' in the ribbon.

Grant specific access

Click 'Grant Permissions' in the ribbon, enter the names or email addresses of the specific users or groups who need to view or edit the folder, choose their permission level, and click 'Share'.

Site Access Unaffected: Because you only broke inheritance at the folder level, the broader SharePoint site remains fully accessible to all employees based on its original permissions.

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1. Open and share: Open your document in WPS Office and click the 'Share' button located in the top right corner of the application.
2. Set access permissions: In the sharing panel, restrict access by selecting 'Specific people' and choosing whether they have 'View Only' or 'Editor' privileges.
3. Generate secure link: Copy the secure link or send the invitation directly via email to ensure only authorized users can access your file.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will stopping inherited permissions affect files inside the restricted folder?

Yes. Any files or subfolders located inside the restricted folder will automatically inherit the new, unique permissions you just established, meaning only the restricted group will have access to them.

How do I restore normal access to the restricted folder later?

You can revert the folder to the site's default access list by navigating back to the folder's Advanced settings page and clicking 'Delete unique permissions' in the ribbon. This restores inheritance from the parent site.

Can I completely hide the folder from users who don't have access?

Yes. In SharePoint, users generally only see items they have permission to access. Once you remove a user's permissions, the restricted folder will automatically disappear from their document library view.

Why don't I see the 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' button in advanced settings?

If the button is missing, you likely lack the necessary administrative privileges. Only Site Owners or users assigned Full Control or Design permissions have the authority to break inheritance and modify advanced folder security.

Document & File Issues