Permission & Access Issues

How to Retrieve SharePoint Site Owners, Members, Visitors, and Admins

Amos Gikunda Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to retrieve and view the assigned roles (Owners, Members, Visitors, and Admins) for a specific SharePoint site.

How to Retrieve SharePoint Site Owners, Members, Visitors, and Admins

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing site permissions, verifying user access levels, or automating permission audits within a Microsoft SharePoint environment.
Observed behavior: To successfully list all users and their respective administrative or access roles on a SharePoint site using built-in portals or APIs.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed in with a SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator account to view all site collection roles and permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the SharePoint Admin Center

The most straightforward method for administrators to view site roles through a visual interface.

This method is ideal for routine administration and quick checks without the need for scripting.

Access the admin center

Go to Active sites

Under the 'Sites' menu in the left navigation pane, click on 'Active sites' to view all site collections.

Select your site

Click on the specific SharePoint site you want to inspect. A details panel will slide out on the right side of the screen.

View Permissions

Click on the 'Permissions' tab within the details panel to view the assigned Site Admins, Owners, Members, and Visitors.

Administrative Access: You will only see the 'Active sites' menu if you possess the required administrative privileges in your tenant.

Solution 2

Use SharePoint Online PowerShell

Ideal for IT administrators who need to manage permissions in bulk or export role data.

Solution 3

Use REST APIs or Microsoft Graph

Best for developers building automated workflows or custom administrative applications.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Enhance Your Team Collaboration with WPS Office

While managing your SharePoint site permissions, empower your team with WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative to Microsoft Office, designed to seamlessly handle the documents, spreadsheets, and presentations you store in SharePoint.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install the software: Run the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Open SharePoint files: Launch WPS Office to easily view, edit, and collaborate on documents downloaded or synced from your SharePoint libraries.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) hosted on SharePoint.Lightweight installation with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface.Comprehensive built-in PDF editing and conversion tools.Cost-effective solution supporting seamless migration for businesses.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Permissions tab missing in the SharePoint admin center?

You must have the SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator role assigned to your account. Without these privileges, the Active sites list and the respective Permissions tabs will remain hidden.

What is the difference between Site Owners and Site Collection Administrators?

Site Collection Administrators have full administrative control over all sites within a site collection. Site Owners typically only have full control over the specific individual site to which they are assigned.

Can I use Microsoft Graph to manage all SharePoint site permissions?

Microsoft Graph coverage varies depending on the specific role and resource you are trying to access. Some advanced administrative tasks still require using SharePoint REST APIs or PowerShell. Always check Microsoft Learn for the most up-to-date API capabilities.

Is app-only authentication required to use the SharePoint REST API?

App-only authentication (frequently utilizing certificate-based authentication) is required for unattended automation scripts. However, for scripts executed manually by a user, delegated user permissions can be utilized instead.

Document & File Issues