Permission & Access Issues

How to Retrieve SharePoint Storage Info Without Tenant Admin Access

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to check SharePoint site storage usage but does not have tenant administrator access and receives a 403 Forbidden error when executing the Get-PnPTenantSite PowerShell command.

How to Retrieve SharePoint Storage Information Without Tenant Admin Access

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to view storage metrics for a specific SharePoint site either via PnP PowerShell or the web interface without having global tenant-level admin rights.
Observed behavior: The Get-PnPTenantSite command fails with a 403 Forbidden error because tenant-level commands require appropriate global administrator permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your SharePoint site with your standard user account. While you do not need tenant-level administrator access, you will need at least Site Collection Administrator rights to view storage metrics via the web interface.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Storage Metrics via SharePoint Site Settings

Use the built-in SharePoint web interface to check storage usage for your specific site without needing tenant-level PowerShell commands.

If PowerShell commands are blocked due to a lack of tenant-level permissions, you can still view storage metrics directly through the SharePoint user interface, provided you have the necessary site-level permissions.

Open Site Information

Navigate to your SharePoint site. Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, then select 'Site information' from the dropdown menu.

Access All Site Settings

At the bottom of the Site information pane, click on the 'View all site settings' link to open the comprehensive settings page.

View Storage Metrics

Under the 'Site Collection Administration' section, locate and click on 'Storage Metrics'. Here you can view detailed storage usage for your site.

Check Storage Metrics via SharePoint Site Settings

Missing Storage Metrics Option: If the 'Storage Metrics' option is unavailable under Site Collection Administration, you are not a site collection administrator. You will need to request this permission from your IT department.

Solution 2

Request Site Collection Administrator Rights

If you lack access to the Storage Metrics page, you must be granted site collection admin rights by an existing SharePoint or Tenant administrator.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Get-PnPTenantSite return a 403 Forbidden error?

The Get-PnPTenantSite command operates at the tenant level and requires Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges. If you only have access to a specific site collection or standard user rights, the server will reject the request and return a 403 error.

Do I need tenant admin rights to view storage for my own SharePoint site?

No. You do not need tenant-level permissions. You only need to be designated as a Site Collection Administrator for that specific site to view its storage metrics through the SharePoint web interface.

Where can I find more help for PnP PowerShell commands and permissions?

For specific guidance on PnP PowerShell commands, error troubleshooting, and permission requirements, you should consult the official PnP PowerShell GitHub repository or Microsoft's official developer documentation.

Document & File Issues