SharePoint Document Issues

How to Set Unique Permissions for a SharePoint Library or List

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to assign specific access permissions to a SharePoint document library or list rather than using the site's default inherited permissions.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing document security and access control for specific files or lists within a SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: The document library or list currently inherits permissions from the parent site, and inheritance must be broken to apply custom access rules for selected users or groups.

Before you start

Ensure you have Full Control or Site Owner privileges on the SharePoint site, as these are required to modify advanced permission settings and break inheritance.

Solution 1Recommended

Stop Inheritance and Grant Custom Permissions

Break the permission inheritance from the parent site to establish custom access levels for specific users or groups in your library.

By default, all SharePoint libraries and lists inherit permissions from the parent site. To restrict or grant special access, you must first stop this inheritance before assigning new permission levels.

Create or Select a Permission Level

Go to your SharePoint site, open the Site settings, and navigate to Advanced permission settings to verify or create the specific permission level you want to assign.

Access Library or List Settings

Navigate to the specific document library or list you want to secure. Click on the 'Settings' gear icon, then select 'Library settings' or 'List settings'.

Open Permissions Page

Under the Permissions and Management section, click on 'Permissions for this document library' or 'Permissions for this list'.

Stop Inheriting Permissions

In the Permissions ribbon at the top of the page, click the 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' button to break the link with the parent site.

Grant Custom Permissions

Click 'Grant Permissions' in the ribbon, enter the names of the appropriate users or groups, select the custom permission level you identified earlier, and click 'Share'.

Reverting Permissions: You can always select 'Delete unique permissions' in the ribbon later to remove custom settings and restore inheritance from the parent site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I stop inheriting permissions in SharePoint?

When you click 'Stop Inheriting Permissions', SharePoint creates a disconnected copy of the parent site's permissions for that specific library or list. You can then safely remove or add specific users without affecting the access rules of the rest of the site.

Can I revert back to inherited permissions later?

Yes. You can return to the library or list permissions page and click 'Delete unique permissions' in the ribbon. This action erases the custom security settings and re-applies the permissions inherited from the parent site.

Why is the 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' button missing?

The 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' button is only visible to users who have Full Control or Site Owner permissions. If you do not see this option, you will need to request the site administrator to grant you the necessary access rights.

Document & File Issues