Permission & Access Issues

How to Stop SharePoint Site Visitors from Accessing New Folders

Olivia Miller Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent members of the SharePoint Site visitors group, including external users, from automatically obtaining Read access to newly created folders.

How to Stop SharePoint Site Visitors from Accessing New Folders

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing access controls and securing new folders within a SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: SharePoint automatically grants Read access to newly created folders for the Site visitors group, allowing unintended access to external users within that group.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions for the SharePoint site or document library where you intend to modify access settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Break Permission Inheritance in the Document Library

Stop the document library from inheriting site-wide permissions so you can fully control who accesses new folders.

By default, document libraries inherit permissions from their parent SharePoint site. If external users are part of the Site visitors group, they automatically receive read access to all newly created folders. Breaking inheritance allows you to remove this group from the library without affecting the rest of your SharePoint site.

Open Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint site, open the specific Document Library, click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner, and select 'Library settings'.

Access Permission Settings

Click on 'More library settings' (if using the modern experience) and select 'Permissions for this document library'.

Stop Inheriting Permissions

Click on 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' in the top ribbon to break the link with the parent site permissions.

Remove the Visitors Group

Select the checkbox next to the 'Site visitors' group (or any group containing external users you wish to restrict) and click 'Remove User Permissions'.

Break Permission Inheritance in the Document Library

Permission Update Applied: Once the group is removed, newly created folders within this library will no longer be visible or accessible to site visitors.

Solution 2

Audit and Adjust External Sharing Settings

Verify how external users are receiving access and tighten site-level sharing settings if necessary.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do SharePoint site visitors automatically see new folders?

By default, document libraries inherit permissions from the parent SharePoint site. If a group is granted Read access at the site level, they will automatically receive the same access to all new folders created in libraries that inherit these permissions.

Will breaking inheritance affect existing folder permissions?

When you break inheritance, the library initially copies the existing site permissions. However, any subsequent changes you make (like removing the visitors group) will only apply to that specific library and its contents, not the rest of the site.

Can I break inheritance on a specific folder instead of the entire library?

Yes, you can manage access for an individual folder by clicking the ellipsis (...) next to the folder, selecting 'Manage access,' clicking 'Advanced,' and then choosing 'Stop Inheriting Permissions' just for that folder.

How do I check if an external user has access to a specific folder?

Navigate to the folder's advanced permission settings and use the 'Check Permissions' button. Enter the external user's email address to see their exact permission levels and how they were granted.

Document & File Issues