Permission & Access Issues

How to Switch Project Web App to Project Permission Mode

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to change the Microsoft Project Web App from SharePoint Permission Mode to Project Permission Mode and wants to clarify if SharePoint Collection Administrator permissions are required.

Product: Microsoft Project Web App
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Changing the security and access control model for a Project Server or SharePoint deployment.
Observed behavior: The system is currently running under SharePoint Permission Mode, and the user intends to switch to the more granular Project Permission Mode via administrative commands.

Before you start

Before modifying permission modes, ensure you document all existing user access and security groups, as switching modes will delete all current permission configurations in the instance.

Solution 1Recommended

Use PowerShell to Switch Permission Modes

Utilize the Set-SPProjectPermissionMode PowerShell cmdlet to transition your Project Web App instance to Project Permission Mode.

Switching to Project Permission Mode provides more granular control over user access. However, it requires appropriate administrative privileges. You must have Farm Administrator or SharePoint Site Collection Administrator rights to execute these changes successfully.

Please be aware that executing this cmdlet wipes out all existing security settings. You will need to manually rebuild your security groups and assign users after the command is completed.

Open SharePoint Management Shell

Launch the SharePoint Management Shell on your server as an administrator.

Verify Administrator Permissions

Ensure that your user account has Site Collection Administrator permissions for the specific Project Web App site collection.

Run the Permission Cmdlet

Type the command: Set-SPProjectPermissionMode -Url <Your-PWA-URL> -Mode ProjectServer (replacing <Your-PWA-URL> with your actual instance URL).

Execute the Command

Press Enter to execute the PowerShell cmdlet and wait for the configuration process to complete.

Reconfigure Security Groups

Log in to your Project Web App and recreate the necessary security groups, assigning users to their proper roles in the new Project Permission Mode.

Administrator Privileges: Yes, SharePoint Site Collection Administrator permissions (or Farm Administrator rights) are required to run the Set-SPProjectPermissionMode cmdlet in your deployment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need SharePoint Collection Administrator permissions to switch permission modes?

Yes. To successfully execute the Set-SPProjectPermissionMode PowerShell cmdlet, you typically need to be a SharePoint Site Collection Administrator or a Farm Administrator.

Will I lose my existing permissions when switching to Project Permission Mode?

Yes. Switching permission modes will delete all existing SharePoint permission groups and security settings. You must document them beforehand and recreate them manually after the switch.

How do I switch my Project Web App back to SharePoint Permission Mode?

You can switch back by running the same Set-SPProjectPermissionMode cmdlet but changing the -Mode parameter to 'SharePoint'. Be aware that this will once again erase all current security settings.

Document & File Issues