Permission & Access Issues

What the People Icon Means in a SharePoint Document Library

Guest Writer Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to understand the meaning of the people icon appearing next to files or folders in a SharePoint document library and how to check the associated sharing permissions.

What the People Icon Means in a SharePoint Document Library

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating a SharePoint document library and encountering unexpected people icons next to specific files or folders.
Observed behavior: A people icon appears beside certain items, indicating that the item has been shared or has access granted to additional users, even if direct sharing was not intentionally set.

Before you start

Ensure you have the appropriate site member or owner permissions to view and manage advanced access settings for files and folders in the SharePoint document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Review Direct Sharing via Manage Access

Use the Manage Access feature to verify if the file or folder has been directly shared with specific users, groups, or via sharing links.

The people icon primarily indicates that an item is shared. The most direct way to identify who has access is by reviewing the active sharing links and direct permissions assigned to the item.

Select the Item

Navigate to your SharePoint document library and click the checkmark next to the file or folder displaying the people icon.

Open Manage Access

Click the three-dot menu (ellipsis) next to the item name and select 'Manage access' from the dropdown menu.

Review Permissions

In the Manage Access panel, review the 'Links giving access' and 'Direct access' sections to see which users or groups have been granted permission.

Managing Links: If you wish to remove the people icon, you can stop sharing the item by deleting the sharing links or removing specific users from the Direct Access list.

Solution 2

Investigate Inherited Permissions and Site-Level Access

If Manage Access shows no direct sharing, investigate permissions inherited from parent folders, the SharePoint site, or OneDrive policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the people icon appear on a folder I haven't shared?

The folder may be inheriting permissions from a parent folder, the broader SharePoint site, or OneDrive access policies. Even if you didn't share it directly, users with access to the higher-level directory automatically gain access, triggering the icon.

How can I remove the people icon from my SharePoint file?

You need to revoke shared access. Select the file, click the ellipsis to open 'Manage access,' and delete any sharing links or remove specific users from the 'Direct access' list until the file is only accessible by you.

Can OneDrive policies affect my SharePoint document library icons?

Yes. Because OneDrive and SharePoint share the same underlying Microsoft 365 permissions architecture, access policies or permissions granted at the OneDrive level can cascade down, causing the shared icon to appear in your document libraries.

Document & File Issues