License & Subscription Issues

How to Fix Project for the Web Read-Only Access Issues with Microsoft 365 E3

Huda Qurayshi Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where Microsoft 365 E3 license holders cannot open projects shared by Project Plan 3 users.

Fix Project for the Web Read-Only Access Issues with Microsoft 365 E3

Product: Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to open and view a shared project in Project for the web using a Microsoft 365 E3 license.
Observed behavior: Affected users are unable to access the shared project despite having Project for the web licensing included in their E3 plan.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 admin center privileges to verify user licenses and project sharing permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Project Licensing and Permissions

Check if the user has the correct read permissions and ensure the project type doesn't require a higher license tier.

Project Online projects have different licensing requirements compared to standard Project for the web files. Even for read-only access, Project Online projects may strictly require a Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5 license.

Check User Permissions

Navigate to the shared project settings and confirm that the affected Microsoft 365 E3 users have been explicitly granted read access.

Identify Project Type

Determine whether the shared file is a standard Project for the web project or a Project Online project. This dictates the minimum required license.

Review Required Licenses

If it is a Project Online project, notify the administrator that an appropriate Project Plan license is required for the users.

Verify Project Licensing and Permissions

Licensing Constraints: Microsoft 365 E3 only includes basic viewing rights for standard Project for the web, not full Project Online environments.

Solution 2

Test Access by Upgrading to Project Plan 3

Temporarily assign a higher license to an affected user to determine if the issue is strictly license-related.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't Microsoft 365 E3 users view shared Project Online projects?

Project Online utilizes a different backend than Project for the web. Viewing Project Online projects typically requires a dedicated Project Plan 3 or Project Plan 5 license, which is not included in the standard E3 subscription.

How long does it take for a new Microsoft Project license to take effect?

While license assignments in Microsoft 365 often take effect within minutes, full propagation across all cloud services can sometimes take up to 24 hours.

Does Microsoft 365 E3 include Project for the web?

Yes, Microsoft 365 E3 includes basic viewing rights for Project for the web files, provided the user has been granted appropriate read permissions and the file isn't hosted in Project Online.

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