Permissions allow SharePoint users to perform certain actions, such as edit items in a list or create a site. But you can't assign individual permissions to individual users in SharePoint. Instead, you group related permissions together into a permission level. Then you assign that permission level to one of your SharePoint groups.

SharePoint comes with some default permission levels that you can use, such as Contribute and View Only. But if one of those doesn't meet your needs, you can create a new permissions level. It's a best practice that you don't change the default permission levels.

To create or make changes to permission levels, you must belong to a SharePoint group that includes the permission to Manage Permissions. By default, you have this permission if you belong to the Owners group.

Best practices for permission levels

Permission levels apply to a specific site collection. This means that any changes you make to a permission level will have an effect throughout the site collection. Therefore, here are some recommendations:

Don't edit default permission levels. If you change a default permission level, the changes affect all the built-in SharePoint groups within the site collection. It can also cause confusion if you have two site collections that have permission levels with the same name, but each contains a different set of permissions.

Don't delete default permissionlevels.   If you delete a default permission level, it will be removed from all built-in SharePoint groups that contain it within the site collection. This can cause users assigned to those groups to lose critical permissions.

Assign permission levels to SharePoint groups.   You can assign a permission level to a SharePoint user, but it's easier if you assign permission levels to a SharePoint group. This can also help site performance

To open the Permissions Levels Page

Click Site Settings > Site Permissions

On the Permissions tab, in the Manage group, choose PermissionLevels.

Note:  You can make changes to any of the listed permission levels EXCEPT Full Control and Limited Access.
(back to Site Owner Help)

On the Permission Levels page, choose Add a Permission Level.

On the Add a Permission Level page provide the name and the description.

In the Permissions area, select the check boxes next to the list, site, and personal permissions that you want this permission level to include.

Click Create.  After you create the permission level, you can then assign it to a SharePoint group.

(back to Site Owner Help)

(back to Site Owner Help)

A quick way to create a new permission level is to make a copy of an existing permission level. You might want to do this when the existing permission level has permissions similar to what the new permission level will have. After you make the copy, you can add or remove the permissions you need the new permission level to have.

On the Permission Levels page, click the name of the permission level that you want to copy. Be sure to click the link; do not select the checkbox next to the name. For example, Contribute, as shown here.

On the Edit Permission Level page, choose Copy Permission Level, which is at the bottom of the page after the Personal Permissions section.

On the Copy Permission Level page, type a name and description for the new permission level.

Choose which permissions you want to add or remove

Then choose Create.

After you create the permission level, you can then assign it to a SharePoint group.

(back to Site Owner Help)

(back to Site Owner Help)

You can make the following changes to a permission level:

• Update the name or description
• Add or remove permissions

It is recommended that you don't make any changes to the default permission levels that come with SharePoint. You can't make changes to the Full Control and Limited Access default permission levels.

On the Permission Levels page, click the name of the permission level you want to edit. Be sure to click the link; do not select the checkbox next to the name.

On Edit Permission Level page you can:

• Change the description.
• Add or remove permissions to the level.

After you have made you changes, click Submit.

You can delete any permission level, except for Full Control and Limited Access. It is recommended that you don't delete a default permission level.

(back to Site Owner Help)

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On the Permissions Levels page, select the check box next to the permission level that you want to delete, and then choose Delete Selected Permission Levels.

(back to Site Owner Help)