Table of Contents

Use Protect app

This guide explains the everyday workflow in Protect app, from opening a site to applying access changes safely.

Before you start

  • Protect app is installed on the site.
  • You have SharePoint permission to manage access on the selected content.
  • For licensed actions (such as edit/remove/import), your subscription is active.

1. Open Protect app

  1. Open the document library and select a file or folder.
  2. Choose Manage permissions to open Protect app.

Open Manage permissions from a folder

2. Choose where to work

Protect app gives you two working modes:

  • All sites: View accessible SharePoint sites and filter by site type, external sharing mode, and lock state.
  • Site permissions view: Work on one site or folder path with breadcrumb navigation and full permission details.

Use the All sites button in the breadcrumb to return to site-level overview at any time.

Open the All sites overview in Protect

3. Find entries fast

Use the search and filter panel to narrow results:

  • Item type: site, library, folder, file, list
  • Shared with: SharePoint groups, Microsoft 365 groups, internal users, guests, sharing links
  • Access level
  • Location path
  • Access source: custom vs inherited

If needed, enable Load nested sharing entries to include deeper folder content.

Filter panel in Protect

4. Add access

  1. Navigate to the target folder or item.
  2. Select Add.
  3. Choose one person or group.
  4. Choose an access level.
  5. Optional: enable Notify people.
  6. Confirm to apply.

Grant access to selected folder

5. Change or remove existing access

  1. Select one or multiple entries in the table.
  2. Select Edit to change the access level in bulk, or Remove to revoke access.
  3. Confirm the action.

When all direct entries are removed from a scope, Protect app can reset inheritance automatically to keep permissions consistent.

6. Import or export with Excel

  • Export: Download current entries to Excel for audit or review.
  • Import from Excel: Upload a permission template and validate paths, groups, and roles before applying changes.

Import remains blocked until validation issues are resolved.

7. Refresh and verify

  • Use Refresh after changes to reload current access.
  • Keep the tab open while large loads or save operations are running.

Troubleshooting

  • You do not have access to this site: ask a site admin for permission.
  • Site not found or unavailable: verify site URL or current context.
  • Action blocked by subscription: activate or renew your Protect subscription.
  • Long-running load: leave the tab open until progress completes.