SharePoint & OneDrive · Content & Permissions

Site Member

Edit permission level on a SharePoint site. Can add, edit, and delete content in lists and libraries but cannot manage site settings.

Scope: Single SharePoint site

Permissions

  • Lists and libraries - Add, edit, and delete items
  • Pages - Edit pages (if granted)
  • Documents - Upload, edit, and delete files
  • Views - Create personal views
  • Alerts - Create alerts for changes

Common use cases

  • Team collaboration
  • Document co-authoring
  • Project participation
  • Content contribution

Best practices

  • Default role for most site users
  • Use for active contributors
  • Manage via security groups when possible

Security considerations

  • Can delete content created by others
  • Can share items if sharing is enabled for members
  • Cannot see items with broken inheritance they lack access to

Common questions

When should I assign the Site Member role?

Assign Site Member when you need to: Team collaboration; Document co-authoring; Project participation; and Content contribution. It is part of SharePoint & OneDrive and should be granted as a least-privilege alternative to broader roles like Global Administrator.

What can someone with the Site Member role do?

The Site Member role grants permissions including: Lists and libraries - Add, edit, and delete items; Pages - Edit pages (if granted); Documents - Upload, edit, and delete files; Views - Create personal views; and Alerts - Create alerts for changes. See the Permissions section above for the full list.

What are the security risks of the Site Member role?

Key considerations when assigning Site Member: Can delete content created by others; Can share items if sharing is enabled for members; and Cannot see items with broken inheritance they lack access to. Review the Security considerations section before assignment, and pair with Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time access where possible.

Official Microsoft Learn documentation →

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