SharePoint Online- How to restrict users to only view PDF Document and not download it

Question

Dear Community,

I want to Allow only view of Files uploaded on SharePoint based on Certain Groups. For example, I have a group SD-HR-ADMIN. It Contains Manual of HR and Admin and the Users who are part of the group that I shared previously should be able to view it only and not download it. But Eventhough I give them view-only rights they still get download option.

Kindly guide me how can I restrict them to view-only the Manuals and unable to download the Manuals.

Above is the Image of the Security Group.

Here is the Screenshot of the Rights that I have given to them:

You can see the Selected Right, when we select this setting, the user is unable to access at all.

Kindly help me out that how can I only give view rights to any user?

And if we select "Restricted Read", then the user can continue accessing but he/she can also download it, which we don't want.

Answer 1

Hi @Seema Kanwal Gurmani ,

From my testing on restricted view, I get the same result as yours which is different from the explanation it listed in settings. I have also tried search the relevant official document to further explain about restricted view permission level. However, it seems no explanation so far. But there is a workaround for you based on your requirements. You can try to create a custom permission level for user by following steps:

1: Go to Settings and click Site permissions and select Advanced permissions settings.

2: Select Permission Levels and click Add a Permission Level.

3: Key in the name of permission level and tick the following permissions which only allow user to view pages, list items and documents but not download.

 

After you save the custom permission level, you can assign this permission level to the user or the permission groups which they only allow to view the pages, list items and document but not download.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

Dear Community,

I did try above Steps, but the List Permission does not allow me to select only "View Versions" as when I select the "View versions" it also automatically selects the "Open Items" option too.

And the user is still able to download the Form.

Kindly guide me how to Resolve it.