Sharepoint 2019 Prevent Download ^hot^ May 2026

The most common way to block downloads is to create a custom permission level that removes the "Open Items" permission. Because SharePoint uses "Open Items" to facilitate downloading, unchecking this box effectively restricts the user to browser-only viewing.

Go to your document library, stop inheriting permissions if necessary, and assign this new "Read - No Download" level to your specific users or groups. Method 2: Information Rights Management (IRM)

Under , uncheck Open Items (this automatically unchecks View Versions ). sharepoint 2019 prevent download

If your primary concern is users taking entire libraries offline, you can disable the "Sync" button at the site level.

This prevents the OneDrive sync client from downloading content, though it does not block manual single-file downloads from the web browser. Comparison of Methods Custom Permission Level Information Rights Management (IRM) Browser viewing only; "Download" button hidden. Files are encrypted; requires compatible viewer. Complexity Simple; requires no extra infrastructure. High; requires AD RMS or Azure Rights Management. Protection Prevents download through UI. Protects files even after they are downloaded. Best For Internal document sharing and "View Only" access. Highly sensitive or confidential data. The most common way to block downloads is

An administrator must first enable the IRM service in the SharePoint Admin Center under classic settings.

Check the box for "Restrict permissions on this library on download" and configure additional options such as "Do not allow users to print" or "Prevent opening in the browser". Method 3: Disable Sync and Offline Access Method 2: Information Rights Management (IRM) Under ,

In SharePoint 2019, preventing file downloads is not a default setting but can be achieved by using custom permission levels or Information Rights Management (IRM). These methods allow users to view documents in the browser while disabling the "Download," "Save As," and "Sync" options. Method 1: Custom Permission Levels