Setting View only permission (no download) on files in Microsoft Teams

One of my customers asked me if there is a way to store files in Microsoft Teams but only allow its members to view the file. The members should not be able to download the files.

After a lot of research, I found the following solution / workaround.

In this solution / work around, we would be giving Full permissions to Owners of the team while Members would have View only permission.

Here are the steps:

Task 1: Enable View Only Permission on Sharepoint

1. Create the team
2. Access the files Tab
3. Click the 3 dots to click Open in Sharepoint
4. On the sharepoint site, click Home
5. Click Site Contents

6. Click Site Settings

7. Click Site collection features under Site Collection Administration

8. Scroll down and activate SharePoint Server Enterprise Site Collection features

Task 2: Set appropriate permissions on the document library

1. Open the document library in Sharepoint
2. Click the Settings icon on the top right corner
3. Click Library Settings

4. Click more Library Settings

5. Click Permissions for this document library

6. Click Stop Inherting Permissions

7. Click the check box for <Team name> Members

8. Click Edit User Permissions

9. Deselect Edit permission and select View only permission and click OK

Thats it. You have just created a mini DLP solution using Microsoft Teams and a Business Basic license.

Happy Learning :)