Choose inherited or custom permissions

Each doc and folder can follow its parent permissions or keep its own access settings.

Use inherited permissions

Use inherited permissions when a doc or folder should follow the access settings around it.

This works best when:

• A whole folder should be available to the same team
• New docs should automatically match the folder they are created in
• You want to manage access from one parent folder instead of each doc

When inherited permissions are on, Falconer shows where the access comes from.

Use custom permissions

Use custom permissions when a doc or folder needs different access than its parent.

This works best when:

• One doc is more sensitive than the rest of the folder
• A subfolder should be editable by a smaller group
• A doc needs link access, but the folder around it does not
• A doc needs a different author list

Turn inherited permissions off

To switch to custom permissions:

1. Open the doc or folder share dialog.
2. Turn Inherit permissions off.
3. Review the copied access settings.
4. Update people, groups, organization access, or link access as needed.

Falconer starts with a copy of the current effective permissions, so access does not unexpectedly disappear when you switch.

Turn inherited permissions on

To switch back to inherited permissions:

1. Open the doc or folder share dialog.
2. Turn Inherit permissions on.

The doc or folder stops using its custom access settings and follows the nearest parent permissions instead.

Choose the right approach

Situation	Recommended setting
Most docs in a folder should have the same access	Inherited permissions
A single doc needs different access	Custom permissions
A subfolder should manage its own docs	Custom permissions on the subfolder
You want future docs to follow a folder automatically	Inherited permissions

If you are unsure, keep inherited permissions on and manage access from the folder.