The SharePoint communication site won’t allow access issue usually persists due to site permissions, external sharing settings, or conditional access policies. I encountered this problem myself, and now I’m here to explain how to fix it step by step.
You’ll learn:
Why SharePoint Communication Site Won’t Allow Access
Here are the most common reasons:
- User not added to site permissions
- External sharing disabled
- Broken inheritance from the hub or root
- Blocked by conditional access policies
- The site is still being provisioned
- No Group Association or Microsoft 365 Group Sync
- Custom permissions removed or modified
- User not present in Microsoft Entra ID
- Sharing links is disabled or expired
- Limited access lockdown mode is enabled
Due to these reasons, one can’t access the communication site. To tackle this, one of the easiest ways is to backup SharePoint Online to local storage. If you saved data offline, you can modify, edit, or delete that data whenever needed.
How I Identified the Access Problem
I followed Microsoft’s recommendation to check individual user permissions from the Site Settings area. Here’s how I identified why the SharePoint communication site won’t allow access issue occurs:
- Step 1. I ensured that I was listed as a Site Owner in the SharePoint Admin Centre, not just as a user in a Microsoft 365 Group. To confirm full access, I also check the site collection administrator in SharePoint Online.
- Step 2. Used the SharePoint Check Permissions Tool by going to the Site Settings, clicking Site Permissions, and checking Permissions.
- Step 3. I verified that external sharing was enabled for both:
- Tenant level: Open Microsoft 365 Admin Center, click Settings, then Org settings, and SharePoint.
- Site level: You have to access SharePoint Admin Center, and then select Active Sites and Policies.
- Step 4. Sometimes cached credentials interfere. I used incognito mode and tested from another account to ensure it wasn’t a local issue.
How to Fix the SharePoint Communication Site Won’t Allow Access Problem
I tried the following solutions to troubleshoot the issue:
#1. Add Users Manually to Site Permissions
Open the communication site, and click Settings. Afterwards, select Site permissions, and then Invite people. Lastly, hit the Add members to group option. If your site doesn’t use groups, you can grant permissions directly:
- Click Advanced permissions settings
- Add users to Visitors (read-only), Members (edit), or Owners
#2. Enable External Sharing (If Applicable)
- Open SharePoint Admin Center.
- Click Active Sites, and then select the site.
- Afterwards, hit the Policies option > External sharing.
I set it to Anyone for testing, then later rolled it back to New and existing guests for security.
Ensure guest access is also enabled under Microsoft Entra ID to resolve SharePoint communication site won’t allow access effectively.
#3. Sync Permissions from Hub Site
If your site is associated with a hub site, make sure:
- The hub has proper permissions
- You sync hub permissions using PowerShell or through the site association screen
#4. Review Conditional Access Policies
I worked with our security team to check if:
- Access was blocked for users not on trusted devices
- MFA was required but not completed
- Users were outside trusted IP ranges
If you’re unsure, open Microsoft Entra Admin Center > Conditional Access and review policy assignments to resolve the SharePoint communication site won’t allow access.
#5. Wait and Retry (in Case of Provisioning Lag)
Sometimes, new communication sites take a few minutes to fully provision across Microsoft 365. Give it 5–10 minutes and try again.
How to Prevent This in Future
Here are some tips which I learned to prevent this error:
- Always add Owners and Members explicitly, even if you’re the creator.
- Bookmark the site admin URL:
https://[sharepoint-tenant].sharepoint.com/sites/[sitename]/_layouts/15/user.aspx
It helps bypass navigation if access is broken.
- Use PowerShell for bulk access control. I now use Set-SPOSite and Add-SPOUser for automated permission fixes.
If PowerShell isn’t working while fixing access, check out this fix for Connect-SPOService: Could Not Connect to SharePoint Online.
Author’s Verdict
When your SharePoint communication site won’t allow access, the issue is usually due to permissions, external sharing settings, or conditional access. I’ve discovered several solutions to troubleshoot this error in minutes. I guarantee that after following all these steps, you can easily fix this issue.
People Also Ask
- Why am I the owner but still can’t access my SharePoint communication site?
You might not be a Site Collection Administrator, or the site could be affected by conditional access or provisioning issues.
- How do I give access to users outside my organisation?
Enable external sharing at the tenant and site levels. Also, make sure the user is added as a guest in Entra ID.
- Does SharePoint communication site support group permissions like team sites?
No. Communication sites are not linked to Microsoft 365 Groups by default. You need to manage permissions manually.