External User Permissions in OneDrive

Remove unwanted "Everyone except External users" permissions after migration.

Last updated: 2025-01-15 Troubleshooting

Permission Inheritance

🏠
Site Level
"Everyone except External users"
↓ Inherited ↓
📁
All Folders
📄
All Files

Problem

When migrating OneDrive accounts between tenants using Cloudiway, users sometimes encounter a default permission labeled "Everyone except External users in OneDrive" appearing across all files and folders.

Symptoms

  • Permission appears on every file and folder in OneDrive
  • Cannot be removed from individual items
  • May appear after migration to target tenant

Root Cause

Not Created by Cloudiway

This permission is not created by the Cloudiway migration platform. The Cloudiway platform creates permissions on individual files and folders, not at the site level.

Origin of the Permission

This permission originates from OneDrive's site-level configuration. It's a default SharePoint site permission that gets inherited by all content within the OneDrive.

Why It Appears

  • Default OneDrive site settings in the target tenant
  • Organization-wide sharing policies
  • SharePoint site collection settings

Solution

Remove Permission at Site Level

  1. 1

    Navigate to OneDrive Settings

    Open the affected user's OneDrive in a browser.

  2. 2

    Access More Settings

    Click the settings gear and select More settings from the left sidebar.

  3. 3

    Return to Old Site Settings

    Choose Return to old Site Settings to access classic SharePoint settings.

  4. 4

    Locate Site Permissions

    Navigate to Site Permissions or Site Settings → Site Permissions.

  5. 5

    Remove the Permission

    Find and remove the "Everyone except External users" permission entry.

Automatic Cascade

By inheritance, removing the permission at the site level will automatically eliminate it from all subordinate files and folders throughout the OneDrive.

Administrator Access

You may need SharePoint or OneDrive administrator permissions to modify site-level settings. Contact your IT administrator if you don't have access.

Prevention

Best Practices

  • Review Target Tenant Settings

    Check default OneDrive permissions in your target tenant before migration.

  • Configure Sharing Policies

    Adjust organization-wide sharing settings to match your requirements.

  • Post-Migration Audit

    Include permission review in your post-migration verification checklist.

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