Set up permissions for projects
With Atlassian Projects, access and edit permissions are currently set for each individual project. There are a few controls to understand when giving specific access to a project:
Access controls
Access controls are set on each individual project. They are only effective when the user also has the matching group permission.
Access control | What it allows |
|---|---|
Owner | Full control of the project and can assign access controls to others |
Can edit | View the project and edit any editable fields: name, description, target, owner, contributors. These users can also add other editors and viewers. Note: Users who have updated a project will retain their permission to edit. |
Can view | Read‑only access. The user can see the project but cannot make changes. Currently applies for private projects. |
Follower | Receives updates in monthly update feed and digest emails. No edit rights, but can only follow projects they can view. |
How to set access controls
Open the project you want to share.
Select the Share button (top‑right).
In the Specific access section, select the ► icon.
Locate the person, team, or user group and choose Owner, Can edit, or Can view from the dropdown.
Select Save.
Note: Adding a user through the Share by email flow automatically grants them the access level you select in step 4. Email addresses and Slack users cannot be assigned a role. They only receive a notification.
Sharing projects
Share by email
Open the project.
Select Share.
Type the name, team, user group, or email address.
Choose Can view or Can edit (applies to all selected recipients).
(Optional) Add a custom message.
Select Share.
Emails and Slack users receive a notification but cannot be assigned a role directly.
Share through a link
Select the link icon next to Share to copy the project URL.
Paste the link wherever you need (email, chat, docs).
A link does not grant access. Ensure the recipient has the appropriate access control set on the project.
Managing access controls for shared users
Open the project.
Select Share then Specific access ►.
Find the user in the list.
Use the dropdown to change their permission or select Remove to revoke access.
Permissions FAQ
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
Can an owner change the owner of project? | Yes. The owner can edit the Owner field in the project details. |
What happens if a user has the Can edit access control but no group permission to edit projects? | The access control is ignored; the user can only view the project. |
Are there “restricted” projects that hide from users without explicit access? | Yes, but you can only make them restricted at creation. Currently, you cannot change an open project to a restricted project after it’s been created. All restricted projects require explicit Can view or Can edit access. |
Quick reference table
Permission level | Group permission required | Access control needed |
|---|---|---|
Create project | Create project | – |
Edit project | Edit project details | Owner or Can edit |
Delete project | Delete projects | Owner |
View project | View all projects | Owner, Can edit or Can view |
Export project | Export projects | – |
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