Confluence Permissions: The Ultimate Guide (2026)
Confluence permissions control who can view, edit, and administer content. You manage permissions at three levels: site admin (global), space admin (space-level), and page restrictions (page-level). Understanding the inheritance hierarchy is key — lower-level settings always override higher-level ones.
What Are Confluence Permissions?
Confluence permissions are access controls that determine what actions users can perform on content. Without proper permission management, teams risk exposing sensitive information or blocking collaboration.
Confluence has three permission layers:
| Level | Controls | Managed By |
|---|---|---|
| Site admin | Global permissions, app access, user groups | Site admins |
| Space admin | Space-level view/edit/admin permissions | Space admins |
| Page restrictions | Individual page view/edit access | Page owners, space admins |
Site Admin Permissions (Global)
Site admins control global access through Global Permissions. This is the highest level of permission control.
How to Access Global Permissions
- Click your profile icon → Administration
- Navigate to User Management → Groups
- Select Global Permissions
Global Permission Groups
| Group | Purpose | Default Members |
|---|---|---|
site-admins | Full site control | Manual assignment |
confluence-admins | Confluence-specific admin | Manual assignment |
confluence-users | Basic access to Confluence | All registered users |
confluence-ex-users | Users with expired licenses | Auto-populated |
Key Global Permissions
- Confluence Administrator: Access admin console, manage users, configure apps
- System Administrator: Full system control (including non-Confluence settings)
- Can Use: Basic access to log in and use Confluence
Space Admin Permissions
Space admins control permissions within individual spaces. Every space has at least one space admin.
How to Manage Space Permissions
- Go to the space → Space Settings → Permissions
- Add/remove users or groups
- Set view, edit, and admin permissions
Space Permission Types
| Permission | What It Allows |
|---|---|
| View | See the space and its pages |
| Edit | Create and modify pages |
| Add | Attach files and comments |
| Delete | Remove pages and attachments |
| Admin | Manage space settings and permissions |
Inheritance Rules
Permissions follow a hierarchy:
Site Admin → Space Admin → Page Restrictions
Lower-level settings always win. If a page restriction denies access, it overrides space-level grants.
Page Restrictions
Page restrictions let you control access to specific pages without changing space permissions.
Two Types of Restrictions
| Restriction | Effect |
|---|---|
| View restriction | Only specified users can view the page |
| Edit restriction | Only specified users can edit the page |
How to Restrict a Page
- Open the page
- Click More actions (⋯) → Restrictions
- Add users or groups to the view or edit restriction list
Key Behaviors
- Restrictions apply to the page and all child pages
- Only page owners, space admins, or users with "Admin" permission can set restrictions
- Restricted pages appear in search results but cannot be accessed by unauthorized users
Permission Inheritance Explained
Inheritance is the most confusing part of Confluence permissions. Here's the complete picture:
The Inheritance Hierarchy
1. Global Permissions (site-wide)
↓
2. Space Permissions (space-level)
↓
3. Page Restrictions (page-level)
How Inheritance Works
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| User has view permission at all levels | ✅ Can view |
| User has view permission at space level, but page is restricted | ❌ Cannot view |
| User is in a denied group at space level | ❌ Cannot view (even if page allows) |
| User has no explicit permission at any level | ❌ Cannot view |
Common Gotchas
- "Everyone" group: Adding "Everyone" to space permissions grants access to all logged-in users
- Group membership: Users inherit permissions from all groups they belong to
- Restriction scope: Page restrictions cascade to child pages
- Space key in URL: Users can see the space key in URLs even if they can't access content
Troubleshooting Permission Issues
"I can't see a page"
Check these in order:
- Global permissions: Are you in
confluence-users? - Space permissions: Does your group have "View" permission?
- Page restrictions: Is the page restricted to specific users?
"I can't edit a page"
- Space permissions: Does your group have "Edit" permission?
- Page restrictions: Is edit access restricted?
- Page status: Is the page archived or locked?
"I'm a space admin but can't change permissions"
- Verify you're a space admin, not just a content creator
- Check if the space is a archived space (permissions are frozen)
Best Practices
- Use groups, not individuals: Assign permissions to groups for easier management
- Limit page restrictions: Overusing restrictions creates maintenance overhead
- Audit regularly: Review permissions quarterly to remove stale access
- Document exceptions: Keep a log of any permission overrides for compliance
- Test in production: Use the "Impersonate" feature (site admins) to verify access
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between site admin and space admin? Site admins control global settings and user access. Space admins control permissions within individual spaces. A space admin cannot modify global permissions.
Can I restrict a page without affecting child pages? No. Page restrictions cascade to all child pages. You must manage each child page individually if you need different access.
What happens when a user is removed from a group? They lose all permissions inherited from that group. Existing page restrictions they set remain (if they were page owners).
Can I see who has access to a page? Yes. Go to Page Restrictions → Who can see this? to view the effective permission list.
How do I transfer page ownership? Edit the page → More actions → Page History → Take Ownership (requires space admin permission).
Related Guides
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- Confluence Markdown Editor Comparison
- Confluence Import & Export Comparison
- Code Blocks in Confluence: Monaco Editor Guide
This guide is part of our Confluence admin series. Bookmark it for reference.