Default Permissions

Microsoft TechNet User Permissions and Permission levels in SharePoint 2013 – click here

Microsoft TechNet recommendation on use of fine-grained permission levels in SharePoint 2013 – click here

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Permission level

Full Control Design Edit Contribute Read Limited Access View Only Approve Manage Hierarchy Restricted Read Restricted interfaces for translation
Description Has full control. Can view, add, update, delete, approve, and customize. Can add, edit and delete lists; can view, add, update and delete list items and documents. Can view, add, update, and delete list items and documents. Can view pages and list items and download documents. Can view specific lists, document libraries, list items, folders, or documents when given permissions Can view pages, list items, and documents. Document types with server-side file handlers can be viewed in the browser but not downloaded. Can edit and approve pages, list items, and documents. Can create sites and edit pages, list items, and documents. Can view pages and documents, but cannot view historical versions or user permissions. Can open lists and folders, and use remote interfaces.
List Permissions
Manage Lists –   Create and delete lists, add or remove columns in a list, and add or remove public views of a list. x x x x
Override List Behaviors –   Discard or check in a document which is checked out to another user, and change or override settings which allow users to read/edit only their own items x x x x
Add Items –   Add items to lists and add documents to document libraries. x x x x x x
Edit Items –   Edit items in lists, edit documents in document libraries, and customize Web Part Pages in document libraries. x x x x x x
Delete Items –   Delete items from a list and documents from a document library. x x x x x x
View Items –   View items in lists and documents in document libraries. x x x x x x x x x
Approve Items –   Approve a minor version of a list item or document. x x x
Open Items –   View the source of documents with server-side file handlers. x x x x x x x x
View Versions –   View past versions of a list item or document. x x x x x x x x
Delete Versions –   Delete past versions of a list item or document. x x x x x x
Create Alerts –   Create alerts. x x x x x x x x
View Application Pages –   View forms, views, and application pages. Enumerate lists. x x x x x x x x
Site Permissions
Manage Permissions –   Create and change permission levels on the Web site and assign permissions to users and groups. x x
View Web Analytics Data –   View reports on Web site usage. x x
Create Subsites –   Create subsites such as team sites, Meeting Workspace sites, and Document Workspace sites. x x
Manage Web Site –   Grants the ability to perform all administration tasks for the Web site as well as manage content. x x
Add and Customize Pages –   Add, change, or delete HTML pages or Web Part Pages, and edit the Web site using a Microsoft SharePoint Foundation-compatible editor. x x x
Apply Themes and Borders –   Apply a theme or borders to the entire Web site. x x
Apply Style Sheets –   Apply a style sheet (.CSS file) to the Web site. x x
Create Groups –   Create a group of users that can be used anywhere within the site collection. x
Browse Directories –   Enumerate files and folders in a Web site using SharePoint Designer and Web DAV interfaces. x x x x x x
Use Self-Service Site Creation –   Create a Web site using Self-Service Site Creation. x x x x x x x x
View Pages –   View pages in a Web site. x x x x x x x x x
Enumerate Permissions –   Enumerate permissions on the Web site, list, folder, document, or list item. x x
Browse User Information –   View information about users of the Web site. x x x x x x x x x
Manage Alerts –   Manage alerts for all users of the Web site. x x
Use Remote Interfaces –   Use SOAP, Web DAV, the Client Object Model or SharePoint Designer interfaces to access the Web site. x x x x x x x x x
Use Client Integration Features –   Use features which launch client applications. Without this permission, users will have to work on documents locally and upload their changes. x x x x x x x x x
Open   – Allows users to open a Web site, list, or folder in order to access items inside that container. x x x x x x x x x x x
Edit Personal User Information –   Allows a user to change his or her own user information, such as adding a picture. x x x x x x
Personal Permissions
Manage Personal Views –   Create, change, and delete personal views of lists. x x x x  x x x
Add/Remove Personal Web Parts –   Add or remove personal Web Parts on a Web Part Page. x x x x  x x x
Update Personal Web Parts –   Update Web Parts to display personalized information. x x x x  x x x