This table explains which permissions are required for specific actions. In the case of folders, the user generally needs the permission on the folder and all its contents, sub-folders, and their contents.

Read permission on sub-folders isn't always necessary, as long as users have read permission on the folder they're working with, and has other necessary permissions to the folder and its content. For example, if a user has read and remove permission on a parent folder and only remove permission on the sub-folder, the parent folder—including the sub-folder—may be removed. In this case, the user may not remove only the sub-folder because the user can't read it.

Required Permissions
Action Required Permissions
Add a file or folder Read and write permission for the current folder
Edit a file or folder Read and write permission for the item
View a file or folder Read permission for the item
Download a file Read permission for the item
Download a folder and all items it contains Read permission for the folder and all items within it
Email a file or folder Read permission for the item
View properties for a file or folder Read permission for the item
Copy a file Read permission for the item and write permission on the destination folder
Copy a folder Read permission for the item (and all its subfolders and files) and write permission for the destination folder
Edit properties for a file or folder Read and write permission for the item
Move a file or folder Read and remove permission for the item to be moved and write for the destination folder
Delete a file or folder Read and remove permission for the item
Lock and unlock a file or folder Read and write permission for the item

Only the user who set the lock may unlock an item.

Add or view a comment on a file or folder If comments are shared, read permission for the item.

If comments are private, read and manage permission for the item.

Bookmark a file or folder Read permission for the item
Enable or disable tracking Read and manage permission for the item
Versions - check out a file Read and write permission for the item
Versions - check in a file Read and write permission for the item

A version is locked when the file is checked out. Only the lock owner—the person who checked out the file—may check it in.

Version - remove a file Read, write, and remove permission for the item
Version - rollback a file Read and write permission for the item

Only the lock owner—the person who checked out the file—may roll back a version.

Workflow - add a file Read and manage permission for the item
Workflow - add a comment User must be the Workflow Activity owner or recipient
Workflow - edit a file User must be the Workflow Activity owner
Workflow - remove a comment from a sent or received Workflow Activity User must be the Workflow Activity owner or the user who submitted the comment