SharePoint has an alternative method for accessing it’s files, and that is via a web standard called Web DAV. This connection type has been around a long time, and is supported by the web server. This connection type allows other applications, in my case GoodReader, to connect to SharePoint and access folders and files directly.
A user who only has Read permissions is not allow log in rights into the site over the Web DAV connection. Fortunately, this is an easy fix. You can either create a new permission level, like “Read – Web DAV”, or modify the existing Read permission level to include WebDAV.
To do so:
- Go to Site Actions > Site Settings.
- Click Site Permissions.
- Click Permission Levels in the ribbon.
- If you want to add a new permission level, click on Read, then press Copy Permission Level at the bottom.
- If you want to modify the existing Read permission level, click on Read.
- Scroll down, under Site Permissions is Browse Directories. Check that option.
- Click Submit.
That should do it. Immediately, Read users, or users in this permission level, can access SharePoint via Web DAV.
Happy SharePointing!
Why does Microsoft disable this by default? Are there (security) issues when you change this?
I’m not sure why its disabled. The read-only account is the bare minimum, so why would they need to gain read-only access to a site via WebDAV? Well, I’d guess that’s the rational behind it.
WebDAV follows the same permission set SharePoint is using, so if they have read-only access to the site, they’ll have read-only access to the folders within.