How to Prevent Delete Item using SharePoint Permission Level

We often get request from client to prevent user from deleting the data, however they still want user to allow Add and Edit.

This can be achieved by creating custom permission level. Please follow the steps below

1. Open the site permission page
2. Click on the Permission level link in the SharePoint Ribbon.
   
3. This will open the page which will show list of permission level created on the site. You can read the description of each permission level.
   
4. Here we cannot delete the default permission levels which are “Full Control, Design, Edit Contribute & Read”.
5. To create “Restrictive Delete” permission level, we will inherit some of the permissions from “Contribute” permission level.
6. Click on “Contribute” permission level to “copy” all the permission. This will show all the actions user can take when they have “Contribute” permission
7. Click on “Copy Permission Level” button. This will copy all the permission of “Contribute” permission level.
   
8. Add a Name & Description to the permission level and simply unchecked the “Delete Items” permission under “List Permissions”
   
9. Click Create. This will create new permission level on your SharePoint Site
10. Now apply this newly created permission on Any Group/ Individual user
    
11. Please see below two screenshots to check the “Restricted Delete” behavior
    • Before Applying the permission
      
    • After Applying the permission