> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.protoboard.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.protoboard.xyz/collaborate/roles-and-access.md).

# Roles and access

What Viewer, Editor and Owner can do, how project access flows to every board, and how board-level sharing differs

## Goal

Give people the right level of access to your work, at project or board level.

## Roles

| Can they…                                        | Viewer | Editor | Owner |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------ | ------ | ----- |
| Open and view the boards                         | Yes    | Yes    | Yes   |
| Edit boards (take editing control)               |        | Yes    | Yes   |
| Request editing control, restore versions        |        | Yes    | Yes   |
| Take control from the current editor             |        |        | Yes   |
| Invite people, change roles, revoke access       |        |        | Yes   |
| Rename, move, archive, delete, change visibility |        |        | Yes   |

Every project and board keeps at least one owner. To change the last owner's role, add another owner first.

## Project access and board access

* **Project access** applies to every board in the project, including boards added later. Invite people with **Share project** on the project page.
* **Board access** applies to one board. Invite people with the share icon in the editor header (**Share board**).
* When someone has both, the stronger role wins.

The **Share board** dialog lists people with direct access and, separately, people who have access through the project, shown as "*role* via *project name*". Inherited access is changed on the project, not the board.

<figure><picture><source srcset="https://3535233690-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FHc6ZGiGpKHrs578383AS%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8facb92a0d5d6f5cb435560f929c8c322b458f79%2Fshare-board-dialog-dark.png?alt=media" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"><img src="https://3535233690-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FHc6ZGiGpKHrs578383AS%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-60f442093fa171de6a9cfb04c749c45ecb3c9c1f%2Fshare-board-dialog-light.png?alt=media" alt="The Share board dialog listing a person with direct access and a teammate with editor access via the Line-Following Robot project, plus the Link access section"></picture><figcaption><p>Direct and inherited access on a board.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Change or remove access

1. Open **Share project** (or **Share board**).
2. Under **People with access**, change a person's role and click **Apply**, or remove them.
3. Pending invitations can be revoked from the same list.

## Viewers and public boards

Anyone can view a public board, with or without an account, and clone it into their own account. Nobody can edit it unless you give them Editor or Owner access. Board view links give view access only. See [Public, private and view links](/collaborate/visibility-and-links.md).

## There are no teams or organizations

Access is always given to people by email. To share many boards with a group, put the boards in one project and invite each person to the project.

## Common failures

<details>

<summary>A teammate can see the project but can't edit</summary>

They're a Viewer, or they haven't clicked **Start editing**. See [Edit control](/collaborate/edit-control.md).

</details>

<details>

<summary>I can't change someone's role on a board</summary>

Their access comes from the project. Change it on the project's **Share project** dialog.

</details>

## Related pages

* [Invitations](/collaborate/invitations.md)
* [Edit control](/collaborate/edit-control.md)
* [Share a project with your team](/tutorials/share-a-project.md)