Show all files in documents folder view/structure but limit access to individual files in Sharepoint Online

Question

is there a way in Sharepoint online to allow anyone who has access to a Sharepoint page to be able to view every single file within a folder but restrict certain users from actually viewing the files? So for example I have files inside of folder A for example:

Folder A

• File 1.ext
• File 2.ext
• File 3.ext

I'd like for everyone to be able to view all 3 files inside of the folder structure, however I'd like to restrict access to file 3 and only allow certain users to view that file.

Currently if I restrict access to file 3 they will no longer see it in the document tree.

I've managed to do this when using vanity links in the "quick links" module on SP page builder when I link to a file. I'd like this same behavior to happen in my document root if possible. Please see the image below of what happens when linked to a SP file via a vanity link...

I think this is important because we have a large company with many users and I am unsure if we will grant access to every single file to all the right people. With this method users can request access. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

I think you need to break the inheritance on the particular file and grant the access to set of people on that file.

Note: You can create one group and grant the permission to it on files and keep adding new users to whom you want to grant the access on files in that group.

Answer 2

It's by default that user cannot view the files in the folders or libraries if they don't have permissions to these files.

Get all the file links and display in the page is the workaround for this requirement.