How to find which site is denying access to the user

Sometimes it happens that you give permissions to the users to access a site, but they get “Access Denied” when they try to access the site. Usually the reason is that they do not have access to some lists or subsites that are part of the main site but have unique permissions. For example, style library, pages library, etc. Make sure you give them access to all lists that come under the main site and have unique permissions. One way of finding the list that denies users access is to check the URL when user gets the “Access Denied” error.  URL looks like the following:

http://server/_layouts/AccessDenied.aspx?Source=http%3A%2F%2Fserver&Type=list&name=%6BEAF2E80D%2D70DC%2D40C2%2D8E6B%2DD2FFAE422605%7E

Name attribute in the URL contains the list ID that is denying user access.

1.       To see which list it is, log in as a user that can access the site. Go to the site where you intend to give permissions to the user.

2.       Open any existing list in the site.

3.       Go to list settings.

URL will look like following:

http://server/_layouts/listedit.aspx?List=%4CDF456F04%2DCB54%2D410D%2D8AB9%2DAD2D03BDB69A%7D

List attribute contains the current list’s GUID. Replace it with the one you saw in the previous link (when you/user got “Access Denied” error). Hit enter. It will show you the list settings. Now you know the list name. Go to the list permissions and add user there. Now they should be able to access the main site. If they still get “Access Denied”, repeat the process to find other lists that have unique permissions. Add user to all lists with unique permissions.