Request and Approve Access in ClickUp

Managing who can see and edit work in ClickUp is essential for secure and efficient collaboration. This guide shows you how to request access, approve or deny requests, and control visibility for tasks, Docs, Whiteboards, and Views inside your Workspace.

Use this how-to article to understand permission flows so the right people can work on the right items without exposing sensitive information.

How ClickUp access requests work

When someone tries to open a Workspace item they do not have permission to view, they can send an access request. Workspace members with the right permissions can then approve or deny this request.

Access requests apply to:

• Tasks
• Docs
• Whiteboards
• Views (List, Board, Calendar, and more)

The details of the request are captured and sent to people who can grant access, such as the item assignee, owner, or admin, depending on how your Space and Folder permissions are configured.

Request access to Workspace items in ClickUp

You can request access directly from the item you are trying to open. The exact message and options you see depend on the type of item and your current permission level in ClickUp.

Steps to request access to a task in ClickUp

If you find a task you cannot open, follow these steps:

1. Click the task name from any view or search result.

2. When the access warning appears, select the option to request access.

3. Optionally, include a short note explaining why you need access.

4. Submit the request and wait for a Workspace member with permission to approve it.

After you send the request, the assignee or another authorized person is notified and can choose which level of access to grant or deny the request entirely.

Request access to Docs and Whiteboards in ClickUp

Docs and Whiteboards can be shared broadly or kept restricted. If you try to open a Doc or Whiteboard and see an access message:

1. Click the button to request access.

2. Add context for the document owner if needed, such as the project or task you are working on.

3. Send the request so the owner or an admin can review it.

Once they approve, your new permission level applies automatically the next time you open the Doc or Whiteboard in ClickUp.

Request access to Views in ClickUp

Views can be private, shared, or restricted by location. When you cannot see a specific View but have a link to it:

1. Open the View link or try to access it from the left sidebar.

2. Use the request access option shown in the dialog.

3. Wait for a Space, Folder, or List admin to grant access.

Approved access allows you to open the View and interact with its visible items according to your overall permissions in ClickUp.

Approve or deny access requests in ClickUp

Only people with sufficient permissions can approve or deny requests. That usually includes owners, admins, and users with manage or edit rights in the relevant Space or Folder.

Where you see access requests in ClickUp

Depending on your notification settings, you can see access requests in:

• In-app notifications in the notification center.

• Email notifications, if enabled.

• Task, Doc, or Whiteboard sharing panels when you open the item directly.

From any of these locations, you can quickly review what is being requested and who is asking for access.

Approve access to tasks, Docs, and Whiteboards

When you open a request, review it and adjust permissions as needed:

1. Open the task, Doc, or Whiteboard related to the request.

2. Open the sharing or permissions panel for that item.

3. Locate the requester in the people list or pending requests section.

4. Choose a permission level, such as:

   • View only

   • Comment

   • Edit

   • Full management (where available)

5. Confirm to approve access.

The requester is granted access immediately after you confirm. They may receive an in-app or email notification depending on their settings in ClickUp.

Deny access requests in ClickUp

If someone should not see the requested item, you can deny the request:

1. Open the notification or sharing panel related to the request.

2. Review the requester name and item details.

3. Select the option to deny or ignore the request.

In most cases, the requester is not granted any new access and will continue to see the restricted message whenever they try to open the item in ClickUp.

Manage visibility and permissions in ClickUp

To reduce unnecessary access requests, configure permissions and visibility correctly at the Space, Folder, and List levels.

Set baseline permissions in ClickUp

Use Spaces and Folders to define who can access broad areas of work:

• Create separate Spaces for teams or departments.

• Assign default permission levels to members and guests.

• Restrict sensitive Spaces to selected users only.

With strong baseline permissions, most people will have the access they need without sending extra requests in ClickUp.

Fine-tune item-level access in ClickUp

For specific tasks or Docs that need tighter control, use item-level restrictions:

• Make the item private and invite only selected people.

• Use custom sharing links with limited access.

• Set different permissions for internal users and guests.

These controls let you protect sensitive data while still letting teammates request access if there is a legitimate business need.

Troubleshoot access issues in ClickUp

If someone cannot access an item even after you believe you granted permission, use the following checks.

Confirm Workspace and Space membership

First, ensure the requester is part of the correct Workspace and, where required, part of the right Space:

• Check their Workspace invite status.

• Verify they are added to the Space containing the item.

• Adjust their role or permissions if they changed teams.

Review item-level sharing settings

Next, open the specific task, Doc, or Whiteboard and inspect the sharing configuration:

• Make sure the requester is listed with the right permission level.

• Check whether the item is part of a private List or Folder.

• Update settings if inheritance from the parent location is overriding item-level changes.

Resend or repeat access requests in ClickUp

If a request was denied by mistake or never reached the right person, the requester can usually attempt again:

• Reopen the restricted item link.

• Send another request with more context about why access is needed.

• Ask an owner or admin directly to review the updated request.

Learn more about ClickUp access controls

For deeper configuration options, such as advanced roles, guest permissions, and Workspace-level security settings, review the official documentation.

You can read the original help article about requesting and approving access to Workspace items in ClickUp here: ClickUp access help.

If you need strategic guidance implementing structured permission models, automation, or integrations alongside ClickUp, consider consulting a specialist service such as Consultevo to help design scalable workflows.

With the right request and approval process, your team can keep information secure while making sure everyone can get the access they need, when they need it, inside ClickUp.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

“`