Site collection administrators hold the highest permissions on a SharePoint site, and Microsoft now calls them site admins. You can check the list in the SharePoint admin center, on the Site settings page or with PowerShell. Admin center access needs a SharePoint Administrator account and shows the list in the Membership panel. PowerShell covers many sites at once but needs the SharePoint Online Management Shell.
You need to know who holds site collection administrator rights before you change permissions, move a site or answer an audit question.
I check this list on every client site I touch. Microsoft's pages give three ways in, and the table below shows who can use which one.
What Rights do Site Admins Hold?
Site collection administrators are the people with the highest permission level on a SharePoint site. Microsoft's site permissions reference says site admins, formerly called site collection administrators, have the same Full Control as site owners.
They also manage search, the recycle bin and site collection features. They reach every item on the site, including subsites, even when permission inheritance is broken.
Which Methods Show a Site Collection Administrator?
Three methods list your site collection administrators in Microsoft 365. Your role decides which one you can open.
| Method | Who can use it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Admin center | SharePoint Administrator and above | One site at a time |
| Site settings | At least a SharePoint Administrator | A quick look from the site |
| PowerShell | SharePoint Administrator who is also admin of the queried site | Many sites in one report |
How do You Find Site Admins in the Admin Center?
The admin center gives the clearest view, so I start there. Microsoft's guide to managing site admins lists these steps.
- Sign in. Use an account with admin permissions for your organization.
- Open Active sites. Go to Active sites in the SharePoint admin center.
- Select the site. Select the site in the left column.
- Open Membership. Select Membership on the command bar to open the details panel.
- Read the panel. Review the owners, members and site admins listed there.
- Spot the primary admin. Look for the primary admin and the additional admins, because the list separates them.
Group connected team sites add one detail. Microsoft says the group owners count as site admins automatically, and you manage group members in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Which Path Shows Admins in Site Settings?
The Site settings page works when you already sit on the site. Microsoft's customize site permissions guide describes the path.
- Select the Settings icon and then Site settings.
- If Site settings is missing, select Site information and then View all site settings.
- Under Users and Permissions, select Site Collection Administrators.
Names appear in the Site Collection Administrators box. Microsoft says you must be at least a SharePoint Administrator to see the link, and site owners never see it. Leave the page without selecting OK if you only want to check.
What does PowerShell Show About Admins?
PowerShell helps when you must check many sites. Microsoft's training module shows how to install and connect the SharePoint Online Management Shell.
Install-Module -Name Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell
Connect-SPOService -Url https://contoso-admin.sharepoint.comReplace contoso with your tenant name. Your account needs the SharePoint Administrator role.
Next, list the users of one site. The Get-SPOUser reference says the cmdlet needs a SharePoint Online administrator who is also a site collection administrator of the queried site.
Get-SPOUser -Site https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/finance -Limit All |
Where-Object { $_.IsSiteAdmin } |
Select-Object DisplayName, LoginNameThe IsSiteAdmin property appears in a Microsoft Q&A thread and not in the cmdlet reference, so test the output on one site first.
What Limits Apply to These Methods?
Every method has a catch, and I plan for four of them.
- Hidden link. Site owners never see Site Collection Administrators in Site settings.
- Default limit. Get-SPOUser returns 500 users unless you add
-Limit All. - Throttling. The Q&A thread reports a 429 error on sites with groups above 5,000 users.
- Primary admin. Microsoft says a removed primary admin still shows as an additional admin.
What are the Best Practices for Site Collection Administrator Access?
- Keep the list short. Microsoft recommends roles with the fewest permissions, and calls Global Administrator a role for emergencies.
- Record the list. Save every site collection administrator name before a move, and read how to export SharePoint permissions to Excel for a full report.
- Know the role gap. Study SharePoint permission levels before you promote anyone.
- Check team sites twice. Group owners count as admins, so review the group too.
- Review on a schedule. Add a quarterly review to your admin calendar.
Which Mistakes Hide the Real Admin List?
Admins repeat three errors. They look in the site owners group and assume it holds every admin, and they forget that group owners join the list on connected sites. They also trust a 500 user result without adding -Limit All.
My Verdict on Checking Site Collection Administrators
The admin center suits a single site, and PowerShell suits an audit of many sites. Site settings fits the moment when you already stand on the site with the right role.
Start with the Membership panel to see your site collection administrators, then confirm with a second method before you act on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Site Collection Administrator Role do?
Site collection administrators hold the highest permissions on a site. Microsoft now calls the role site admin and says it adds search, recycle bin and feature control to Full Control.
How do I Find the Site Collection Administrator of a Site?
Open Active sites in the SharePoint admin center, select the site and select Membership. The details panel lists the site admins.
Why Can't I See Site Collection Administrators in Site Settings?
Microsoft says you must be at least a SharePoint Administrator to see the link. Site owners never see it.
Which PowerShell Cmdlet Lists Site Users?
Get-SPOUser lists the users of a site. Add the Site parameter with the site URL and use Limit All to return more than 500 users.
Are Site Owners the Same as Site Collection Administrators?
No. Microsoft says site owners have Full Control but lack the extra search, recycle bin and site collection feature rights of a site admin.
Do Microsoft 365 Group Owners Count as Site Admins?
Yes, on group connected sites. Microsoft says group owners join the site admin list automatically.
What Role do I Need to Check Site Admins?
You need at least the SharePoint Administrator role. Microsoft advises roles with the fewest permissions and keeps Global Administrator for emergencies.
Jamie blends strategic marketing insight with technical writing, turning migration and recovery topics into guidance that works for technical and general readers alike.
Published 27 October 2026. Admin center steps come from Microsoft's guide to managing site admins. The Site settings path comes from Microsoft's page on customizing site permissions. The IsSiteAdmin property comes from a Microsoft Q&A thread, which is community guidance and not official documentation. Microsoft can change these limits, so check them before you plan.