Which product and account does this cover?
Chat, Projects, cloud Computer, and Microsoft 365 connector controls. Review local Personal Computer device permissions separately.
- Chat and Projects
- Projects organize shared files, sessions, and Computer work. Personal projects are invitation-only; Enterprise adds organization sharing.
- Computer
- Available on paid plans, with limited trial turns on some free accounts. Runs tasks asynchronously; access varies by feature.
- Microsoft 365 connector
- Pro, Max, Enterprise Pro, and Enterprise Max on desktop web. Not supported in Perplexity desktop or mobile apps; Enterprise administrators can restrict access.
What the permission settings mean
Know whether you are reading a source or a copy
Keep the practice Project private. Inspect Project settings → Context, or Sources → Files in the newer layout. Connector-added files are copies: source changes and deletions do not update them. Fetch the latest version or replace the copy.
Review membership before adding information collaborators should not see.
Set tool permissions before running Computer
Find Microsoft 365 in Plugins, select Connect, and review its authorization, which includes writes within your Microsoft permissions. Apply the controls above. Individual tool settings override group defaults.
Ask requires @Microsoft 365; Computer can select it automatically. Neither the mention nor a 'read only' prompt restricts account permissions.
Other connectors have different tools. Inspect their installed pages; do not assume they expose the same read/write grouping. Enterprise role restrictions can make a connector unavailable.
Manage memory without confusing it with training
Settings → Memory separates Use search history, Notes, and Manage memories. Turning a feature off does not erase saved memories; inspect and delete entries separately. Also review shared Project Brain before changing membership.
For personal Free, Pro, and Max accounts, Settings → Preferences → AI data retention controls training use and starts enabled. Turning it off applies prospectively; it does not remove earlier training data or stop service processing. Enterprise data is excluded from training. None of these settings disables a connected tool.
Inspect active work and scheduled work separately
Review the Computer session as it runs and inspect its output in the destination service. Running subagents have a stop control; you can also give a follow-up instruction mid-task. Check other active work instead of assuming stopping one helper ends everything.
For recurring tasks, open Computer's Automations dashboard, then the task's Actions → Pause. Confirm the row says Paused and inspect recent run history. Closing the browser does not stop cloud schedules.
All settings → Analytics shows connector, skill, artifact, and task usage. Its reporting can lag, so use the task session and destination service for immediate verification.
Disconnect the connector, then review retained material
Plugins → Installed → connector → Disconnect removes that connection everywhere Perplexity uses it. Uninstalling a plugin alone leaves its connectors connected. Disabling a skill is also different from disconnecting its tools.
Inspect retained Projects, sessions, and downloaded outputs separately. Copied files survive disconnection. Remove unnecessary access and copies according to organization policy. Completed external edits or messages need attention in their destination service.
Practice with fictional material
Read one approved file and leave the source untouched
Use disposable event notes in OneDrive or SharePoint with a unique check value. Record contents, version, and sharing. Leave unrelated services disconnected.
- Apply the controls above, inspect individual overrides, and start a fresh session.
- Ask: @Microsoft 365 Read [exact file]. Draft a 150-word event recap here with three takeaways and its check value. Flag missing facts. Do not edit, send, publish, share, or schedule anything.
- Approve only the intended read request. If an unexpected action appears, decline it and inspect the running work.
- Open the actual source in Microsoft 365. Compare its version, contents, and sharing. Inspect the session for unexpected artifacts or actions; keep the recap and test observations.
Check the evidence
- The citation opens the intended file, and the check value matches it.
- The original file and sharing are unchanged. A claim in the generated answer is not sufficient evidence.
- Check permission settings and unexpected automations. Record any denial actually shown in the interface.
Common questions
Does a skill grant account access?
A skill supplies reusable instructions. Review the connected tools it can call and their permissions separately.
Why does my Project still show an old file?
Its connector-added file is a copy. Fetch the current source or replace the copy; disconnecting the source does not refresh it.
Official sources
These instructions were checked against product documentation on October 31, 2026. The practice exercise is a suggested test for your own permitted workspace, not a claim that these controls were configured in your account.
- Microsoft 365 connector permissions and setup
- Projects, sharing, and copied source files
- Find, install, and remove plugins and connectors
- Perplexity memory controls
- Data collection and training choices
- Computer capabilities and availability
- Computer updates: stopping background subagents
- Manage and pause Scheduled Tasks in Computer
- Computer Analytics and reporting delays
Keep the whole workflow in view.
Set permissions for the tools you use.
Start with the overview, then follow the guide for your assistant or connection. Check what it can read, what it can change, and where approval happens.
Read the Controls overview