If you encounter an 'Update failed: Forbidden' error when refreshing a connection, verify that you have permissions to the spreadsheet, table or query, and the data sources for the query.
Incoming Connections
For an incoming connection, you will be required to have at least Editor permission on the connected Sheet and Viewer permission to the connected Query. Additionally, you will need to have Viewer permissions to any data sources for the query.
If you are a Workspace Admin, the error message refers to missing permissions on the spreadsheet that acts a data source for the query.
| Source permission |
Sheet permission |
Connection access |
| Viewer, Editor, or Owner | Viewer or None | Locked |
| Viewer | Editor | Refresh connection |
| Editor or Owner | Owner | Full access |
Outgoing Connections
For an outgoing connection, you must have at least Editor permissions on the both the connected Sheet AND connected table.
|
Sheet permission |
Destination permission |
Connection access |
| Viewer, Owner, or Editor | Viewer | Locked |
| Editor | Editor or Owner | Refresh connection |
| Owner | Owner | Full access |