SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Missing SharePoint Attachment and Comment Settings

Elise Williams Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to restore or bypass missing attachment and comment options in SharePoint to add an attachment column to their lists.

How to Fix Missing SharePoint Attachment and Comment Settings

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to configure a list by adding an attachment column or enabling document comments via the Advanced Settings page.
Observed behavior: The attachment and comment settings are completely missing from the Advanced Settings page across all SharePoint sites and lists.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Administrator permissions for the SharePoint site you want to modify, and that your system is prepared to run PowerShell scripts if necessary.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable List Attachments Using PnP PowerShell

Bypass the missing UI options by forcefully enabling the attachment feature for a specific list using a PnP PowerShell command.

Since this is a backend configuration issue, PnP PowerShell can directly update the list properties. Keep in mind that this command must be run individually for each existing list that requires attachments, as it does not set a tenant-wide default.

Open PowerShell

Launch Windows PowerShell on your computer as an Administrator.

Connect to your SharePoint site

Run the command: `Connect-PnPOnline -Url "https://yourdomain.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursitename" -Interactive` to authenticate and connect to your site.

Enable attachments for the list

Execute the command: `Set-PnPList -Identity "yourlistname" -EnableAttachments $True`, replacing "yourlistname" with the actual name of your SharePoint list.

Verify the changes

Refresh your SharePoint list in the web browser to confirm that the attachment column is now available.

Enable List Attachments Using PnP PowerShell

PnP PowerShell Requirement: If you do not have PnP PowerShell installed, you must first run `Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell` before attempting to connect to your site.

Solution 2

Open a Microsoft 365 Service Request

If the issue affects the entire tenant and PowerShell solutions fail to resolve it, contact Microsoft support for backend intervention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my attachment and comment settings disappear in SharePoint?

This is typically caused by a tenant-wide bug or a synchronization issue within Microsoft 365. When the user interface fails to display these standard options, it requires PowerShell commands or backend Microsoft support to bypass or resolve.

Does enabling attachments via PowerShell apply to all new lists automatically?

No. The PowerShell command only modifies the specific list you target. It does not change the tenant-wide default behavior, meaning you will need to run the command for each individual list that requires attachments.

How do I install PnP PowerShell to fix SharePoint settings?

You can install PnP PowerShell by opening your Windows PowerShell console as an administrator and running the command `Install-Module -Name PnP.PowerShell`. This will allow you to use the SharePoint connection and configuration commands.

Document & File Issues