Template Issues

Fix SharePoint Document Library Always Using Default Content Type

WPS Editor Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where a SharePoint library shows multiple templates in the New menu but incorrectly assigns all newly created files to the library's default (first) content type.

How to Fix SharePoint Document Library Always Using Default Content Type

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a new document from the 'New' dropdown menu using a custom document template in a SharePoint library.
Observed behavior: SharePoint ignores the selected document template's content type and assigns the newly created file to the first content type available in the library.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Full Control permissions for the SharePoint site so you can view and modify advanced library settings and content types.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Correct the Template URL in Advanced Settings

Use this solution to ensure the template link points to the correct relative URL and that users have access to it, which is the most common cause of this issue.

When a template URL is broken, incorrect, or inaccessible due to restrictive permissions, SharePoint defaults to the primary content type because it cannot resolve the selected template.

If your templates are stored in a centralized SharePoint library, you must use a relative URL and guarantee that all site users have at least 'Read' permissions for that central library.

Open Library Settings

Navigate to your SharePoint Document Library, click the Gear icon in the top right corner, and select 'Library settings'. Click 'More library settings' if prompted.

Access Content Types

Scroll down to the 'Content Types' section and click on the name of the content type that is failing to load its specific template.

Check Advanced Settings

Click on 'Advanced settings'. Locate the 'Document Template' section and verify the URL path. It should be a valid relative URL such as /sites/site-name/library-name/template.docx.

Verify Permissions

If the URL points to a different library, navigate to that library's permissions settings to ensure that all users creating documents have 'Read' access to the template file.

Verify and Correct the Template URL in Advanced Settings

Relative URL Formatting: Always use relative URLs starting with a forward slash (/) rather than full absolute URLs (e.g., https://...) to prevent linking errors across different SharePoint environments.

Solution 2

Upload the Template Directly to the Content Type

If linking to an external library continues to fail, uploading the template file directly to the content type bypasses URL configuration and permission issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I store a document template in another SharePoint library and reference it?

Yes, you can centralize templates in another SharePoint library. You must reference the template using its relative URL in the content type's advanced settings, and critically, ensure all users have read permissions to access that central library.

Why does SharePoint revert to the first content type instead of showing an error?

When SharePoint cannot locate the template specified by a content type (due to an incorrect URL, deleted file, or lack of permissions), it gracefully fails by falling back to the default (first) content type configured for that library.

Do I have to use DOCX files for SharePoint templates?

While DOCX is the standard format for modern Word document templates in SharePoint, you can also use DOTX (Word Template) files. The extension must match the application intended for the content type, such as XLSX for Excel or PPTX for PowerPoint.

Document & File Issues