SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Hero Web Part Pages Not Appearing or Links Failing

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where SharePoint Online pages fail to appear in the Hero web part, or the configured links to these pages do not work.

How to Fix SharePoint Hero Web Part Pages Not Appearing or Links Failing

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding or configuring pages in a SharePoint Hero web part where the page names contain unusual characters, empty characters, punctuation, or date-like formats (e.g., 'Apr.2023').
Observed behavior: The linked pages do not render images or appear in the Hero web part, and attempting to click the links fails to redirect users to the intended pages.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Edit permissions for the SharePoint site and take note of the exact titles of the pages that are failing to load in the web part.

Solution 1Recommended

Rename Affected SharePoint Pages

Renaming pages to remove unusual characters, punctuation, or date-like formats often resolves display and link parsing issues within the Hero web part.

SharePoint URLs and web parts can sometimes struggle to accurately parse special characters, empty spaces, or specific dot-separated date formats in page names. Removing these characters restores standard link functionality.

Access Site Pages

Navigate to your SharePoint site. Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner and select 'Site contents', then open the 'Site Pages' library.

Rename the Page

Locate the affected page. Click the three dots (Show actions) next to the page name, select 'Rename', and remove any punctuation, empty characters, or date-like syntax (like 'Apr.2023').

Update the Hero Web Part

Go back to the page containing the Hero web part, click 'Edit' on the top right, and re-select or re-link the newly renamed page in the web part settings.

Republish the Site

Click 'Republish' at the top right of the screen to save your changes and verify that the page image and link now display correctly.

Best Practice: Always use standard alphanumeric characters and hyphens for SharePoint page names to ensure maximum compatibility with web parts and navigation elements.

Solution 2

Verify URLs and Test in a Different Browser

If renaming the page does not immediately fix the issue, browser caching or underlying permission errors might be preventing the web part from updating.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the SharePoint Hero web part reject certain page names?

SharePoint web parts rely on standardized URL encoding to fetch and display page metadata. When a page name contains unusual punctuation, empty spaces, or specific formats that mimic system files or extensions (like 'Apr.2023'), the parsing process can fail, resulting in broken links or missing images.

Will renaming a SharePoint page break existing links?

Modern SharePoint usually creates an automatic redirect behind the scenes when a page is renamed. However, to guarantee stability, it is highly recommended to manually update prominent links in your navigation menus and Hero web parts to reflect the new URL.

How do I republish my SharePoint page after fixing the web part?

Once you have updated the Hero web part links in Edit mode, simply click the 'Republish' button located at the top-right corner of the SharePoint page editor. This makes your fixes visible to all site visitors.

Document & File Issues