SharePoint Document Issues

Fix SharePoint Showing Uploaded by Undefined in Edited By Field

Phi Hung Vo Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

SharePoint fails to resolve user information, displaying 'undefined' instead of the actual user's name in the 'Edited By' or 'Uploaded By' fields on specific web parts.

How to Fix SharePoint Showing 'Uploaded by Undefined' in Edited By Information

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing content and document details through specific SharePoint web parts, such as the Highlighted Content web part on a home page.
Observed behavior: The user metadata does not render correctly, resulting in a display error of 'Uploaded by Undefined' or 'Edited by Undefined' that affects multiple users.

Before you start

Ensure you have site editing permissions to test different web parts, and verify if you have Microsoft 365 administrator privileges in case you need to submit a service ticket.

Solution 1Recommended

Isolate the Affected SharePoint Web Part

Determine if the display error is isolated to a specific web part (like Highlighted Content) or affects the entire SharePoint site.

Often, this issue is a localized rendering bug tied to a specific web part rather than a widespread site failure. By testing alternative web parts, you can verify if the user data is still intact.

Enter Edit Mode

Navigate to the affected SharePoint page (e.g., the home page) and click the 'Edit' button in the top right corner.

Identify the Web Part

Locate the web part displaying the 'undefined' error and note its type, such as the Highlighted Content web part.

Add a Test Web Part

Click the '+' icon to add a new web part to the page. Select the 'Document Library' or 'Quick Links' web part.

Verify User Information

Publish or save the page as a draft. Check if the newly added web part successfully resolves and displays the 'Edited By' or 'Uploaded By' information correctly.

Isolate the Affected SharePoint Web Part

Temporary Workaround: If the Document Library web part displays user names correctly, you can use it as a temporary alternative while the Highlighted Content web part is being investigated.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft 365 Support with HAR Logs

If the issue affects multiple users and is confirmed as a service-side bug, you will need to open a support ticket with Microsoft 365.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint show 'undefined' instead of a user's name?

This error occurs when a specific SharePoint web part, such as the Highlighted Content web part, fails to properly communicate with the server to retrieve and resolve user metadata. It is often a service-side rendering bug affecting specific components.

Does the 'Uploaded by Undefined' error affect my document's actual permissions?

No, this is strictly a front-end display issue within the affected web part. The underlying document library, file permissions, and actual author information remain fully intact and are securely preserved in the file's version history.

How do I generate a HAR log for Microsoft support?

Open your web browser's Developer Tools (usually by pressing F12), navigate to the Network tab, ensure 'Preserve log' is checked, and reload the affected SharePoint page. Once the page finishes loading, click the 'Export HAR' button (or right-click and select 'Save all as HAR') to save the network trace file.

Are there alternative web parts I can use to avoid this error?

Yes. If the Highlighted Content web part is malfunctioning, you can temporarily switch to the standard Document Library web part or Quick Links web part. These alternative components typically resolve user information correctly while the primary issue is being investigated by Microsoft.

Document & File Issues