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How to Configure External Search Result Sources in SharePoint Online
Question details
SharePoint Online administrators need an alternative method to configure external search result sources and custom federated search.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Administrators are trying to configure search result sources after the OpenSearch protocol and Remote Search features were retired in SharePoint Online.
- Observed behavior
- Older SharePoint Server instructions for federated search no longer work, requiring administrators to adopt modern Microsoft Search configurations and custom search result pages.
Verify that your account has SharePoint Administrator privileges in the Microsoft 365 admin center, as these permissions are required to manage search result sources.
Create Custom Search Result Pages Using Modern Architecture
Use modern Microsoft Search settings to manage result sources and build custom search pages, bypassing the retired OpenSearch protocols.
Because Microsoft has officially retired the OpenSearch protocol and Remote Search for SharePoint Online, traditional federated search configurations are no longer supported. Administrators must now utilize modern search management frameworks to define result sources and deploy custom search pages.
Log into the SharePoint admin center, navigate to the 'More features' tab, and select 'Open' under the Search section.
Click on 'Manage Result Sources' to configure where your SharePoint environment retrieves search results. Ensure you configure these at the tenant or site collection level as needed.
Consult the official Microsoft Learn guidance on 'managing result sources in SharePoint Online' for up-to-date procedures, as older SharePoint Server guides do not apply to the cloud environment.
Utilize Microsoft Search custom verticals or PnP Modern Search Web Parts to construct and deploy your organization's custom search result pages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did federated search stop working in my SharePoint Online tenant?
Microsoft has retired both the OpenSearch protocol and Remote Search capabilities in SharePoint Online. You must transition to modern Microsoft Search verticals and custom result sources.
Can I use SharePoint Server instructions to fix search issues in SharePoint Online?
No. SharePoint Server and SharePoint Online utilize fundamentally different search architectures. Instructions meant for on-premises SharePoint Server will not work and may cause configuration errors.
What permissions are required to manage search result sources?
You must have SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator privileges to access the SharePoint admin center and make tenant-wide or site-level changes to search result sources.
