SharePoint Document Issues

How to Customize the SharePoint Online Start Page Layout

WPS Content Manager Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to customize the default SharePoint start page accessed from Microsoft 365 to function and look like an organizational website landing page.

How to Customize the SharePoint Online Start Page Layout

Product: Microsoft SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Accessing the default SharePoint app page via Microsoft 365 and attempting to modify its initial layout for the whole organization.
Observed behavior: The default SharePoint start page is locked and cannot be directly customized or edited to look like an organizational landing page.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have Site Owner or SharePoint Administrator permissions to create new communication sites and modify global appearance settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Custom SharePoint Site as an Organizational Home Page

Since the default app start page cannot be edited directly, the best approach is to build a new customized communication site and use it as your organization's landing page.

Microsoft intentionally locks the default SharePoint start page because it acts as a personalized aggregator for individual users' frequent sites and news.

To provide a customized landing experience for your team, you should create a dedicated Communication Site.

Create a new site

Click 'Create site' from the top menu of your SharePoint environment and select 'Communication site'.

Choose a design

Select a design template that matches your organizational goals (such as 'Topic' or 'Showcase') and click 'Use template'.

Name the site

Enter a Site name and description, then click 'Finish' to generate the new landing page.

Customize web parts

Click 'Edit' on the top right of the new site to add web parts like Hero sections, News feeds, and Quick Links to mimic a corporate homepage.

Register as Home Site

Contact your SharePoint administrator to officially register this customized site as a 'Home site' via the SharePoint admin center.

Create a Custom SharePoint Site as an Organizational Home Page

Admin Action Required: Registering a specific communication site as the global organizational Home Site requires global or SharePoint admin privileges.

Solution 2

Modify the Appearance of an Existing Custom Site

If you already have an active SharePoint site, you can use the built-in settings to customize its look without needing complex code.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I directly edit the default SharePoint start page?

Microsoft has designed the default SharePoint app start page in Microsoft 365 as a personalized hub that automatically aggregates news and frequently visited sites for the individual user. It cannot be globally modified into an organizational landing page.

How do I make a SharePoint site the official home page?

A SharePoint administrator must use the SharePoint admin center or PowerShell commands to set a specific communication site as the organization's official Home site. This establishes it as the top landing destination for your intranet.

Can I use SharePoint Designer to customize my modern SharePoint pages?

SharePoint Designer is largely deprecated, and its support is highly limited for modern SharePoint Online environments. Microsoft recommends using modern built-in web parts and the 'Change the look' menu for customization instead.

Document & File Issues