How to Display the Author Field in SharePoint Highlighted Content Web Part
Question details
The user needs to display the original document or page Author instead of the Modified By user in the SharePoint Highlighted Content web part.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring the Highlighted Content web part on a SharePoint site page to surface specific user metadata.
- Observed behavior
- The standard web part defaults to displaying the Modified By user, and it is unclear how to change this property to show the original Author field instead.
Ensure you have Edit or Design permissions for the SharePoint page, and verify that the 'Created By' (Author) column has data populated for the targeted documents or pages.
Review Standard Highlighted Content Layouts and Properties
Check the built-in layout options to see if modifying the card type exposes the original Author field instead of the editor.
The standard Highlighted Content web part surfaces metadata based on the chosen layout. Some layouts prioritize the latest activity (Modified By), but altering the layout or item source can sometimes change the default card properties.
Navigate to the site page where the Highlighted Content web part is located and click 'Edit' in the top right corner.
Select the Highlighted Content web part and click the pencil icon to open the configuration pane on the right side.
Scroll to the 'Layout' section and toggle between 'Cards', 'List', 'Carousel', and 'Filmstrip'. Observe if the desired Author metadata is exposed in any of the alternative views.
Under the 'Filter and sort' settings, ensure the content is sorted by 'Created' rather than 'Recently modified' to prioritize original authorship.
Utilize a Custom SPFx Web Part (PnP Modern Search)
Deploy a custom SharePoint Framework (SPFx) search web part to map and display the specific Author managed property.
Use a Document Library Web Part with a Custom View
Bypass the Highlighted Content web part by using a Document Library web part configured to show specific metadata columns.
Experience Seamless Document Editing with WPS Office
While configuring SharePoint web parts often requires navigating complex Microsoft 365 limitations, managing your local files shouldn't be complicated. WPS Office provides a simplified, lightweight, and completely free alternative for your daily document creation needs.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the setup file. The lightweight installation takes only minutes, after which you can open the main workspace.
- 3. Open Office documents: Drag and drop your existing Microsoft Office files directly into WPS Office to view and edit them with perfect format retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the SharePoint Highlighted Content web part show 'Modified By' instead of 'Author'?
By default, the Highlighted Content web part is designed to surface the most recent activity on your site. Therefore, it prioritizes displaying the 'Modified By' user who last updated the document or page.
Can I map custom managed properties in the default Highlighted Content web part?
The standard Highlighted Content web part offers very limited customization for card layouts and does not allow users to manually remap metadata fields like Author. For advanced metadata mapping, you will need to use custom SPFx web parts.
How do I find the Author managed property in SharePoint Search?
You can find the Author managed property by navigating to the SharePoint Admin Center, selecting 'More features', opening 'Search', and clicking on 'Manage Search Schema'. The default property tied to the document creator is usually 'Author' or 'CreatedBy'.
