Permission & Access Issues

How to Enable Document Sets on an Older SharePoint Communication Site

Muhammad Talha Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to enable Document Sets on an older SharePoint communication site but cannot find the necessary administration options.

How to Enable Document Sets on an Older SharePoint Communication Site

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to configure Document Sets or access site collection features on an older communication site.
Observed behavior: The Site Collection Administration option is missing from the Site Settings menu because being a site owner does not provide the required site collection administrator permissions.

Before you start

Identify your organization's Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administrator, as you will need their assistance to adjust site permissions in the Admin Center.

Solution 1Recommended

Request Site Collection Administrator Permissions

This solution resolves the missing settings by having an IT admin grant you the correct permission level to manage site collection features like Document Sets.

In SharePoint, being a Site Owner is not sufficient to view or manage site collection features. The Site Collection Administration menu will remain hidden until you are explicitly added as a Site Collection Administrator.

Contact your SharePoint Administrator

Reach out to your organization's Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administrator and request Site Collection Administrator access for the specific communication site.

Open the SharePoint Admin Center

Ask the administrator to log into Microsoft 365 and open the SharePoint Admin Center.

Locate the Active Site

The administrator must navigate to 'Sites' and then select 'Active sites' from the left-hand menu, then search for and click on your older communication site.

Update Membership Settings

In the site properties panel, the administrator should open the 'Membership' tab and select 'Site admins'.

Add Your Account

Have the administrator type your name or email into the Site admins field, add your account, and save the changes.

Verify Site Settings

Once the permissions are updated, go back to your SharePoint site, refresh the page, and open 'Site Settings'. The Site Collection Administration option should now be visible to enable Document Sets.

Request Site Collection Administrator Permissions

Permission Granted: After the permissions propagate, you will have full access to activate the Document Sets feature from the Site Collection Features menu.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Site Collection Administration menu missing even though I am a Site Owner?

In SharePoint, the 'Site Owner' and 'Site Collection Administrator' are distinct permission levels. Site Owners can manage list and site permissions, but only Site Collection Administrators have access to global site collection features and settings like Document Sets.

Can I enable Document Sets without being a site collection administrator?

No. Activating the Document Sets feature requires site collection administrator privileges because it is categorized as a site collection-level feature, not a standard site feature.

What should I do if I am already a Site Collection Admin but the setting is still missing?

If you are certain you have Site Collection Administrator rights and the setting is still absent, there might be an issue with the underlying template of your older communication site. Capture a screenshot of your Site Settings page and contact Microsoft Support for a deeper investigation.

Document & File Issues