SharePoint Document Issues

How to Enable Save Document Library as Template in SharePoint

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

A user needs to restore the missing option to save a SharePoint document library as a template.

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: A Microsoft 365 administrator is trying to save an existing document library as a reusable template to standardise library structures across a site.
Observed behavior: The 'Save document library as template' option is unavailable or entirely missing from the library settings menu.

Before you start

Ensure you are signed in with SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator privileges in Microsoft 365, as modifying custom script settings requires high-level administrative access.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable Custom Scripts at Tenant and Site Levels

To make the 'Save as template' option visible in SharePoint, you must explicitly allow custom scripts in both the SharePoint Admin Center and the specific site.

In modern SharePoint environments, custom scripting is disabled by default for security purposes. Since the ability to save a document library as a template relies on this legacy feature, the option is hidden until custom scripts are permitted.

Access the SharePoint Admin Center

Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center as an administrator. In the left navigation pane, click on 'Show all' and select 'SharePoint' to open the SharePoint admin center.

Allow Custom Scripts at the Tenant Level

Navigate to 'Settings', then click on the 'classic settings page' link. Scroll down to the 'Custom Script' section and select both 'Allow users to run custom script on personal sites' and 'Allow users to run custom script on self-service created sites'. Click 'OK' to save.

Enable Scripts at the Site Level (For Mac Users)

Because the SharePoint Online Management Shell (PowerShell) is not natively available on Mac, use Azure Cloud Shell from your browser. Run the command `Connect-SPOService -Url https://[yourtenant]-admin.sharepoint.com` followed by `Set-SPOSite -Identity https://[yourtenant].sharepoint.com/sites/[yoursite] -DenyAddAndCustomizePages 0` to enable scripting for the specific site.

Verify Document Library Settings

Wait for the settings to fully apply to your tenant. Once propagated, go back to your SharePoint site, open the library, click the gear icon for 'Library settings', and select 'More library settings'. The 'Save document library as template' option will now be visible under Permissions and Management.

Propagation Time: Changes made to the custom script settings in the SharePoint Admin Center can take up to 24 hours to take effect across your Microsoft 365 tenant.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'Save document library as template' missing in SharePoint Online?

Microsoft disables custom scripting by default in modern SharePoint sites to enhance security. Because saving a library as a template is considered a custom script action, the feature is hidden until scripts are manually enabled by an administrator.

Do I need special permissions to enable custom scripts?

Yes, you must have SharePoint Administrator or Global Administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant to access the SharePoint Admin Center and modify custom script settings.

How long does it take for the custom script setting to take effect?

After enabling custom scripts via the classic settings page in the SharePoint Admin Center, it typically takes up to 24 hours for the changes to fully propagate to all sites.

Can I use PowerShell on a Mac to change SharePoint site settings?

Mac users cannot run the traditional Windows SharePoint Online Management Shell natively. You must either use PowerShell Core with the PnP PowerShell module, run Windows via a virtual machine, or utilize Azure Cloud Shell directly from your web browser.

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