SharePoint Document Issues

How to Exit SharePoint Edit in Grid View When Command Bar Is Hidden

Maira Mehtab Oct 15, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to exit the Edit in grid view mode in a SharePoint list, but the standard exit button is inaccessible.

How to Exit SharePoint Edit in Grid View Without the Command Bar

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to return to the standard list view after modifying list items or documents in grid view.
Observed behavior: The Exit grid view command is completely unavailable because the command bar has been hidden by site settings or custom formatting.

Before you start

Before forcing an exit from grid view, ensure you click outside of your active cell so that SharePoint auto-saves your most recent edits.

Solution 1Recommended

Force Exit by Refreshing the Page

Since the built-in exit button is missing, reloading the browser page will safely force SharePoint to revert to the default list view.

This is the quickest workaround when site customizations prevent you from accessing the standard command bar. SharePoint auto-saves your grid view edits, so a refresh is generally safe as long as the active cell has been deselected.

Save active cell edits

Click on any empty space or a different row in the grid to ensure your current cell data is auto-saved.

Refresh the browser tab

Press F5 on your keyboard, or click the reload button located near the address bar in your web browser.

Verify the list view

Wait for the page to reload completely and confirm that the SharePoint list has returned to the standard read-only view.

Data Safety: Always verify that the saving indicator (usually at the top right of the grid) has completed before you refresh the page to avoid losing your latest cell entry.

Solution 2

Restore the Command Bar via View Settings

If you have site editor permissions, restoring the command bar will bring back the Exit grid view button for future use.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your Documents Effectively with WPS Office

While SharePoint and Microsoft 365 interfaces can sometimes be complex to navigate, WPS Office offers a straightforward, lightweight suite for all your document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs. It provides a familiar user interface and seamless offline file management without heavy resource usage.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint formats (.xlsx, .docx, .pptx)Lightweight application that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and AndroidIntuitive, tabbed user interface familiar to Microsoft Office usersCost-effective and free to use with essential editing capabilities

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the command bar hidden in my SharePoint list?

The command bar is typically hidden by a site administrator using custom JSON formatting or specific web part settings in order to simplify the user interface or restrict user actions.

Will I lose my data if I refresh the page while in grid view?

SharePoint auto-saves edits made in grid view on a cell-by-cell basis. As long as you click outside the active cell to trigger the save before refreshing, your data will be retained.

How can I request a built-in fix for this missing exit button?

You can submit your feedback, report the UI issue, and vote on similar ideas in the official Microsoft SharePoint Feedback Community portal.

Document & File Issues