SharePoint Document Issues

How to Find Format Current View in SharePoint Lists

Amos Gikunda Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to locate the 'Format current view' option to customize their SharePoint list or library, but the option is currently hidden or unavailable.

How to Find Format Current View in SharePoint Lists

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the appearance and layout of a SharePoint list or document library using the built-in view formatting tools.
Observed behavior: The 'Format current view' command is missing from the view dropdown menu, likely due to being in the classic experience or having insufficient user permissions.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into SharePoint with an account that has at least Design or Full Control permissions, as basic read or contribute access may restrict your ability to format views.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to Modern Experience and Locate the Option

The view formatting feature is exclusively available in the modern SharePoint interface. Switching out of the classic experience will typically reveal the missing option.

SharePoint maintains both a 'classic' and a 'modern' user interface for backward compatibility. Features like 'Format current view' rely on modern web architectures and will not appear if your list is rendering in the older classic mode.

Check your current experience

Look at the top of your SharePoint list. If you see a dense 'Ribbon' interface with tabs like 'Files' and 'Library', you are in the classic experience.

Exit classic experience

Scroll down to the very bottom left corner of the webpage and click the text link that says 'Exit classic experience'. The page will reload in the modern interface.

Open the view menu

In the modern interface, look at the command bar above your list data. Click on your current view name (usually 'All Items' or 'All Documents') located towards the top right.

Select Format current view

From the dropdown menu that appears, scroll to the bottom and click 'Format current view' to open the formatting panel on the right side of your screen.

Switch to Modern Experience and Locate the Option

Default Experience Setting: If your list keeps reverting to the classic experience, a site administrator may need to update the list's advanced settings to default to the modern experience.

Solution 2

Verify User Permissions and Test a New List

If the modern experience is active but the formatting option remains hidden, the issue is likely tied to your account permissions or list-level restrictions.

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Manage Your Exported SharePoint Data with WPS Office

While SharePoint lists are managed online, you frequently need to export your data for offline analysis, reporting, or sharing. WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office, enabling you to open and edit exported SharePoint data seamlessly.

1. Export from SharePoint: In your modern SharePoint list, click 'Export' from the top command bar and choose 'Export to Excel'.
2. Open with WPS Spreadsheet: Locate the downloaded file on your computer, right-click, and select 'Open with WPS Office'.
3. Analyze and Format: Use WPS Spreadsheet's familiar tools to format, filter, and analyze your SharePoint data locally.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx and .csv) files exported from SharePoint lists.Free and lightweight alternative to heavy Microsoft Office desktop subscriptions.Familiar tabbed user interface ensures a zero-learning-curve transition.Built-in PDF tools and advanced data analysis features for all your reporting needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Format current view option missing even in the modern experience?

This usually happens when your account does not have sufficient permissions (Design or Full Control). It can also occur if custom scripting has been explicitly disabled at the SharePoint tenant level by your IT administrator.

Can I format views in the SharePoint classic experience?

No, the JSON-based 'Format current view' feature is exclusive to modern SharePoint. To format views in classic SharePoint, you would need to use SharePoint Designer or traditional customized web parts, which are deprecated.

How do I reset or remove formatting from my SharePoint list view?

Click on your current view name, select 'Format current view', and in the right-hand panel, either uncheck the styling options or delete any custom JSON code from the advanced mode screen. Finally, click Save to restore the default appearance.

Document & File Issues