SharePoint Document Issues

How to Find Which SharePoint Pages Use Stored Images

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

A business unit needs to determine if images stored in a custom SharePoint folder are actively used on any pages or elsewhere in Microsoft 365 before permanently deleting them.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Cleaning up a custom image folder containing many similar versions without breaking existing SharePoint pages.
Observed behavior: SharePoint lacks a simple built-in report for tracking image dependencies across an environment, making manual investigation of custom folders difficult.

Before you start

Before attempting to delete any stored images, consider restricting the permissions to the custom image folder or moving the files to an archive site to see if any active pages break, rather than deleting them permanently.

Solution 1Recommended

Use PowerShell or Microsoft Graph to Query Image Usage

Since SharePoint does not offer a native user interface for dependency tracking, utilizing custom scripts is the most reliable method to scan an environment for specific image URLs.

SharePoint does not provide a direct way to track image usage across an entire environment. Deleting images can break pages that reference them. Because standard UI reports do not exist for this scenario, automation is required.

Identify Target URLs

Compile a list of the exact web paths for the images stored in your custom SharePoint folder that you wish to investigate.

Develop a PowerShell Script

Use the PnP PowerShell module or Microsoft Graph API to iterate through all the Site Pages in your SharePoint environment.

Scan Page Web Parts

Configure the script to extract and read the canvas content and image web parts of each page, searching for matches to your target image URLs.

Generate a Report

Output the script findings into a CSV file or a Power BI dashboard to map which specific pages are currently rendering the stored images.

Developer Assistance Required: If you are unfamiliar with scripting, it is highly recommended to consult a SharePoint development expert or ask the Microsoft Q&A community under the SharePoint Development tag for script examples.

Solution 2

Manually Review Site Assets for Standard Image Usage

Understand how SharePoint natively stores page images to deduce if your custom folder images are actively used or simply redundant backups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rely on the last-modified date to see if a SharePoint image is used?

No, the last-modified date is not a reliable indicator of usage. It only reflects when the image file itself was uploaded or last edited, not when a page referencing the image was viewed or updated.

Where are images normally stored when uploaded to a SharePoint page?

By default, images uploaded directly via the modern SharePoint page editor are stored in the 'Site Assets' library, automatically organized into folders named after the specific pages they appear on.

What happens if I delete an image that is currently referenced by a SharePoint page?

Deleting an actively used image from its storage folder will instantly break the reference, causing the SharePoint page to display a broken link or a missing image icon to all visitors.

Document & File Issues