How to Fix SharePoint Discard Changes Error and Page Update Issues
Question details
Users are experiencing errors where clicking 'Discard changes' in SharePoint requires multiple clicks, displays a 'Could not discard your page' error, or fails to update news.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing web pages or updating news posts in SharePoint.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Discard changes' button is unresponsive, requires multiple clicks to trigger the confirmation prompt, throws a 'Could not discard your page' error, or the 'Update News' function fails to execute.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection and verify if your account has the correct permissions to edit or discard drafts on the specific SharePoint site.
Basic Browser Troubleshooting for SharePoint
Rule out browser caching issues or extensions interfering with SharePoint's page editing scripts.
SharePoint relies heavily on browser-based scripts to load page components and dialog boxes. Cached data or outdated cookies often cause buttons like 'Discard changes' or 'Update News' to become unresponsive.
Open a new Incognito or Private Browsing window in your browser and log into your SharePoint site. Attempt to edit and discard changes on the page to see if the issue is bypassed.
Switch to a completely different supported browser (e.g., Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox) to determine if the issue is browser-specific.
If the private window resolves the issue, clear your primary browser's cache and cookies. Restart the browser and log back into SharePoint.
Document the Error and Escalate
Since this is a known persistent bug in SharePoint for some environments, gathering exact reproduction steps is necessary for IT or Microsoft Support.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Discard changes' button require multiple clicks in SharePoint?
This is often caused by browser lag, network latency, or script conflicts preventing the immediate rendering of the discard confirmation dialog. Clearing your browser cache usually resolves the delay.
What should I do if 'Update News' is completely unresponsive?
First, refresh the page and try again. If it remains unresponsive, try editing the news post in a private browsing window to ensure no browser extensions are blocking the SharePoint scripts.
Will I lose my current draft if SharePoint throws a 'Could not discard your page' error?
The error generally means SharePoint cannot revert to the last published state. Your current draft remains untouched, but you may need to manually revert your changes or close the session and allow the site to clear the page lock.
