How to Fix SharePoint Navigation Links Greyed Out When Editing
Question details
Users are unable to modify site navigation because the links are disabled or unavailable in the modern interface.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to edit navigation links on modern SharePoint Team and Communication sites after the 'Open in new window' feature was introduced.
- Observed behavior
- The navigation links in the side panel appear greyed out and the interface prevents users from directly editing or updating them.
Ensure that you are logged in with an account that has at least Site Owner, Design, or Full Control permissions, as basic members cannot modify site navigation.
Edit Links via SharePoint Site Settings
The most reliable workaround when the modern navigation interface is unresponsive is to modify the links through the backend Site Settings page.
Since the modern UI occasionally locks navigation editing due to recent feature rollouts, routing through the classic Site Settings circumvents the interface bug entirely.
Click the Gear icon (Settings) located in the top-right corner of your SharePoint site, then select 'Site information' from the drop-down panel.
Scroll to the bottom of the Site information panel and click the 'View all site settings' link.
Under the 'Look and Feel' category on the Site Settings page, click on 'Navigation' or 'Quick launch' depending on your specific site configuration.
Locate the specific link you want to modify, click on it to edit its URL or display title, and click 'OK' to save your changes.
Modify Link Address via Drop-Down Menu
If the main editing interface is disabled, you might still be able to change the link address using the item's individual drop-down contextual menu.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my SharePoint navigation links suddenly become greyed out?
This issue often happens on modern Team and Communication sites after Microsoft introduces new updates, specifically the 'Open in new window' feature, which temporarily restricts direct editing in the side panel.
Will Microsoft fix the navigation editing interface bug?
Microsoft has not released official documentation detailing whether this behavior is an intentional UI update or a bug. Using the Site Settings workaround is currently the recommended approach.
Who has the permission to edit SharePoint site navigation?
You must have elevated permissions, specifically 'Design', 'Edit', or 'Full Control' rights (typically assigned to Site Owners or administrators), to add, remove, or modify site navigation links.
