SharePoint Document Issues

How to Keep Folder Scroll Position in SharePoint Online

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience an issue where navigating back to a large parent folder from a subfolder resets the view to the top of the folder list instead of maintaining the previous scroll position.

Product: SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating backwards from a subfolder within a large SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: The web browser view returns to the very top of the parent folder list, losing the user's exact scroll position and making navigation difficult.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active internet connection and are fully logged into your SharePoint Online web interface before testing navigation workarounds.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Breadcrumb Navigation

Utilize SharePoint's built-in breadcrumb path to navigate directly to the parent folder without triggering a full page reload.

Because SharePoint dynamically loads items in a web browser, relying on the browser's 'Back' button often resets the list view. Using the breadcrumbs at the top of the document library provides a more reliable way to navigate between nested folders.

Locate the breadcrumb trail

Look at the top-left area of your SharePoint document library, just above the list of files and folders. You will see a clickable path displaying your current folder hierarchy.

Click the parent folder

Instead of clicking the browser's back button, click the name of the parent folder in the breadcrumb trail to return to the previous level more smoothly.

Solution 2

Sync SharePoint Library with OneDrive

Sync your SharePoint library to your local machine and use Windows File Explorer, which natively preserves scroll positions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a built-in setting in SharePoint Online to save my scroll position?

No, SharePoint Online does not currently provide a built-in option or setting to preserve the exact scroll position when returning from a subfolder. It dynamically reloads the folder view to the top.

Why can't I just change the folder sorting order to fix this?

Folders in SharePoint are normally listed alphabetically by name, and this default behavior cannot easily be changed. While you can sort by other columns like the ID column, it will still default to the top of the list when navigating back.

Does this issue happen in the OneDrive synced folder on my desktop?

No, if you sync your SharePoint library with OneDrive and browse it using Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder, the operating system's native file manager will preserve your scroll position automatically.

Document & File Issues