How to Manage SharePoint Team Sites and Storage Limits in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user needs to know how to delete an old classic SharePoint team site, designate a different site as the default root site, and understand how storage is allocated across SharePoint and OneDrive for company collaboration.
- Product
- SharePoint / Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A small business is organizing its company file-sharing architecture and needs to clean up legacy sites while optimizing storage.
- Observed behavior
- The user seeks guidance on managing active sites, replacing the root site, and allocating storage effectively using Microsoft 365 groups.
Ensure you are signed in to Microsoft 365 with Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator privileges before attempting to modify site structures or view storage quotas.
Delete an Old SharePoint Team Site and Replace the Root Site
Use the SharePoint admin center to remove unnecessary classic sites and set a modern communication or team site as your default tenant root site.
Managing your active sites correctly ensures a clean architecture for your team. You can easily remove old sites and replace the default URL endpoint for your organization.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, expand the left navigation menu, and select 'SharePoint' under the Admin centers list.
In the SharePoint admin center, expand 'Sites' and click on 'Active sites' to view all currently active SharePoint environments.
Select the old classic SharePoint team site you wish to remove from the list and click the 'Delete' button on the command bar.
Select the site you want to make the default, click on the site name to open the details panel, and choose the option to replace the tenant root site.
Create a Microsoft 365 Group for Company-Wide File Sharing
Establish a centralized workspace for your company by creating a Microsoft 365 group, which automatically provisions an associated SharePoint document library.
Looking for a Fast Way to Edit Your Shared Documents?
While SharePoint handles your company's cloud storage, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight desktop application to edit your downloaded or synced documents with exceptional speed and full layout preservation.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen prompts to set up the software.
- 3. Open your files: Double-click any Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file synced from your SharePoint library to start editing immediately in WPS Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OneDrive storage count toward my SharePoint storage limit?
No, OneDrive storage and SharePoint storage are allocated separately. SharePoint allows up to 25 TB per site for centralized team collaboration, whereas OneDrive is designed for personal files and typically provides 1 TB per user.
Can I recover a SharePoint team site after deleting it?
Yes, deleted SharePoint sites are retained in the 'Deleted sites' section of the SharePoint admin center for 93 days. During this window, an administrator can fully restore the site and its contents.
What happens to the document library if the associated Microsoft 365 group is deleted?
When a Microsoft 365 group is deleted, the associated SharePoint site and its document libraries are also deleted. You have 30 days to restore the group and its associated files from the recycle bin.
