How to Permanently Change a SharePoint Library View from Tiles to List
Question details
The user wants to change the default layout of a SharePoint document library from tiles to a list view permanently without having to create an entirely new view.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Customizing the display layout of a SharePoint document library to improve navigation and document management for all users and connected web parts.
- Observed behavior
- The library opens in a tile layout by default, but the desired goal state is for the existing view to automatically display as a list layout for everyone.
Ensure you have the necessary Edit or Full Control permissions on the SharePoint document library to modify and save public views that affect other users.
Overwrite the Current View with the List Layout
Use the built-in view saving feature to change the current view settings from tiles to list, overwriting the existing view configuration.
You do not need to create a completely new view to change how your library displays. By modifying the current view and saving it under the exact same name, you can seamlessly update the layout for everyone.
Navigate to your SharePoint document library and ensure you are currently looking at the specific view you wish to modify.
In the command bar at the top right of the document library, click the layout options dropdown (which likely currently says 'Tiles') and select 'List' to change the display.
Click the view options dropdown again. You will notice an asterisk (*) next to the current view name, indicating unsaved layout changes. Click on 'Save view as'.
In the prompt that appears, keep the exact same view name to overwrite the current configuration. Make sure 'Make this a public view' is checked if you want others to see it, then click 'Save'.
To ensure this list mode opens automatically for everyone, go to the Library settings, verify that this specific view is selected, and set it as the default view.
Edit Your Synced SharePoint Documents with WPS Office
While SharePoint is excellent for managing and storing your document repositories, you need a robust, fast, and highly compatible office suite to edit those files locally. WPS Office is a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office that flawlessly handles Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files downloaded from or synced with SharePoint.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Access your SharePoint files: Download or sync your DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX documents directly from your SharePoint document library to your local drive.
- 3. Open and edit seamlessly: Double-click the synced files to open them in WPS Office, enjoying full format compatibility and familiar editing tools without needing a paid Microsoft subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my SharePoint library keep reverting to the Tiles view?
If you merely change the layout from the dropdown without saving, SharePoint treats it as a temporary session change. It will revert to the default saved layout (Tiles) when the page is refreshed. You must use the 'Save view as' option to make the change permanent.
Do I have to create a new view to switch to a list layout permanently?
No, you do not need to create a new view. You can simply change the layout of your current view from Tiles to List, select 'Save view as', and save it using the exact same name to overwrite the old layout.
Will changing the view to List affect my document library web parts?
Yes. If a SharePoint page contains a document library web part that is configured to display your modified view, updating that view's layout to List will automatically push the layout update to the web part as well.
Can I make the List view the default for all users accessing the library?
Yes. By saving the modified view as a 'public view' and subsequently checking the 'Make default' option in your advanced Library Settings, the library will automatically open in List mode for anyone who visits it.
