How to Restore the Missing New Button in a SharePoint Document Library
Question details
The user needs to restore the 'New' button and its content-type options in a SharePoint document library after they disappeared.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Managing documents in a SharePoint class team or channel document library.
- Observed behavior
- The 'New' button and all of its content-type options have completely disappeared from the document library after the options were removed from the Edit New menu.
Ensure you have the necessary Edit or Site Owner permissions to upload templates and modify library settings in your SharePoint site.
Upload a Template to Restore the New Menu
Uploading a new document template forces the 'New' button to reappear, allowing you to re-enable the necessary content types for your library.
When all content types are toggled off in the library settings, the 'New' button hides itself completely. By introducing a new template, SharePoint automatically reactivates the menu interface.
Open your web browser and navigate to the SharePoint site, class team, or channel where the document library is located.
Click on the 'Upload' button in the library's top toolbar, and select 'Template' from the dropdown. Choose a standard blank document (such as a Word or Excel file) from your computer to upload.
Once the template is successfully uploaded, the 'New' button will be restored to the toolbar. Click the 'New' button, select 'Edit New menu', and check the boxes next to the content types (like Word Document, Folder, etc.) that you want to be visible.
Manage and Edit Your Library Documents with WPS Office
While SharePoint organizes your online document libraries, creating and editing the actual files requires a powerful office suite. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative to Microsoft Office that easily handles all your document processing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the New button disappear from my SharePoint library?
The 'New' button automatically disappears from the library toolbar if all document content-type options (such as Word document, Excel workbook, Folder, etc.) are manually unchecked and hidden from the 'Edit New menu' settings.
Can any user restore the missing New button?
No, you must have adequate edit permissions (typically as a Site Member or Site Owner) to upload new templates and modify the library menu settings. Users with only 'Read' access cannot see or restore the button.
What type of file should I use as a template?
You can use any standard Office file format, such as a blank .docx (Word), .xlsx (Excel), or .pptx (PowerPoint) file. This file acts as the default template when users click to create a new document in the library.
