SharePoint Document Issues

How to Restore the New Button in SharePoint Modern View

Phi Hung Vo Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to restore the modern pop-up dialog form for the +New button in a SharePoint list or library.

How to Restore the New Button in SharePoint Modern View

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Clicking the +New button in a SharePoint list or library to add a new document or item.
Observed behavior: The +New button redirects the user to a separate page that displays the classic SharePoint layout instead of opening the expected modern dialog panel.

Before you start

Ensure you have at least 'Design' or 'Manage Lists' permissions for the affected SharePoint list or library so you can access and modify its Advanced Settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Force the Modern Experience in Advanced Settings

Change the advanced settings of your specific list or library to explicitly enforce the new modern experience instead of relying on default site settings.

By default, SharePoint lists and libraries inherit the experience settings from the site collection. Manually forcing the new experience bypasses inheritance and ensures the modern dialog opens.

Open List or Library Settings

Navigate to the SharePoint list or library where the issue occurs. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of the screen and select 'List settings' or 'Library settings'.

Access Advanced Settings

Under the 'General Settings' column on the settings page, click on 'Advanced settings'.

Change List Experience

Scroll down to the very bottom of the Advanced settings page to find the 'List experience' section. Select the radio button for 'New experience'.

Save Changes

Click the 'OK' button at the bottom right to apply the changes. Return to your list and test the +New button to confirm the modern dialog appears.

Force the Modern Experience in Advanced Settings

Immediate Application: Refreshing the list page after saving should immediately reflect the modern dialog behavior.

Solution 2

Identify and Remove Classic-Only Features

If forcing the modern experience doesn't work, locate and disable features or customizations that automatically trigger classic mode.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my entire SharePoint site keep switching to classic view?

SharePoint automatically falls back to the classic experience if it detects legacy features, custom master pages, classic site collections, or unsupported apps that cannot be rendered properly in the modern UI.

Can I apply the modern view to all lists across my entire SharePoint site at once?

Yes, a site collection administrator can manage this by activating or deactivating the 'SharePoint Lists and Libraries experience' feature within the Site Collection Features menu in Site Settings.

How do I know if a specific column is breaking the modern New button?

You can troubleshoot by creating a blank, standard list on the same site and confirming the modern New button works. Gradually recreate your custom columns on this test list until the button reverts to classic view, which will identify the conflicting column.

Do I need administrative permissions to change the list experience?

Yes, you need at least 'Design' or 'Manage Lists' permission levels to access the Advanced Settings menu where the list experience toggle is located.

Document & File Issues