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How to Back Up a Microsoft Project Online Site: Fix PWA Errors
Question details
The user needs to back up a Microsoft Project Online site and resolve issues where saving the Project Web App (PWA) site as a template fails.
- Product
- Microsoft Project Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to create a backup by saving a PWA site as a template for data preservation or migration.
- Observed behavior
- The "Save site as template" feature fails, often due to SharePoint storage limits, template size restrictions, duplicate fields, or lack of support for the parent PWA site.
Before proceeding, ensure you have Site Collection Administrator permissions for the Project Web App (PWA) site and verify your current SharePoint storage metrics to confirm you have not exceeded template size limits.
Review Site Storage and Adjust Template Limits
Ensure your PWA site does not exceed the maximum allowed size for SharePoint site templates (typically 50 MB by default) before attempting to save.
SharePoint imposes a strict size limit on site templates. If your Project Online site contains too many files, documents, or duplicate custom fields, the template creation process will fail.
Go to 'Site Settings' in your Project Web App and navigate to 'Storage Metrics' under Site Collection Administration.
Review your site contents and remove unnecessary documents, duplicate fields, or obsolete lists to reduce the overall size of the site.
Once the site is under the size limit, navigate back to 'Site Settings' and select 'Save site as template' again.
Export Tasks and Data using Power Automate
Automate the extraction of your project data to an external list or database as a reliable alternative backup method.
Save Projects Locally via Project Desktop
Connect your desktop application to Project Online to save individual project plans as local files.
Manage Exported Project Data Seamlessly with WPS Office
While backing up Microsoft Project Online sites requires specific SharePoint tools, you can easily manage, format, and store your exported project lists using WPS Office. As a free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office, WPS Spreadsheet offers robust tools for project tracking, high format compatibility, and a familiar user interface.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official website to download and install the free WPS Office suite on your device.
- 2. Open Exported Project Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet to securely open your exported project tasks, CSV, or Excel backup files.
- 3. Organize Project Data: Use built-in formatting tools, filters, and templates to manage and visualize your backed-up project timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'Save site as template' option missing in Project Online?
This option is often hidden or disabled if the site has specific publishing features activated, or if you are attempting to save the root Project Web App (PWA) site, which structurally does not support being saved as a template.
What is the maximum size for a SharePoint site template?
By default, the maximum size limit for saving a site as a template in SharePoint and Project Online is 50 MB. If your project site exceeds this limit, the backup process will fail.
How can I back up custom fields and enterprise resources?
Custom fields and enterprise global templates can be backed up manually by opening the Enterprise Global file in the Microsoft Project Professional desktop app and saving a local copy.
Can I restore a accidentally deleted Project Online site?
Yes, if a PWA site is deleted, SharePoint administrators can usually restore it from the SharePoint Admin Center's Deleted Sites recycle bin within the default 93-day retention period.
