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Can You Customize the SharePoint Read-Only Site Collection Message?

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if they can modify the default SharePoint message that states: 'This site is read-only at the site collection administrator’s request.'

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A site collection administrator is trying to change the default read-only notification banner to display a customized message to end-users.
Observed behavior: The standard SharePoint Central Administration settings and PowerShell commands do not provide an option to change or customize this specific read-only message.

Before you start

Verify your access to SharePoint custom development tools, as modifying this specific system message requires moving beyond standard Central Administration capabilities.

Solution 1Recommended

Utilize Custom SharePoint Development

Since native settings do not support message customization, a custom development approach is the only way to replace or alter the read-only banner.

Standard SharePoint configurations, including Central Administration options and out-of-the-box PowerShell commands, intentionally lock the default read-only site collection message. To display a personalized notification to your users, you must bypass the default banner using custom development solutions such as a SharePoint Framework (SPFx) extension or modifying the master page, depending on your SharePoint environment.

Consult the Development Community

Reach out to your internal SharePoint development team or the broader Microsoft SharePoint Development community to discuss custom implementation strategies suitable for your specific SharePoint version (Online vs. On-Premises).

Design a Custom Banner Extension

Develop an SPFx Application Customizer (for modern sites) that injects a custom header or notification banner across the site collection to serve as your new read-only message.

Deploy and Test

Deploy the custom solution to a staging site collection. Set the staging site to read-only mode to verify that your custom banner appears correctly without conflicting with the default locked state.

Community Confirmation: SharePoint community experts have thoroughly confirmed that there is no out-of-the-box setting or native PowerShell parameter to change this specific administrator message.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use PowerShell to change the SharePoint read-only message?

No. While PowerShell can be used to set a site collection to read-only mode using commands like 'Set-SPSite -LockState', it does not include parameters to customize the actual message text displayed to users.

Why does the read-only site collection message appear?

This message appears when a SharePoint administrator manually locks the site collection. This is typically done to prevent data modifications during server migrations, system backups, or organizational compliance holds.

Is it possible to hide the default read-only message entirely?

Hiding the message natively is not supported. You would need to use custom CSS injection (on classic sites) or custom SharePoint Framework (SPFx) extensions to hide or overwrite the default HTML elements containing the message.

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