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Can You Set a Navigation Menu as the Start Page in Microsoft Sway?

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 14, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to know if they can configure Microsoft Sway to display its navigation menu as the initial starting page when opened.

How to Set a Navigation Menu as the Start Page in Microsoft Sway

Product: Microsoft Sway
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Embedding a Sway project in SharePoint or sharing it with an audience, where a navigation-first overview is preferred.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Sway opens directly to its content by default and currently lacks a native setting to show the navigation menu first.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft account and have edit access to the Sway project you wish to configure.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand the Current Limitation and Submit Feedback

Microsoft Sway does not currently support setting the navigation menu as the default start page. You must manually submit a feature request to Microsoft.

By design, Microsoft Sway immediately displays the first card of your content to viewers. The navigation menu is a built-in tool that requires viewers to manually click an icon to access. Currently, there is no native workaround to force the menu to open first.

Verify Sway Settings

Open your Microsoft Sway project, click the Settings gear icon in the top right corner, and observe that there are no options available for default start pages.

Access the Feedback Portal

Navigate to the official Microsoft Sway Feedback Community portal through your web browser.

Submit Your Feature Request

Post a detailed suggestion explaining your use case, particularly highlighting how the lack of a navigation start page impacts user experience in SharePoint embeds.

Understand the Current Limitation and Submit Feedback

Manual Navigation Required: Your audience will need to click the navigation icon in the bottom right corner of the Sway presentation to jump between different sections.

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Create Interactive Presentations with Custom Navigation Using WPS Office

While Microsoft Sway restricts how your presentations open, WPS Presentation gives you complete control over your start pages and custom navigation links. As a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office, WPS Office lets you build engaging projects with absolute design freedom.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for your PC or Mac.
2. Install and Launch: Follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the software, then launch WPS Presentation.
3. Create Your Custom Menu: Start a new presentation and design your first slide as a fully clickable navigation menu to expertly guide your audience.

Full control over start pages and custom hyperlink navigation menusSeamless compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT, PPTX) formatsLightweight and completely free to download and useFamiliar, intuitive user interface for a zero-learning-curve migration

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do viewers access the navigation menu in Microsoft Sway?

Viewers can access the navigation menu by clicking the specific navigation icon, which is typically located in the bottom right corner of the screen while viewing the Sway project.

Can I create a clickable table of contents within Sway?

Sway does not natively support a traditional clickable table of contents card within the main flow. Users must rely on Sway's built-in navigation icon to jump between different headings.

Are there alternatives for SharePoint that allow custom start pages?

Yes. Instead of using Sway, you can use SharePoint Site Pages to build a custom navigation hub, or embed a standard presentation file (like PPTX) where the first slide serves as a hyperlinked menu.

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