Fix SharePoint Server 2019 Stuck on Preparing Screen
Question details
The SharePoint Server 2019 on-premises environment is stalling on a preparation screen and throwing an error in the server logs.
- Product
- SharePoint Server 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Deploying, patching, or configuring an on-premises SharePoint Server 2019 environment.
- Observed behavior
- The screen remains indefinitely stuck on 'One moment please. Everything is being prepared,' and corresponding error entries are found in the server logs.
Ensure you have administrative access to the server hosting your SharePoint environment and the necessary permissions to read the server's Unified Logging Service (ULS) logs.
Gather ULS Logs and Escalate to SharePoint Server Q&A
Because on-premises SharePoint deployment issues require specialized backend analysis, the best approach is to extract your server logs and consult SharePoint Server specialists on Microsoft Q&A.
Many general community forums are geared toward SharePoint Online. For a SharePoint Server 2019 on-premises issue, standard troubleshooting steps may not apply. Extracting the exact error from your ULS logs is critical for server specialists to diagnose the underlying problem.
Navigate to the SharePoint hive on your physical or virtual server. By default, this is located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\LOGS.
Open the most recent log file generated during the time the 'preparing' screen appeared. Search for 'High' or 'Unexpected' level tags to find the exact error code or message causing the stall.
Gather relevant information about your environment, including the operating system version, SQL Server version, recently applied patches, and farm topology.
Visit the official Microsoft Q&A forum and navigate to the SharePoint Server section. Create a detailed post including your configuration details, the specific ULS log snippets, and the troubleshooting steps you have already attempted.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the ULS logs for SharePoint Server 2019?
By default, ULS logs for SharePoint Server 2019 are stored in the 16 hive directory located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\16\LOGS. You can use the ULS Viewer utility to parse and read these files efficiently.
Why does SharePoint Server get stuck on 'Everything is being prepared'?
This stall is typically caused by backend configuration errors, SQL server connectivity timeouts, corrupted configuration caches, or insufficient permission settings during deployment or patching.
Can I get help for SharePoint Server 2019 in standard Microsoft Community forums?
Standard Microsoft Community forums are primarily focused on SharePoint Online. For on-premises environments like SharePoint Server 2019, it is highly recommended to post your questions with log details in the dedicated Microsoft Q&A forum for SharePoint Server administrators.
