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Fix SharePoint Subsite Navigation Orientation Missing Option

Guest Writer Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users need to change the navigation layout from vertical to horizontal on a SharePoint subsite.

How to Change Navigation Orientation on a SharePoint Subsite

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the navigation layout of a SharePoint subsite created under a Teams-connected parent site.
Observed behavior: The subsite does not inherit the horizontal navigation change from the parent site, and the navigation-orientation toggle is missing entirely from the subsite's settings menu.

Before you start

Verify that you have Site Owner or Global Administrator permissions for the SharePoint environment before attempting to modify site layouts or contacting support.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for Backend Investigation

Because the navigation orientation option is missing by design or due to environment configuration limitations, a Microsoft 365 administrator must escalate the issue to official support.

Teams-connected parent sites and their subsites sometimes experience syncing and inheritance issues with modern navigation elements.

Since the user interface lacks the toggle to change orientation manually, the Microsoft support team must use their backend resources to examine and correct the configuration.

Identify your Microsoft 365 Administrator

If you are an end-user, contact your company's IT department or the person who manages your Microsoft 365 subscription to initiate the support process.

Open the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Have your administrator log in to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center at admin.microsoft.com using their admin credentials.

Submit a New Support Request

Navigate to the 'Support' tab on the left-hand menu, select 'Help & support', and describe the SharePoint subsite navigation issue to open a formal ticket.

Contact Microsoft 365 Support for Backend Investigation

Support Environment: Microsoft Support typically requires remote access or explicit permission to investigate your specific tenant's site configuration.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the navigation orientation option missing on my SharePoint subsite?

Subsites created under Teams-connected parent sites often use specific structural templates that do not natively support modern UI overrides, causing modern features like horizontal navigation toggles to be hidden.

Can I force a subsite to inherit the parent site's navigation settings?

You can navigate to Site Settings > Navigation and select 'Display the same navigation items as the parent site'. However, this typically only syncs the links, not the physical UI orientation (vertical vs horizontal).

Do I need special permissions to change SharePoint site navigation?

Yes, you must have at least 'Design' or 'Full Control' permissions (typically granted to Site Owners) to modify the structural navigation of a SharePoint site or subsite.

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