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How to Add a Custom SharePoint App from an SPPKG File

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to add a custom SharePoint app, packaged as an .sppkg file, to a target site after it has been uploaded to the SharePoint Online App Catalog.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Adding a newly uploaded custom SharePoint app to a specific target site.
Observed behavior: The custom app does not appear on pages automatically and must be manually added to the target site's contents before use.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Administrator permissions for the target SharePoint site and verify that the .sppkg file is fully uploaded and enabled in the SharePoint Online App Catalog.

Solution 1Recommended

Add the Custom App via Site Contents

Use the Site Contents menu in your target SharePoint site to browse available apps and select the custom app for installation.

This method requires that your tenant administrator has already deployed the app package to the App Catalog and made it available for your site collection.

Verify App Catalog Deployment

Ensure that the custom app is enabled and deployed without errors in the SharePoint Online App Catalog.

Open Target Site Settings

Navigate to the specific SharePoint site where you want to add the app. Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner, then select 'Site contents'.

Access the App Menu

In the Site contents page, click on the '+ New' button and select 'App' from the drop-down menu.

Select and Install

Locate your custom app under the 'Apps you can add' section. Click on the app to add and install it to your site.

Initialization Time: It may take a few minutes for the newly added app to fully initialize and become available as a web part or extension on your SharePoint pages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my custom SharePoint app not showing up in the New App menu?

This usually happens if the .sppkg file was not properly deployed or enabled in the SharePoint Online App Catalog. Ensure the app is deployed globally or specifically to your site collection.

Do I need special permissions to add an .sppkg app to a SharePoint site?

Yes, you typically need to be a Site Owner or have Full Control permissions on the target SharePoint site to add new apps from the App Catalog.

Can I deploy the SharePoint app to all sites automatically?

Yes, a tenant administrator can select the 'Make this solution available to all sites in the organization' option when deploying the .sppkg file in the global App Catalog, which bypasses the need to add it manually to each site.

What exactly is an .sppkg file?

An .sppkg file is a SharePoint Framework (SPFx) package file. It contains the custom client-side web parts, extensions, and asset references needed to run a custom application within SharePoint Online.

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