Others

How to Remove White Background and Title from SharePoint List Web Part

Emma Brown Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to remove the default white background, scrollbar, and list title from a SharePoint List Web Part but cannot find the standard settings to do so.

How to Remove the White Background and Title from a SharePoint List Web Part

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the layout and visual appearance of a modern SharePoint page.
Observed behavior: The List Web Part displays a persistent white background, a scrollbar, and a title that cannot be hidden or removed through built-in formatting options.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Designer permissions for your SharePoint site, as you will need adequate privileges to apply advanced JSON view formatting to web parts.

Solution 1Recommended

Use JSON View Formatting to Customize the List Web Part

Apply custom JSON code to modify the List Web Part's appearance safely, as modern SharePoint does not provide built-in toggles for hiding these chrome elements.

The modern SharePoint List Web Part does not include basic settings to remove the white background, scrollbar, or title directly. To achieve this customized layout, you must use JSON view formatting. This is Microsoft's officially supported method for altering list appearances.

Avoid using unsupported custom CSS via Script Editor web parts. While CSS might temporarily hide the elements, routine SharePoint background updates frequently break unsupported CSS modifications, leading to unpredictable page layouts.

Navigate to the SharePoint List

Open your SharePoint site and go to the specific list or the page containing the List Web Part you want to modify.

Open View Formatting Options

Click on the View options dropdown menu (usually displaying the current view name, like 'All Items') located at the top right of the list, and select 'Format current view'.

Access Advanced Mode

In the formatting pane that appears on the right side of the screen, click on the 'Advanced mode' link at the bottom.

Apply JSON Code

Paste your custom JSON code designed to adjust the header, background, and body elements of the list view. Once pasted, click 'Save' to apply the formatting to the web part.

Use JSON View Formatting to Customize the List Web Part

Advanced Formatting Assistance: Writing JSON from scratch can be complex. You can find pre-built JSON snippets in the Microsoft 365 Patterns and Practices (PnP) repository on GitHub.

Solution 2

Consult the Microsoft 365 Q&A Community

Seek specialized guidance for advanced SharePoint layout changes if standard JSON formatting does not fully resolve the scrollbar and background display issues.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Looking for a Lightweight and Intuitive Microsoft Office Alternative?

While advanced tools like Microsoft SharePoint often require complex configurations and JSON code to manage basic page layouts, managing your daily documents shouldn't be complicated. If you are looking for an intuitive, fast, and completely free alternative to the Microsoft Office suite for your everyday needs, WPS Office is the ideal solution.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsFree and lightweight suite for everyday document management without complex configurationsFamiliar user interface ensuring a smooth transition with zero learning curveBuilt-in robust PDF editing, merging, and conversion features

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't there a built-in toggle to hide the SharePoint List Web Part title?

Microsoft designed the modern SharePoint experience to prioritize a consistent layout and responsive user interface across all sites. Consequently, options to hide web part chrome (like titles, borders, and backgrounds) were removed from standard settings in favor of using flexible, code-based JSON formatting.

Is it safe to use custom CSS to hide the list scrollbar and white background?

No, Microsoft advises against injecting custom CSS into modern SharePoint pages using script editor web parts. Regular SharePoint backend updates will often break unsupported custom CSS, potentially corrupting your page's layout entirely.

Does applying JSON view formatting permanently delete my list title?

No, JSON formatting only alters the visual representation (the UI layer) of your SharePoint list data and the web part's display logic. The actual list title and underlying data remain completely intact and unchanged on the backend.

Where can I find JSON examples for formatting my SharePoint List Web Part?

You can find extensive examples and templates in the Microsoft 365 Patterns and Practices (PnP) GitHub repository, which offers a large collection of community-contributed JSON view formatting code.

Office Quick Solutions