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How to Remove Whitespace and Add a Footer in SharePoint

Amos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to eliminate empty space on the right side of a SharePoint team site and add a site footer to adjust the overall layout.

How to Remove Whitespace and Add a Footer in SharePoint

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing a SharePoint team site layout to optimize screen real estate and display organizational links at the bottom.
Observed behavior: The SharePoint team site displays a large amount of unused whitespace on the right side and currently lacks a footer.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary 'Edit', 'Design', or 'Full Control' permissions for the SharePoint site before attempting to modify the page layout or footer settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Section Layouts to Remove Whitespace

Modify the page sections to utilize the full width of your screen and eliminate empty right-side gaps caused by unused columns.

SharePoint pages often default to multi-column layouts that can leave large blank areas if web parts are missing or unevenly distributed.

Enter Edit Mode

Navigate to your SharePoint site and click the 'Edit' button at the top right corner of the page.

Modify Section Layout

Hover over the section containing the excessive whitespace and click the 'Edit section' icon on the left-hand side.

Select a Wider Layout

In the section settings pane, select a 'One column' or 'Full-width' layout to allow your content to expand horizontally.

Delete Empty Web Parts

Locate any transparent or empty web part boxes in the unused column, click on them, and select the trash can icon to delete them.

Republish the Page

Click 'Republish' or 'Save as draft' at the top right to apply your layout changes.

Adjust Section Layouts to Remove Whitespace

Solution 2

Enable and Configure the SharePoint Site Footer

Turn on the native footer feature to display essential links, a logo, or site information at the bottom of your team site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I see the 'Change the look' option in SharePoint settings?

You must have at least 'Design' or 'Full Control' site permissions to modify site layouts, themes, and footers. Check your permission level with the primary site owner if the option is missing.

Why does my page still have whitespace after changing to a single column?

If you are viewing the site on an ultra-wide monitor, SharePoint's responsive design limits the maximum width of standard content to maintain readability. Only 'Full-width' sections (available in Communication sites) will stretch from edge to edge.

Can I add custom HTML or scripts to my SharePoint footer?

Modern SharePoint sites do not natively support custom HTML or scripts in the standard footer due to security reasons. You can only use the default customization options provided in the 'Change the look' panel.

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