Why the Site Template is Missing from a SharePoint Subsite: 2 Hidden Reasons

In this troubleshooting article, we will learn how to fix the “Site template is missing from a SharePoint subsite” issue and what the root cause of this issue is. Before getting into the article, let us understand what the site templates are in SharePoint Online.

What are site templates in SharePoint Online?

Site templates in SharePoint Online are pre-configured definitions that provide a structured and standardized way to create sites with specific functionalities, layouts, and content. They serve as a starting point for new sites, offering a range of features and settings tailored to different business needs, collaboration scenarios, and organizational requirements.

Key Features of Site Templates

1. Pre-Configured Layouts:
   • Templates come with pre-defined layouts and designs that align with specific use cases, saving time in site creation.
2. Built-In Features and Apps:
   • Templates include pre-configured lists, libraries, pages, and other web parts that support the intended use of the site.
3. Customizable:
   • While templates provide a starting point, they can be customized further to meet specific organizational needs.
4. Consistency and Standardization:
   • Using templates ensures that new sites adhere to organizational standards and best practices.

Types of Site Templates in SharePoint Online

1. Team Site:
   • Description: Designed for team collaboration, providing a space where team members can share content, organize projects, and communicate.
   • Features: Document libraries, lists (tasks, calendars), pages, news feeds, and integration with Microsoft Teams.
2. Communication Site:
   • Description: Intended for broadcasting information to a wide audience, such as news, reports, and announcements.
   • Features: Rich content pages, news articles, event pages, and a modern, visually appealing layout.
3. Enterprise Site Templates:
   • Project Site: For project management, includes task lists, timelines, and project documents.
   • Document Center: Focused on document management with advanced search and metadata navigation.
   • Record Center: Designed for records management and compliance, with features for retention, disposition, and auditing.
4. Publishing Site:
   • Description: Used for creating intranet portals, public-facing websites, or complex content management systems.
   • Features: Publishing infrastructure, page layouts, approval workflows, and content authoring tools.
5. Hub Site:
   • Description: Centralized site used to connect related sites and provide a unified navigation experience.
   • Features: Aggregated news, events, and activity feeds from associated sites, shared navigation, and consistent branding.
6. Custom Templates:
   • Description: Organizations can create their own custom site templates tailored to specific business needs.
   • Features: Custom configurations, branding, content types, and web parts.

Creating a Site Using a Template

1. Navigate to the SharePoint Admin Center:
   • Go to the SharePoint Admin Center in your Microsoft 365 environment.
2. Create a New Site:
   • Click on “Create” and select either “Team site” or “Communication site” based on your needs.
3. Choose a Template:
   • For team sites, you can choose from options like Project Site or Document Center.
   • For communication sites, select from various layout options (e.g., Topic, Showcase, or Blank).
4. Configure Site Details:
   • Enter the site name, description, and other configuration details.
   • Set permissions and privacy settings as needed.
5. Customize the Site:
   • Once the site is created, you can further customize it by adding or modifying web parts, lists, libraries, and pages.

Managing Site Templates

1. Site Designs and Scripts:
   • Use Site Designs and Site Scripts to automate site creation and apply consistent configurations.
   • Define reusable scripts that customize site elements like themes, navigation, and content.
2. PnP (Patterns and Practices) Provisioning:
   • Leverage the PnP Provisioning framework to create and apply complex templates programmatically.
   • Allows for advanced customization and deployment scenarios.
3. PowerShell and CSOM (Client-Side Object Model):
   • Use PowerShell scripts and CSOM to create, deploy, and manage site templates programmatically.
   • Ideal for bulk site creation and advanced automation.

Use Cases for Site Templates

• Departmental Sites: Create consistent sites for different departments (e.g., HR, Finance) with tailored features and content.
• Project Collaboration: Quickly set up project sites with task management and document collaboration tools.
• Intranet Portals: Develop a corporate intranet with news, announcements, and resources using communication or publishing sites.
• Client Portals: Set up client-facing portals with specific access permissions and content tailored to client needs.

Site templates in SharePoint Online streamline the site creation process, ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational standards while providing flexibility for customization and specific business needs.

Issue Description: The site template is missing from a SharePoint subsite

While we go for subsite creation from a SharePoint site – quite often we may see some of the templates are not available in the template selection – it may be team site, blog site, or any other site template. We will see here what is the root cause of this issue and its fixes.

How to handle or fix the “Site template is missing from a SharePoint subsite”?

Step 1:

Activate the “SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure ” feature from the site collection level.

Example:

“globalsharepoint.sharepoint.com/sites/TestSite/_layouts/15/ManageFeatures.aspx?Scope=Site”

Step 2:

Go to your “_Layouts/AreaTemplateSettings.aspx”

Example:

“globalsharepoint.sharepoint.com/sites/TestSite/_layouts/15/AreaTemplateSettings.aspx”

On the below page verify which radio button is selected for “Subsite Templates“. Generally, if the second radio button i.e. “Subsites can use any site template“, we should get all the templates in the subsite that are available in the site collection.

However, if the third radio button is selected i.e. “Subsites can only use the following site templates” then we need to configure the templates accordingly – so that we will not face issues while selecting the templates from the subsites.

Notes:

If we do not activate the “SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure ” feature from the site collection level and try to access the “_Layouts/AreaTemplateSettings.aspx” page, we will get the below error:

Summary: The site template is missing from a SharePoint subsite

Thus, in this troubleshooting technique, we have learned about when the site template is missing from a SharePoint subsite – office 365 (SharePoint Online) – how to fix it.

See Also: SharePoint Online Tutorial

You may also like the below SharePoint tutorials:

• Office 365: Getting started with SharePoint PnP PowerShell – installation
• In 2 steps convert a classic SharePoint page to modern using PnP
• Office 365: Retrieve hub sites and associated sites using PnP Powershell
• Create a modern team site using PnP PowerShell in SharePoint
• In 4 steps access SharePoint online data using postman tool
• SharePoint admin center: Learn SharePoint online administration in an hour – step by step
• SharePoint REST API: GET vs POST vs PUT vs DELETE vs PATCH
• Office 365: Understanding the hub site in SharePoint online
• SharePoint developer documentation

About Post Author

Microsoft Techy

As a SharePoint and Power Platform Maven, my greatest joy comes from sharing my expertise with colleagues, friends, and the tech community, helping them navigate the ever-evolving world of technology and guiding them through the dynamic landscape of modern technology.

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