How to Create a SharePoint Site (2026)
A SharePoint site is the foundation of every team workspace, intranet, or document hub in Microsoft 365. The setup wizard takes about two minutes once you know which site type fits your use case. Here’s the full walkthrough.
Step 1: Decide Team Site vs Communication Site
SharePoint asks this first, and it shapes everything downstream.
- Team site — built around collaboration. It comes with a Microsoft 365 Group, a shared mailbox, a Planner board, and a OneNote notebook. Best for project teams, departments, or anywhere a small group needs to co-author files.
- Communication site — built for broadcasting. No group attached, no shared mailbox. Best for company news, an internal landing page, or a knowledge base where most people read and a small editorial team writes.
If you’re not sure, choose Team site. You can always create a communication site later.
Step 2: Create the Site
- Sign in to microsoft365.com and open the SharePoint app from the app launcher (the waffle menu).
- On the SharePoint start page, click + Create site at the top left.
- Pick Team site or Communication site.
The new-site wizard opens.
Step 3: Fill in the Site Details
- Enter a site name — this becomes the title and (by default) the URL.
- Adjust the site address if the auto-filled URL is awkward.
- Add a short description so members know what the site is for.
- Choose Privacy settings: Private (only members) or Public (anyone in the org).
- Pick the language and timezone.
- Click Next.
Step 4: Add Owners and Members
On the next screen:
- Add at least one additional site owner — someone besides you who can manage the site if you’re out.
- Add the members who’ll use the site day-to-day. You can paste a Microsoft 365 Group, distribution list, or individual names and emails.
- Click Finish.
SharePoint provisions the site in 10–30 seconds and drops you on the home page.
Optional: Apply a Template
A blank team site is sparse. To start with pre-built pages, lists, and web parts:
- From the new site’s home page, click the gear icon > Apply a site template.
- Browse the gallery — common picks: Project management, Department, Event planning, Crisis management.
- Click a template, then Use template.
Templates add example pages and lists you can customize. Apply only one — they don’t stack.
Optional: Add to a Hub Site
If your org uses hub sites to group related sites under one navigation:
- On the new site, click gear icon > Site information > Hub site association.
- Pick the hub.
Now the hub’s navigation and theme appear at the top of your site.
Troubleshooting
”+ Create site” is missing
Your tenant admin has restricted site creation. Ask them to create it for you, or to enable self-service site creation in the SharePoint admin center.
The URL is taken
Site addresses must be unique. Add a department prefix or year — for example, marketing-q3-2026 instead of marketing.
Members can see the site but can’t edit
Check gear icon > Site permissions. Members default to Edit, but if you added them to a “Visitors” group they only have Read.
Quick Reference
| Action | Where |
|---|---|
| Create site | SharePoint start page > + Create site |
| Change name/logo | Gear icon > Site information |
| Add members | Gear icon > Site permissions > Invite people |
| Apply template | Gear icon > Apply a site template |
| Join a hub | Gear icon > Site information > Hub site association |
Related SharePoint guides: How to create a SharePoint list · How to create a SharePoint page · How to delete a SharePoint site · How to create a SharePoint folder · How to sync SharePoint with OneDrive
Ready to automate your busywork?
Carly schedules, researches, and briefs you—so you can focus on what matters.
Get Carly Today →Or explore our free tools
